This Week’s Events and News: October 25–31, 2026

Make sure you’re winterizing your homes out there: Disconnect hoses and cover outdoor spigots. Colder weather is on the way!

With Halloween next Saturday, there’s a lot coming up. Economic development planning, a city led town hall on Wednesday, community events at K Voelz Wine and Side A and lots of Halloween events. Below is a list of the Halloween events going on. I’m particularly excited about the Costume Ride. I can’t remember anything like it happening in La Grande in all the years I’ve lived here.

Halloween

Friday, Oct. 30

• Witches Night Out — 4–9 p.m. at K Voelz Wines, 1104 Jefferson Ave., La Grande.
• Costume Ride — Meet at 5 p.m. at Candy Cane Park; the family-friendly ride departs at 5:15 p.m. and ends around 6 p.m. at Cook Memorial Library.
• Night Fright Productions Haunted Warehouse — 7–10 p.m. at 410 Railroad Ave. in Imbler. Tickets start at $20.

Saturday, Oct. 31

• Reapers Run: Ruck, Run, Walk — Check-in begins at 8 a.m. at 64082 Airport Lane, La Grande. There will be a costume contest and 50/50 raffle.
• La Grande Halloween Safe Trick-or-Treat — 4–6:30 p.m. along Adams Avenue in downtown La Grande, with a costume contest.
• Halloween Trap Shoot Under Blacklights — 5 p.m. at the La Grande Gun Club. Games are $5, with cash prizes and a potluck.
• Harvest Party — 6–7:30 p.m. at Faith Center in Island City. The free, family-friendly event includes food, carnival games and candy.
• Halloween Party at Clank-Tronix — All-ages music from 6–8:30 p.m., followed by music for older audiences from 9 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $5.
• Night Fright Productions Haunted Warehouse — 7–10 p.m. at 410 Railroad Ave. in Imbler. Tickets start at $20.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

This past week, a pretty good-sized group gathered at Market Place with a single goal: neighbors helping neighbors. Our little city is just big enough that we don’t always feel closely connected to the people around us. Some folks fall through the cracks—particularly longtime residents who may need a little help but have, over time, lost their connection to the community or the means to complete certain work around their homes.

This group is in the early stages of trying to address that. It was a good conversation, and I look forward to seeing where it goes. Watch the meeting recording here.

Transient Room Tax Discussion

Tomorrow, Monday, is a kickoff meeting for community leaders, business owners and the public to discuss the future of the transient room tax, also known as a lodging or hotel tax. This conversation is one part of La Grande’s broader economic development planning for the next 10 years or so—which is already underway, by the way. See the meeting details here.

Here are the rest of the community events coming up around La Grande for Oct. 25–31, 2026. If I you have an event coming up send it to editor@lagrandeloop.com. If I missed something, I apologize in advance!

Upcoming Events

Sunday, October 25

• Summerville Stables Pumpkin Patch — Oct. 3-31 (Family, Outdoors) — Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 3-31, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Summerville Stables. $15 online; $18 at the gate; free for children younger than 2.

Monday, October 26

• Coffee with Councilor Hickey — Oct. 5-26 (City Council, Government) — Mondays, Oct. 5-26, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at The Press Room, 1124 Washington Ave., La Grande. Coffee available for purchase.
• La Grande transient room tax plan kickoff — Oct. 26 (Government, Community) — TRT implementation and use plan kickoff — Monday, Oct. 26, 1–4 p.m. at Cook Memorial Library, with a Zoom livestream. Email KQuinn@cityoflagrande.org for an invitation.

Tuesday, October 27

• Pinochle social group — Tuesdays (Community) — Tuesdays at 1 p.m. at the La Grande Senior Center. The pinochle social group is open to everyone.

Wednesday, October 28

• Bingo — Wednesdays (Community) — Wednesdays at the La Grande Senior Center. Card sales begin at 1:30 p.m.; bingo starts at 2 p.m. Cash prizes.
• Community Town Hall — Oct. 28 (Community, Government, City Hall) — Community Town Hall — 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at EOU Huber Auditorium and online.
• Sit and Sip social hour — Wednesdays (Community, Senior) — Wednesdays, 9–10 a.m. at the La Grande Senior Center. Free coffee and tea, with sweet treats most weeks.
• Wednesday Walks — 2026-27 school year (Family, Community, Outdoors, Education) — Walk or ride to school on eight Wednesdays from Oct. 7 through May 26. Presented by La Grande Parks and Recreation and Safe Routes to School.

Thursday, October 29

• Growing Through Grief Support Group (Community, Health) — Eight-week grief support group meeting Thursdays, Sept. 24–Nov. 12, 2026, 6–8 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in La Grande.

Friday, October 30

• Costume Ride (Community, Family, Outdoors) — A family-friendly group costume ride for bikes and scooters on Oct 30.
• Dinner & Live Theater: Mary Shelley, Frankenstein Author — Oct. 30–Nov. 7 (Food, Arts) — Three 6–8 p.m. performances Oct. 30 and Nov. 6–7 at the Elgin Museum & Historical Society, 800 Alder St., in Elgin. Tickets are $45; pre-order at elginmuseum.org.
• Friday Morning Walking Prayer Group (Community) — A weekly silent walking prayer group meeting every Friday morning at 8:15 AM. All are welcome.
• Night Fright Productions Haunted Warehouse — Oct. 2-31 (Halloween, Family) — 7-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 2-31, at 410 Railroad Ave., Imbler. Tickets start at $20.
• Pub Talk Series: Brett Thomas (Community, Food) — Join the Pub Talk Series with Brett Thomas, Founding Brewer and Director of Operations of Sunriver Brewing Co, on October 30th.
• Shrek the Musical Jr. — Oct. 16-31 (Family, Art & Music) — Performances run Oct. 16-31 at the Elgin Opera House Mainstage, with Friday evening shows and Saturday matinees.
• Witches Night Out — Oct. 30 (Food & Drinks) — Witches Night Out — Friday, Oct. 30, 4–9 p.m. at K Voelz Wines, 1104 Jefferson Ave., La Grande. Tarot readings and small bites.

