Finding a 1995 Cadillac hearse in California Bucoda mayor Alan Carr has added it to the town's popular 'Boo-Coda Spook-Tacular' haunted house which is set to open Sept. 28.
Boo-coda is turning into far more than just a turn of phrase.
The town of Bucoda in south Thurston County recently became the proud owner of a hearse to be used to promote and as a part of the new Boo-Coda Spook-Tacular celebration of Halloween.
A more than month-long revelry of all things black, orange and bloody, the Spook-Tacular kicks off on Friday with the opening of a haunted house at 403 N. Nenant St. and features events ranging from a Halloween Joke Contest (Oct. 6), to a Pine Box (as in casket) Derby (Oct. 13) and an all-comers rendition of the Thriller Dance made famous by Michael Jackson (Oct. 27).
“We started it this year because we’re looking for more ways to bring attention to the haunted house and we’re hoping to bring some revenue into the community,” Bucoda mayor Alan Carr said. “We have some civic projects we’d like to do, like putting an elevator in the community center and a sprinkler system in the old gym. Things that are getting older and require some TLC.”
Acquiring the 1995 Cadillac Krystal Hearse itself did not require spending any city funds. An anonymous donor covered half of the $2,000 purchase price, while a grant from the Port of Olympia paid for the rest.
Carr said advertising was the main motivation for buying the hearse — the city plans to put signs on it to advertise during festivals that take place year-round in the area — though it will also be a centerpiece of the hearse processional on Oct. 13, complete with a brass band.
Bucoda officials drew inspiration from the Halloween celebrations held by the town of Palouse, Washington.
The month of spooky events also includes a presentation on Abraham Lincoln’s Funeral Procession, a tour of the Forest Grove Cemetery, a talk on religious and cultural death-related practices, scary storytelling and joke contests and pumpkin pancake breakfasts Saturday mornings in October at the Bucoda Community Center.
Proceeds from the Spook-Tacular events will be used to support the Bucoda Community Center and the town’s 1939 gym.
For more information about Bucoda’s embracing of Halloween, including a full schedule of events, visit boo-coda.com. For information about just the haunted house, visit scary-nights.com.
* Editor's Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the dates for pancake breakfasts.
