Roseburg’s Neewollah Parade Promises Spooky Fun on Halloween
Roseburg’s beloved Neewollah Parade will return this Halloween — bringing dancing witches, plenty of candy and even Captain Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl pirate ship downtown for a haunting good time.
Roseburg’s Neewollah Parade is believed to be the longest-running in the country. Roseburg began this monster tradition in 1933 when Neewollah – that’s Halloween spelled backward – was a national phenomenon and the city has held it nearly every year since– aside from a few years during World War II and two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, when virtual “parades” and costume contests were held instead. Learn about Neewollah’s origins in a City Connection story.
This year, downtown Roseburg’s Jackson Street promises many an eerie sight when a parade organized by former City Councilor Stacey Crowe and sponsored by the City of Roseburg steps off from Jackson Street at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31.
About 4:30 p.m. that day, hundreds of costumed tricksters of all ages will gather on Jackson Street at Douglas Avenue. A flash mob of dancing witches, Captain Jack Sparrow and his Black Pearl ship will add a few thrills as trick-or-treaters prowl the pavement, and businesses, the City of Roseburg and the Douglas County Juvenile Department give out candy.
“Yes, Captain Jack will be downtown. The Black Pearl will sail with pirates. We are working on adding a plank for a pirate to be sitting on,” said Roseburg architect Paul Bentley, aka Captain Jack Sparrow from Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
In addition, about 8 to 10 Roseburg Area Dancing Witches plan to perform to songs including German singer Peter Fox’s “Schüttel Deinen Speck,” or “Shake Your Bacon;” the Rocky Horror Picture Show’s “Time Warp;” the German song “Atemlos durch die Nacht” or “Breathless Through the Night;” and a short version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
If that’s not enough ghastly fun, Roseburg Fright Club will conjure up “Nightmares at Fairview Manor” for five nights at a new location: beneath the Douglas County Fairgrounds grandstands. The all-volunteer haunted house operating in the Umpqua Valley since 1993 will raise funds for different local nonprofits from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24; Saturday, Oct. 25; Thursday, Oct. 30; Friday, Oct. 31; and Saturday, Nov. 1, with a special bonus involving photos with Krampus, a mythic spirit from European folk tales. Entry costs $7 for children 12 and under and $13 for adults and youths 13 to 17. On Friday, Oct. 24, admission is $10 with a student identification card. On Thursday, Oct. 30, families of up to 2 adults and three kids can get in for $35 per family. Cash and debit/credits cards are OK.
In addition, the Optimist Club of Roseburg will present the second annual “Ghosts of Roseburg Tour” this month. Downtown group tours will showcase characters and events, thanks to a collaboration with the Umpqua Community College drama department. Tourgoers will be treated to true tales of the past as they walk down the same streets that historic figures once did. The tour is based on the self-guided “Ghosts of Roseburg Past” walking tour created by Roseburg resident Jennifer Grafiada in 2022 with the assistance of a City of Roseburg tourism grant.