Halloween Bingo Scaryoke Is Almost Here! Meet Some of the Volunteers Behind the Magic

Bingo Karaoke is one of the PNA’s most beloved (and rowdiest!) traditions, bringing neighbors together for costumes, karaoke, cash prizes, and fundraising. Halloween Scaryoke is coming up October 23 and 24! While Saturday is already sold out, tickets are still available for Friday, October 23. And don’t forget, PNA members get discounted tickets (members, email [email protected] for your discount code)!

To get us in the spirit, we thought it was the perfect time to introduce Matt Knezevich and Katherine Litts, two incredible PNA volunteers and members of the Bingo Karaoke Committee, as our guides to all things Bingo Karaoke!

Between them, they’ve volunteered at PNA Beer Tastes, Art Walks, Día de los Muertos celebrations, the Signal Box Art Project, and much more. We asked them to share a little about the history, the magic, and what makes Bingo Karaoke such a special part of the PNA community:

What is Bingo Karaoke?

What is the Bingo Karaoke Committee?

The Bingo Karaoke Committee is made up of volunteers who fell in love with the event; some from as far back as 20 years ago all the way up to first-time volunteers who just lost their Bingo Karaoke virginity. We have a lot of big ideas, from costume contests with a prize for the crowd’s favorite, to better snack options (yeah, we’re talking about you, grilled cheese). We have a lot of passion for the things that make this event special to each of us, and a lot of ideas on how to keep making it better. Some of those ideas take more than just a quick comment during one night of volunteering, and thus the Committee was born.

How did each of you get involved with Bingo Karaoke?

Matt: About 10 years ago, after getting involved with the PNA as a volunteer, I started hearing rumors about this crazy event that happened somewhere in the neighborhood. I had to know more. It sounded unreal — a senior center that became the most raucous ruckus in all of Seattle every few months. And it was for bingo of all things. Bingo… and Karaoke?! Cats and dogs, bees and birds. What kind of world was this? The tickets were impossible to get. You had to be awake at 2am, mouse hovering over the Buy Now button, and you had just minutes to snag them before they all sold out. And no, there was no big corporation mucking up the works. These were just neighbors who knew when the best party in town happened, and they all were going to be there come hell or high water.

Well, I did what any reasonable person would do. I hatched a plan and told my boss we should get tickets to Scaryoke Bingo as a team-building event. Of course it made sense. Support the community, have a fun night out. (Get me into this crazy party I’ve been dying to see.) It took a lot less convincing than I expected, and those of us who went remember it well. But you’ll have to come find me at Bingo to hear those stories 😉

Katherine: I had just moved to Seattle around 2021-22 from the east side, and was sorely missing the volunteer opportunity I had left behind to make the move out to Greenwood. Matt pointed out that there was quite possibly the best volunteer experience to be had, and it was just minutes away from our home. Imagine my surprise when I saw a packed room with people dressed to the nines in the theme of the night — volunteers included! We helped sell Special Games tickets (something we still do to this day) and got to be a part of the crowd all night long.

What can someone expect when they come for the first time? What makes Bingo Karaoke different from your average bingo night?

Let’s set one thing straight — this ain’t your grandma’s ho-hum Senior Center. Not tonight, it’s not — no docile tea-sipping and politely raising your paddle to call your teeny-tiny bingo. You gotta stand and SHOUT YOUR BINGO or someone else is getting it first! Expect a packed house and a lot of energy because people have been coming to this sell-out event for more than 20 years. Oh, and the Emcee might even say a bad word or two..

If you’re lucky enough to get tickets to Halloween Scaryoke, just know… this is the BIG one. So big, we made it a double-header this year.

You’re going to see a lot of costumes, ones that people will tell you they just put together day-of, ones that people special ordered, and sometimes — BREAKING NEWS: An entire table shows up as a news crew and then steals the show with their in-depth reporting and exclusive interviews. (If you know, you know.)

This is a party, and that party raises money, and some people even win money while raising money. Win one of the eight (8) regular games, and you’ll cover the cost of your ticket. Win one of our two (2) Special Games ~Oooo! Ahhhh!~ and you could be looking at hundreds in cold hard cash (seriously, our record highest was north of $600, and happened just last year). Dazzle the crowd with your costume, and not only will you win a round of drinks for your table, you’ll go down in history on our Hall of Fame Wall alongside Mr. Tapatio.

What makes Bingo Karaoke special to you?

Matt: PhinneyWood’s best traits are on full display every Bingo Karaoke. All of our generosity, creativity, and our love for all of our neighbors makes that bingo hall the best place on Earth to be every time we get to fill it. You’ll know when you get there — you can feel all that energy and see it in everyone’s smiles. And good friggin’ luck if you do get a bingo on your first time there.

Katherine: Bingo winners get bombarded with the crumpled games of everyone else in the room, we have a collective favorite bingo ball, and I one time even witnessed a standing ovation after someone performed What Does the Fox Say. Truly anything can happen at this event, and it’s incredibly special to get to be a part of putting that on for the neighborhood.

What are some of the ways you’ve been involved with the PNA over the years?

Our involvement started when Matt first partnered with the PNA as a volunteer and as a community organizer, working to grow the neighborhood and foster its small business community. Through the years, he always prioritized staying in the neighborhood and staying involved with the PNA. Before we met each other, Matt spent time attending Summer and Winter Beer Tastes, helping hang galleries for Art Walks, and even helping put together a Community Concert with a local small business. After Matt introduced Katherine to the PNA via Bingo Karaoke, we got more involved; the PNA makes this neighborhood feel like home, so we made the PNA a bigger part of our lives.

Some of our favorite memories are decorating for Dia de los Muertos, hosting the Punch Wall at the annual Together We Shine fundraiser (Matt, hobbled by a foot broken in the most middle-aged way possible), and our involvement on the Signal Box Committee! If you’ve seen the cool art-wraps on the boxes next to the traffic signals up and down PhinneyWood, those are them! We have more stories to share… but it might cost you a Special Games ticket or two 😉