Neewollah Parade guarantees Halloween enjoyable

ROSEBURG, Ore. – Roseburg’s beloved Neewollah Parade will return this Halloween — bringing dancing witches, loads of sweet and even Captain Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl pirate ship downtown for a haunting good time.

Roseburg’s Neewollah Parade is believed to be the longest-running within the nation. Roseburg started this monster custom in 1933 when Neewollah – that’s Halloween spelled backward – was a nationwide phenomenon and town has held it practically yearly since– except for a number of years throughout World War II and two years throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, when digital “parades” and costume contests have been held as a substitute. Learn about Neewollah’s origins in a City Connection story.

This 12 months, downtown Roseburg’s Jackson Street guarantees many an eerie sight when a parade organized by former City Councilor Stacey Crowe and sponsored by the City of Roseburg steps off from Jackson Street at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31.

About 4:30 p.m. that day, lots of of costumed tricksters of all ages will collect on Jackson Street at Douglas Avenue. A flash mob of dancing witches, Captain Jack Sparrow and his Black Pearl ship will add a number of thrills as trick-or-treaters prowl the pavement, and companies, the City of Roseburg and the Douglas County Juvenile Department give out sweet.

“Yes, Captain Jack will be downtown. The Black Pearl will sail with pirates. We are working on adding a plank for a pirate to be sitting on,” stated Roseburg architect Paul Bentley, aka Captain Jack Sparrow from Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

In addition, about 8 to 10 Roseburg Area Dancing Witches plan to carry out to songs together with German singer Peter Fox’s “Schüttel Deinen Speck,” or “Shake Your Bacon;” the Rocky Horror Picture Show’s “Time Warp;” the German tune “Atemlos durch die Nacht” or “Breathless Through the Night;” and a brief model of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

If that’s not sufficient ghastly enjoyable, Roseburg Fright Club will conjure up “Nightmares at Fairview Manor” for 5 nights at a brand new location: beneath the Douglas County Fairgrounds grandstands. The all-volunteer haunted home working within the Umpqua Valley since 1993 will increase funds for various native nonprofits from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24; Saturday, Oct. 25; Thursday, Oct. 30; Friday, Oct. 31; and Saturday, Nov. 1, with a particular bonus involving photographs with Krampus, a mythic spirit from European people tales. Entry prices $7 for kids 12 and underneath and $13 for adults and youths 13 to 17. On Friday, Oct. 24, admission is $10 with a scholar identification card. On Thursday, Oct. 30, households of as much as 2 adults and three children can get in for $35 per household. Cash and debit/credit playing cards are OK.

In addition, the Optimist Club of Roseburg will current the second annual “Ghosts of Roseburg Tour” this month. Downtown group excursions will showcase characters and occasions, due to a collaboration with the Umpqua Community College drama division. Tourgoers can be handled to true tales of the previous as they stroll down the identical streets that historic figures as soon as did. The tour is predicated on the self-guided “Ghosts of Roseburg Past” strolling tour created by Roseburg resident Jennifer Grafiada in 2022 with the help of a City of Roseburg tourism grant.