The Week Ahead

Return to Full Calendar

As October draws to a close, the island comes alive with celebration. Leaves have turned from lush green to blazing red and gold, storefronts glow with pumpkins, and families are ready to embrace the most festive time of the season. This week offers an incredible lineup of events that invite all ages to take part — from playful trick-or-treating and culturally rich art experiences to a glamorous night honoring the history that shapes our island today.

It all begins with a beloved tradition that brings together the heart of downtown: Hometown Halloween. Winslow Way becomes a spirited runway of costumed characters — ghosts, goblins, superheroes, and creatures of every imagination — as local merchants open their doors to trick-or-treaters. With candy, music, and community fun on every corner, it’s a joyful reminder of how special it is to celebrate together in a close-knit town. Add hot chili and warm hot dogs at Eagle Harbor Church to support UNICEF, and you’ve got an evening that mixes classic Halloween excitement with the power of compassion.

After the candy wrappers have settled, the week continues with a meaningful and beautifully artistic celebration at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. Their annual Día de los Muertos event honors loved ones who have passed, blending remembrance with culture, storytelling, and joy. Children lead butterfly processions, families create art to commemorate memories, and visitors gather around a striking ofrenda — a communal altar created by artist Araceli Cruz. This is a chance for the whole community to share in traditions rooted in Mexican heritage and the universal need to keep memories alive.

To close out the week, the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum invites guests to step into the past with a Roaring-era celebration: Turn Back Time — 1930s. This elegant fundraising gala promises delicious dining, lively auctions, and standout entertainment from acclaimed vocalist Lisa Mandelkorn. It’s a night designed to sparkle — while supporting the museum’s mission to preserve the stories and artifacts that connect us to our shared history.

Together, these events paint a perfect picture of autumn on Bainbridge Island: family joy, cultural richness, and the intentional act of celebrating who we are — past, present, and future. Whether you’re gathering candy, honoring ancestors, or raising a glass to history, this week is packed with opportunities to lean into community, creativity, and connection.

So grab your costumes, your loved ones, and your sense of adventure. This is a week to remember — full of warmth, wonder, learning, and fun. Bainbridge Island is ready to celebrate the season… will you be there?

Featured Events:

Hometown Halloween

IHalloween night on Bainbridge Island is far more than costumes and candy — it’s a beloved community tradition that transforms Downtown Winslow into a festive parade of creativity, imagination, and seasonal joy. Presented by the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association, Hometown Halloween 2025 invites families, friends, and spooky characters of every kind to celebrate together in the heart of our island community.

As daylight fades and pumpkins glow to life, Winslow Way becomes a bustling corridor of trick-or-treat magic. Local merchants eagerly open their doors, handing out sweet treats and friendly smiles to ghosts, goblins, witches, superheroes, and every costumed character in between. From storefronts decked out in cobwebs and pumpkins to cheerful shopkeepers dressed in costume, the evening is filled with playful surprises and photo-worthy moments at every turn.

This event embraces the very best of small-town Halloween — safe streets, local pride, and a shared sense of excitement. Kids dash between businesses gathering candy, while parents mingle with neighbors old and new. Whether you’re a toddler in a fuzzy animal onesie or a parent reliving trick-or-treat thrills, the atmosphere welcomes every age with open arms.

Beyond the classic candy hunt, Hometown Halloween offers additional ways to enjoy fall festivities and support the community. Just a short stroll from the main action, Eagle Harbor Church will be serving hot dogs and chili — a warm and hearty break in the crisp autumn air. Donations support UNICEF, turning a delicious Halloween tradition into a chance to give back. It’s a simple but meaningful way to help children around the world while keeping your own trick-or-treat crew fueled and happy.

Music and themed entertainment throughout downtown add even more fun to the night, turning Winslow Way into a lively seasonal festival. Expect spooky tunes, creative costumes, and laughter echoing from one end of the street to the other. For many island families, this festive tradition marks a highlight of the fall season — a moment for pure joy before holiday bustle arrives.

Hometown Halloween is not just a night of sweets, decorations, and playful frights — it’s a celebration of community connection. It reminds us that some of the most magical experiences come from simply gathering together, making memories, and embracing the spirit of the season.

Grab your favorite costume, bundle up for the evening air, and come join the fun. This is Bainbridge Island at its most spirited — and you won’t want to miss a moment of it.

Cost, tickets and logistics:

Friday, October 31, 4-6pm
Downtown Bainbridge
Full details here

Return to Full Calendar

Día de los Muertos Community Celebrations 2025

On Saturday, November 1, the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art invites the community to take part in one of its most vibrant and meaningful annual gatherings: the Día de los Muertos Community Celebrations. Recognized throughout Mexico and many Latin American cultures, Día de los Muertos is a time to celebrate the lives of those who have passed — not with sorrow, but with joy, remembrance, and artistic expression. This year’s event promises to be a full-day experience woven with color, culture, and connection.

The celebration begins just a few steps away at KiDiMu, where families are encouraged to join in a butterfly-themed procession. Children will arrive dressed in homemade butterfly wings — symbolizing the spirits of ancestors returning home — and at 10:45 a.m., they’ll lead guests along a marigold-lined path into BIMA. The museum will already be alive with festive music, artwork, and activities, setting the tone for a communal day of honoring loved ones.

At the heart of the celebration is a stunning, traditional ofrenda designed by artist Araceli Cruz. This multi-paneled shrine overflows with brilliant colors, symbolic objects, and heartfelt tributes. Visitors are invited to participate by placing mementos, photos, or written messages that pay homage to friends and family who are no longer with us. It’s a powerful opportunity to share stories and make memories part of a collective community narrative.

Two formal remembrance ceremonies led by presenter Alice Mendoza will take place at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. These ceremonies are already sold out, but they will be livestreamed inside the Frank Buxton Auditorium for those without tickets, space permitting. During the breaks — from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. and again after 4:30 p.m. — anyone is welcome to explore the Día de los Muertos & Beyond II exhibition, visit the ofrenda, and enjoy the museum’s other galleries.

Throughout the day, guests can indulge in traditional treats like atole and pan de muerto, join drop-in art workshops, receive calavera-style face painting, and enjoy music from strolling performers. From hands-on craft-making to contemplative moments at the ofrenda, the event offers something for every age.

Whether you’re familiar with Día de los Muertos traditions or eager to learn, BIMA’s celebration is both welcoming and enlightening — a beautiful reminder of how art keeps memories alive and communities connected.