This weekend is going to be one of the most active on the North Coast in a long time.

The Halloween holiday falls during the weekend, which means there’s no shortage of activities to celebrate a return to some kind of normalcy.

Cities host trick-or-treating

The Astoria Downtown Historic District Association is bringing back Downtown Astoria Trick-or-Treat. Families are invited to visit their favorite shops on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. to pick up some treats. Masks (in addition to costumes) are required and participants are asked to social distance.

Many other North Coast cities are also hosting a full list of family-friendly Halloween festivities. You can find a detailed list on page five of this week’s edition of Coast Weekend.

Haunted houses open for screams

Decorated haunted attractions will also open for the weekend throughout the North Coast.

Rhett’s Ranch in Ilwaco will host a Fright Night on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $10 each. Guests will have the chance to walk through the “haunted woods” on the Long Beach Peninsula.

T & C Home Furnishings at 1033 Commercial St. in Astoria will open their doors to the public for “The Haunted Basement,” Friday and Saturday night from 6 to 9 p.m. Ticket prices are $1 per person for entry.

The “Terror on Turlay” haunted home located at 32520 Turlay Lane in Warrenton will be open for evening scare tours Thursday through Sunday. A $10 donation per person will help pay for the setup costs and serve as a fundraiser to help pay for a local girl’s service dog.

In this issue of Coast Weekend, you’ll find more spooktacular events on pages six through 10.

Escape the spooky in the great outdoors

If you’re looking for a more relaxed All Hallow’s Eve, several non-spooky events are happening with an emphasis on enjoying the natural fall scenery inside local state parks.

Read more about those events on page 12.

However you choose to spend this Halloween holiday, I hope you have a safe and fun weekend!