Worth Leaving Town For: Langley Mystery Weekend

Every year, as winter comes creeping to an end, the picturesque town of Langley (only a hop, skip, and a 30-minute ferry ride from Everett) wipes the sleep from its eyes and invites amateur sleuths from near and far to solve its latest ghastly whodunnit.

What is it?

Sometime before February 23, a passerby will stumble upon an (imaginary, just in case you were concerned) murder. As it has for the past 35 years, Langley Chamber of Commerce (weeks before the murderer strikes, they’re prescient that way) invites anyone with a passion for mystery, local color, or Whidbey Island, to lace up their walking shoes and strap on their thinking caps.

Participants are encouraged to collect all the clues they can before submitting their solution by 4 p.m. on Sunday. Both the murderer and the winning detective are revealed at the culminating (and generally raucous) event at the Langley Middle School Auditorium, Sunday at 5 p.m.

Get your gumshoes on // Courtesy Betty Freeman

How do I join in?

Once your ferry docks on Whidbey Island, head straight for the Chamber of Commerce office at 208 Anthes Ave, where in return for $12 ($10 for military, youth, and seniors), you’ll secure the opportunity to submit your Sherlock Holmes-ian theory of the case. If you’ve deduced correctly, dear Watson, you could be this year’s big winner.

Although it is a two-day Mystery Weekend, there’s no reason to feel like you need to dedicate two full days. 10 minutes to two days — it’s entirely up to each detective to determine the amount of time and info they need to get to the bottom of the town’s latest quandary.

What have we here? // Courtesy Sharon Lundahl

I bought my ticket, now what?

Like any self-respecting small town plagued with a yearly murder, Langley publishes a local rag that reports the sensational news stories related to the latest murder-y escapades. Once your entry is purchased, first stop is the closest bench or coffee shop where you can settle in and pour over every word of the Langley Gazette.

Once the paper has been thoroughly combed for clues, it’s time to hit the bricks. Tacked onto the windows of the now closed Doghouse Tavern on Main Street you’ll find photos of the suspects and a quick bio for each of them. Memorize faces and names because these shady townsfolk can be found wandering Main Street and side streets, in and out of the restaurants and shops, and hanging at the local parks. While it’s never a guarantee that they’ll tell you the truth, it’s always interesting to hear them spin a yarn in response to your probing q’s.

There’s even a… flamethrower guy? //Courtesy David Wellington

It’s worth a wander to hunt them all down, as each character holds a tidbit of information that may or may not be helpful in making your case.

You’ll also want to poke your head into all the shops, as many of them distribute clues and information to help inform your murder-solving mission.

Every year the mystery is completely new (although quite a few local characters make repeat appearances). Previous murders have been committed on account of mutant bunnies, orca whales, aliens and even clowns. This year’s topic is time travel and is sure to pack a ridiculous punch.

Whether you walk away a winner or not, it’s a fun time, rain or shine. But of course, what detective doesn’t hope for the sun to burn off the mist as they pound the pavement in pursuit of truth?