Monthly dance is Oct. 26 in La Grande

LA GRANDE — The BlueMountaineers will have their Halloween dance on Saturday, Oct. 26, 6-9 p.m. at the Union County Senior Center, 1504 N. Albany St.

Admission is $5 or free for ages 12 and younger. The evening includes a finger food potluck, and a costume contest (costumes aren’t mandatory).

Long Branch celebrates with open house

WESTON — The Long Branch Cafe & Saloon in Weston is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its building on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 2-4 p.m. Owner Bernice Charlton is inviting the public to stop at the café for refreshments.

The Saling and Reese building has stood at 201 E. Main St. since 1874 and is included in the Weston Commercial Historic District. It is the oldest brick building in Weston, having survived the devastating fires of 1874 and 1883 and a kitchen fire in 2021.

Originally, the building was a mercantile, owned by Saling and Reese, buying and selling to the local people everything needed to homestead in the new community. Throughout the years, it has housed mostly grocery or hardware stores. However, it is the Long Branch that has built a reputation spreading far and wide.

Known for its large menu, reasonable prices and generous portions, the café advertises “authentic country meals that satisfy your craving for homestyle food.” Charlton has owned the café and saloon for over 30 years and is pleased that her hard work has gone from satisfied local customers to many from miles around.

The café is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information call 541-566-3478.

Head to the airport for Pumpkin Chunkin’

BAKER CITY — The 10th annual Pumpkin Chunkin’ Bash at the Baker City Municipal Airport is Saturday, Oct. 26, from noon to 5 p.m.

Although tickets to toss pumpkins from a helicopter are sold out, you can still watch the smashing and check out the other offerings, including music, food, a silent auction and merchandise for sale.

This fundraiser supports the Spc. Mabry James Anders Memorial Foundation, which provides scholarships to local students. The foundation honors Anders, the Baker City man who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2012.

The foundation will sell food, and beverages will be available from Barley Brown’s Brewpub and Brewin’ with D. Anna Beetz will provide the music.

Star Party planned Nov. 1 in Halfway

HALFWAY — Dark Sky Halfway presents a New Moon Halloween 2 Star Party on Friday, Nov. 1, 5-11 p.m. at the Pine Valley Fairgrounds.

Bundle up — costumes are encouraged to extend the Halloween fun — and enjoy music, drinks, food, T-shirt making, face painting and gazing at the stars.

Bring flashlights, binoculars, chairs and blankets.

Mystery author plans events

BAKER CITY, HERMISTON — Author Emmeline Duncan is planning two author events in Eastern Oregon.

Duncan, a mystery author from Portland, wrote “Fresh Brewed Murder” (Ground Rules series) and “Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop” (new Halloween Bookshop series).

The first is Wednesday, Oct. 23, 5:30 p.m. at Churchill School, 3451 Broadway St. in Baker City. This visit is coordinated by Betty’s Books.

Her second stop is at The Next Chapter Bookstore, 1000 S. Highway 395 Suite C in Hermiston, on Thursday, Oct. 24, 6:30 p.m.

For more about the author, visit emmelineduncan.com. Those planning to attend can RSVP and pre-order books at the bookstores.

Queso, anyone? Check out the Fall Vendor Market

BAKER CITY — Do you bake the best pie around? Is your queso a crowd-pleaser?

The Baker County Fairgrounds’ new Fall Vendor Market is Oct. 25-26 at the event center, 2600 East St. Registration is open for the pie and queso contests ($20 per entry).

Find the registration forms at bakerfair.com. Click on the “Fall Vendor Market” tab.

The market will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 25, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 26. Additional Saturday events include pumpkin painting, horse-drawn carriage rides and a raffle. Admission is free and includes one raffle ticket.

Pie entries must be submitted by 11:45 a.m. Oct. 26. Any dessert pie is welcome, and desserts will be judged in three categories — taste, presentation and judges’ choice.

Queso entries must be in by noon Oct. 26. There are three categories: spicy, mild and vegetarian.

Books and Brews returns to Baker City

BAKER CITY — “Books and Brews” returns on Saturday, Oct. 26, when Betty’s Books will set up at the Barley Brown’s taphouse, 2200 Main St., from 4 p.m. to closing.

The event works like this: “buy a book, get a brew.” For more details, check Betty’s Books on Facebook and Instagram.

Native plant pop-up sale slated for Walla Walla

WALLA WALLA — A selection of plants native to the Columbia Basin will be available for purchase Saturday, Oct. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Walla Walla Conservation District office parking lot, 325 N. 13th Ave. Plants are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Cash or checks only will be accepted (no cards). The Columbia Basin chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society is conducting the sale.

Native plants add diversity to the landscape, reduce water usage and support native pollinators. All plants available at the sale are sourced from regional nurseries with expertise in local native plants that survive and thrive in the area.

For more information on native plants, or the Washington Native Plant Society, visit www.cbwnps.org.

Have a spooky good time at the Monster Bash

BAKER CITY — Get dressed up while supporting the National Day of Dance this weekend with the Monster Bash, a fundraiser organized by Crossroads Carnegie Art Center on Saturday, Oct. 26.

The event is 6-9 p.m. at the Baker Elks Lodge, 1896 Second St. Tickets are $25 for couples and $15 for singles at crossroads-arts.org.