Saturday, October 31

• Community dance — Oct. 31 (Community, Music) — Saturday, Oct. 31, 6–9 p.m. at the La Grande Senior Center. $5 admission and a potluck intermission.
• Halloween Party at Clank-Tronix — Oct. 31 (Music, Community) — Halloween Party — Oct. 31 at Clank-Tronix, La Grande. All-ages music 6–8:30 p.m.; later music 9 p.m.–midnight may contain explicit language. $5 admission.
• Halloween Trap Shoot Under Blacklights — Oct. 31 (Sports) — Halloween Trap Shoot Under Blacklights — Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. at the La Grande Gun Club. Games are $5, with cash prizes; potluck — bring a dish to share.
• Harvest Party (Family, Community) — Free family-friendly Harvest Party with food, carnival games, and lots of candy! Saturday, Oct 31, 6:00–7:30 PM at Faith Center in Island City.
• La Grande Halloween Safe Trick-or-Treat — Oct. 31 (Family, Community, Holiday) — Halloween Safe Trick-or-Treat and costume contest — 4–6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, along Adams Avenue in downtown La Grande.
• Night Fright Productions Haunted Warehouse — Oct. 2-31 (Halloween, Family) — 7-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 2-31, at 410 Railroad Ave., Imbler. Tickets start at $20.
• Reapers Run: Ruck, Run, Walk (presented by Gold Club) (Sports, Community) — Reapers Run — Ruck, Run, Walk, presented by Gold Club. Sat., Oct. 31, 2026, 08:00 check-in, 64082 Airport Ln, La Grande. 5K $10; half $15. Costume contest & 50/50 raffle.
• Shrek the Musical Jr. — Oct. 16-31 (Family, Art & Music) — Performances run Oct. 16-31 at the Elgin Opera House Mainstage, with Friday evening shows and Saturday matinees.
• Summerville Stables Pumpkin Patch — Oct. 3-31 (Family, Outdoors) — Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 3-31, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Summerville Stables. $15 online; $18 at the gate; free for children younger than 2.

This Week in Local Sports

See the complete October 25–31, 2026 sports schedule for Eastern Oregon University and varsity teams from La Grande, Imbler, Union, Elgin and Cove.

More Events Ahead

• Monday, Nov. 2 — Main Street Mondays Neighborhood Coffee — First Monday of each month, 9:30 a.m. at the Press Room. Free coffee; monthly presenters and topics may vary.
• Wednesday, Nov. 4 — La Grande City Council Regular Session — First Wednesday of each month, generally 6 p.m. at La Grande City Hall Council Chambers; livestream available.
• Saturday, Nov. 7 — Goat Got Your Pumpkin — Bring your pumpkins and leaves to the compost yard in North Powder for cider and goats!
• Sunday, Nov. 8 — Press Room Contra Dance - November 8 — Join Traditional-Live! and Press Room for a Contra Dance series with live music and a local jam on November 8.
• Tuesday, Nov. 10 — 77th Farmer Merchant Banquet — Nov. 10 — Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, at EOU Gilbert Center, 1 University Blvd., La Grande. Start time and admission were not listed.
• Tuesday, Nov. 10 — La Grande Community Blood Drive — Nov. 10–11 — Blood drive Nov. 10, noon–6 p.m., and Nov. 11, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 12th and Gekeler, La Grande. Appointments: RedCrossBlood.org or 541-910-1973.
• Wednesday, Nov. 11 — La Grande Community Blood Drive — Nov. 10–11 — Blood drive Nov. 10, noon–6 p.m., and Nov. 11, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 12th and Gekeler, La Grande. Appointments: RedCrossBlood.org or 541-910-1973.
• Saturday, Nov. 14 — Wild Schools autumn classes — Oct. 23–Nov. 21 — Free nature-based classes: Wild Preschool (ages 0–6) Oct. 23–24 and Nov. 20–21; Wild School (ages 6–12) Nov. 14. Register with Blue Mountains Conservancy. At Heritage Pond in La Grande.
• Wednesday, Nov. 18 — Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra fall concert — Nov. 18 — The orchestra performs from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 18 at EOU McKenzie Theatre in Loso Hall, La Grande. Tickets are available through the orchestra.
• Thursday, Dec. 10 — Annual Holiday Gift Exchange — Dec. 10 — Annual Holiday Gift Exchange — Dec. 10, 5–9:30 p.m. at The Train Station in La Grande. Open to all women in Union County. tickets include dinner.
• Saturday, Dec. 12 — Winter Fest — Dec. 12 — Winter Fest — Saturday, Dec. 12, at the old Globe Furniture building in La Grande. Holiday market vendors are being sought.
• Sunday, Dec. 13 — Community invited to join Handel’s ‘Messiah’ performance — Dec. 13 — Performance: 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at McKenzie Theatre, EOU. Community choir and orchestra rehearsals begin in October.
• Sunday, Dec. 13 — Press Room Contra Dance - December 13 — Join Traditional-Live! and Press Room for a Contra Dance series with live music and a local jam on December 13.