In the 60-something years that Spooky Alley has been held, there have only been a couple occasions when it was almost cancelled. And while the coronavirus pandemic has caused the cancellation of events all over the world, Spooky Alley will be back, offering the kids on the Mountain a safe and fun place to celebrate Halloween and fill their bags (and stomachs) with some sweets.

“It’s such a fun time, we can’t let it go,” said event organizer Shirley Dueber.
“It is a safe place for the kids to be.”

This year, the event will take place from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, in the
rear parking lot of the Hoodland Park Plaza, 68200 Hwy. 26 in Welches. To
adhere to social distancing guidelines, participants should arrive in cars and
enter from Welches Road. Everyone must remain in cars and follow the signs
through candy stations to receive treats.

The event will also include a scary amount of decorations, games with prizes
that kids can earn while in their car and the traditional costume judging
competition. For those kids interested in the competition, please bring a photo
of the child in costume, with the child’s name, age and phone number on the
back.

The “Haunted Corridor” part of the event will not return this year and no
refreshments will be available.

Dueber has been involved with the event for 40-something years and
remembered two previous times when it faced some serious challenges. One
time, she noted, it snowed more than 18 inches before 7 p.m. but things still
went off without a hitch (although the fire chief at the time was seriously
delayed in getting home that night).

Another time, a different group had planned to organize the event but
announced two weeks before it was scheduled that it wouldn’t happen.
Dueber and another local took the lead and made it happen.

“We threw it together in less than two weeks,” she said. “So we have not
missed a year since it started. That’s when they made me permanent chair.”
Dueber noted that her favorite candy is Snickers but admitted in horrifying
fashion that she doesn’t like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups because while she
enjoys both peanut butter and chocolate, she doesn’t enjoy them together.
“I will avoid them,” Dueber said. “If I get any I give them away.”

She noted that the event is made possible by donations from businesses,
organizations and individuals throughout the community, including the Mt.

Hood Lions Club, the Hoodland Women's Club, the Welches Liquor Store, All-
Ways Towing and more.

“There’s a number of real faithful people that I can depend on year after year
to make sure it happens,” Dueber said. “We do what we can for the
community, especially the kids.”