EWU to Host an Evening of Ghostly Good Fun

Eastern Washington University’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is hosting its annual Spooky Science as part of the Cheney Hometown Harvestfest on Friday, Oct. 23. The free evening of spirited Halloween activities runs from 4 to 7 p.m. Costumes are encouraged and children must be accompanied by an adult.

So far, 138 EWU students have signed up to help with the 15 Spooky Science activities. Other student volunteers are helping with the EWU Boo! event by leading families through the Trick-or-Treat Trail, acting as wayfinders, escorting people across streets and parking lots, and assisting with activities throughout the trail.

Planning began last spring and multiple donors have stepped up with gifts to ensure this year’s event is both eerie and educational. This year’s Spooky Science supporters include Kelli and Jerry Borden, Justin and Meghan Terry, Adam and Alesha Huson, the Kiwanis Club of Northeast Spokane, and the Cheney Centennial Lions Club.

Members of the campus community are also donating bags of candy and other goodies for the Cheney Merchant’s Association Trunk-or-Treat and EWU Boo! events.

Spooky Science has taken many forms over the years: transforming from a virtual event during the pandemic to a briefly non-existent event and then springing to full life in 2023.

“Since then, we’ve had more and more kids come through the doors of ISC for Spooky Science, with over 500 kids last year,” says Melissa Graham, assistant dean of student success and belonging and director of the EWU MESA University Center.

Ashley Lamm, an EWU professor of chemistry and biochemistry who co-organizes Spooky Science, says the relocation of the Trunk-or-Treat to a nearby parking lot on the Eastern campus, in 2023, provided ideal timing to launch the live annual events.

Now, with the relaunch of the E.W. Boo! Trick-or-Treat tour of campus, which also took a several-year hiatus, children and families will have more opportunities to explore Eastern.

“We’re so excited to have all of the events on campus!” Lamm says.

Here is the lineup of activities for Cheney Hometown Harvestfest:

Trunk-or-Treat | 4-7 p.m. | Sponsored by the Cheney Merchants Association, this annual tradition takes place in parking lot P3 from 4 to 7 p.m. It serves as a one-stop location for candy and goodies.
EWU Boo! | 4-7 p.m. | Sponsored by the Office of Community Engagement, this cross-campus trick-or-treating activity runs throughout the evening. Starting at the University House, home of the university president, kids will take a guided tour through campus for treats, fun activities and surprises along the way.
Spooky Science | 5-7 p.m. | Science experiments and activities will take place in the Interdisciplinary Science Center and the Science Building. Attendees should enter through the main ISC entrance.

Spooky Science activities include:

Chemistry demos
Prehistoric predators
Liquid nitrogen ice cream
Slime
Boo-Tanical Buds
Bugs (including cockroach races)
Glow room
Ghostly germs
Human bones
Boo bubbles
Haunted math
Physics demos
Animal bones
Lava lamp potions
Escape room

Spooky Science is sponsored by the EWU College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math; EWU Admissions; EWU Sustainability; Eagle Store; and the departments of Biology, Chemistry Biochemistry and Physics, Design, Geosciences, and Mathematics.

Learn more about suggested parking and other information by visiting the Office of Community Engagement website.