There will be costume contests for best male, female and couples costumes, as well as fundraising raffles and a no-host bar.

Proceeds will support the 2025 Day of Dance.

Fall Fun at the Fair features free classes

HEPPNER — Learn a new skill during free classes on Friday, Oct. 25 at the Morrow County Fairgrounds, 74473 Highway 74.

Fall Fun at the Fair is open to ages 12 and up. The sessions include:

• Quilting with the Boardman Quilt Group; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Mixed Media Fall Theme with Michelle Hopper; noon to 4 p.m.
• Fall Floral Arrangement with Cynthia Wenberg; 4-6 p.m.

Space is limited and participants must pre-register. For more information or to register, contact Sue Gibbs at 541-676-9474, 541-379-2298 or mcfair@co.morrow.or.us.

Dig out your best chili recipe

SUMMERVILLE — The annual chili cook-off at Pleasant Grove Grange is Oct. 26 from 4-7 p.m., and it’s open to the public. Participants with their chili should be at the grange, 67218 Hunter Road, at 3:30 p.m. and they can fill out the entry form at the front door.

Participants can also call Margarette Craig at 541-805-1337, email her at margarettecraig@yahoo.com or pick up an entry form at the senior and community lunch day. The entry fee is $10 per person.

Winners are determined by people’s choice. The tasters will buy a few tickets for $5 and place their tickets near the chilis that they like the best. After this, the tickets will be counted, and prizes will be awarded.

Since the chili cook-off is a fundraiser, it also includes a silent auction and a regular auction for desserts and pies as well as the sale of Imbler’s FFA pressed cider.

Hermiston High School drama glows with ‘Radium Girls’

HERMISTON — A play based on a true story about female factory workers who contracted radiation poisoning in the mid-1920s will be staged by the Hermiston High School drama program.

“Radium Girls” opens Friday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m. in the HHS auditorium, 600 S. First St. Subsequent curtain times are Oct. 30, 6 p.m.; Nov. 1, 7 p.m.; and Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The cost is $10 for ages 11 and older and $8 for senior citizens and students with ASB cards. Tickets will be sold at the door.

Written by D.W. Gregory, the drama highlights female laborers who fell ill after using radium-based paint while working for the United States Radium Corporation. Dozens died from radium poisoning after using the glow-in-the-dark element to paint watches, clocks, airplane instruments and military equipment.

For more information, search Facebook via bit.ly/3rSMh5c. For questions, call 541-667-6100.

Scotty Wilson to perform at Keg & Kork

HERMISTON — Scotty Wilson will crank up the tunes on Saturday, Oct. 26, 6:30-9 p.m. at Mainstreet Keg & Kork, 395 E. Main St.

A singer-songwriter from Pendleton, Wilson plays country rock. In addition to performing as a solo act, he has fronted several local bands, including Little McKay Creek, Wheattown and Music Medicine.

While admission is free, reservations are recommended due to limited seating. For more information, search www.facebook.com/keg.kork. For questions or to RSVP, call 541-303-1034.

Register for classes at Pendleton Leather Show

PENDLETON — Don’t miss an opportunity to register for classes and contests during the Pendleton Leather Show.

Billed as the ultimate trade show for all things leather, the event is Nov. 1-2, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pendleton Convention Center, 1601 Westgate. Nearly three dozen vendors are expected. Admission to the show is free.

Half-day and full-day classes are offered Oct. 31 through Nov. 2. According to organizers, some sessions are already full.

Learn new skills, connect with top leather-crafting instructors and create items to take home. Fees are established by each instructor. For a description of classes available and to register, visit www.pendletonleathershow.com.

The event also features novice and open-class competitions, including handbags, chaps and working saddles. Participants need to register and pay entry fees to compete.

For more information, search www.facebook.com/pendletonleathershow. For questions, contact pendletonleathershow@gmail.com or 435-201-2534.

‘Turn of the Screw’ continues in Pendleton

PENDLETON — Audiences looking for a dash of the dark and scary this October can attend a College Community Theatre production of “The Turn of the Screw,” a play based on the 1898 gothic horror novella by Henry James.

The production opens Friday, Oct. 18, in the Bob Clapp Theatre at Blue Mountain Community College. Shows run Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m., through Oct. 27.

In addition, “The Turn of the Screw” will also feature a new twist for CCT: An 11 p.m. showing on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Tickets are $20 and available at collegecommunitytheatre.com/box-office.

Thriller ‘The Clone People’ continues

BAKER CITY — Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre presents the psychological thriller “The Clone People” Oct. 25-27. Performances are at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday, at the theater, 2101 Main St. Tickets are $13 adults, $11 members and $8 students.

Purchase tickets at easternoregonregionaltheatre.com, at the door, or by calling 541-523-9652.

‘Sweeney Todd’ runs for one more weekend

ELGIN — “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” continues at the Jewel Theatre, 831 Alder St., with shows at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, and 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Find details and purchase tickets at www.elginoperahouse.com.

Hear old-time music Nov. 2 in Joseph

JOSEPH — The next Blue Mountain Old Time Fiddlers show is Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Hurricane Creek Grange Hall, 82930 Airport Lane.

A pork dinner with trimmings is available at 5 p.m. for $15. The music starts at 6 p.m. Admission is $5, $4 for members or free for ages 12 and younger.

For information, call Robyn Burns, 503-423-7730.