Halloween activities come to life

CURIOUS KID—Henry Turbeek, 8 months old, finds the big pumpkins at last Sunday’s Calabasas Pumpkin Festival quite fascinating. The festival moved to Juan De Anza Park from Paramount Ranch and attracted thousands of local and regional visitors. Other fall and Halloween-related events are on tap throughout the area this weekend. BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers Parents are already acting as if they’ve had a bad scare. One look at the calendar has provided the ghastly news: this year, their kids’ favorite holiday, Halloween, falls on a school night, Mon., Oct. 31. And with the clocks turned back an hour, it will be dark earlier for those little trick-or-treaters. This ghoulish situation has been remedied by good-hearted witches and goblins in the community who’ve conjured up a series of family events on the weekend, so children won’t be disappointed and their parents won’t be driven batty. Some attractions are to be found a short drive from home. The following is a sampling of the many activities families may participate in to get in the playful Halloween spirit.

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers TASTES GREAT—Veronica Dunne, 10, of Calabasas competes in the Pumpkin Festival’s pie-eating contest. Fri., Oct. 28

Thousand Oaks: Devilish Event for Heavenly Cause

The Young Artists Ensemble’s “Haunting on the Hill,” described as a thrilling Halloween extravaganza, is a fundraiser for the American Red Cross and the Southern Arts Federation Emergency Relief Fund. The event is at 7 p.m. Fri., Oct. 28 in the Hillcrest Center for the Arts’ Theatre on the Hill, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.

Admission ranges from $10 to $15. For reservations call (805) 381-1246.

Simi Valley: Dances with Witches and Warlocks

The Council on Aging will host a Halloween-themed dance from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Fri., Oct. 28 at the Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi. Attendees are encouraged to dress in their scariest costumes. There will be prizes awarded for the best costume and the funniest outfit, too. Doors will open at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $5 per person. The Windsors will perform music for guests’ dancing pleasure. There will be refreshments and door prizes. For more information, call Nancy at (805) 577-0258.

Moorpark: A-Haunting We Will Go on High Street

Rosemary and Michael Moffat will serve as the “ghostly guides” for the second annual Historic Haunts of High Street walking tour that will be offered at 7 p.m. Fri., Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m. Sat., Oct. 29 and at 8:30 p.m. Sun., Oct. 30, departing from the Theater on High Street, 45 E. High St., Moorpark.

The tour is based on Moorpark’s history, legends and lore, and High Street in particular is said to have a very rich, sometimes mysterious, history. A tour of the recently renovated vintage landmark theater will be included, and refreshments will be available in the theater’s lobby (for a donation).

The cost of the 45-minute tour is $8 adults, $4 children 12 and under. For information call the sponsoring organization, the High Street Theater Foundation, at (805) 529-8700.

Sat., Oct. 29

Agoura Hills: Dare to be Scared at Yerba Buena

The Yerba Buena PFA presents a Halloween Carnival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat., Oct. 29 at Yerba Buena Elementary School, 5844 Larboard Lane, Agoura Hills. This event offers a “really really scary haunted house” plus games, rides, food and free admission. Sandra Bennett will be providing miniemergency kits for sale with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the school’s PFA. For more information call the school at (818) 8890040.

•Catch the Boo-Bus to Knott’s Scary Farm

The city of Agoura Hills Department of Community Services offers a trip for teens to visit Knott’s “Scary” Farm amusement park from 4:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Sat., Oct. 29. The bus trip offers “a frightful evening of ghouls, ghosts and haunted mazes.” Cost is $50. For more information, please call the Agoura Hills Recreation Center at (818) 597-7361.

• Little Goblins Enjoy a Barbecue

Christian Church of the Hills’ Children’s Ministry will offer a new haunted house during its third annual free Halloween Carnival from 5 to 7 p.m. Sat., Oct. 29 at 29295 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills.

Carnival activities are open to the public and will also include a costume contest, moon bounce, arts and crafts, game booths, bobbing for apples and a barbecue dinner. For more information call Dennis Morefield at (818) 991-0272.

Calabasas: Leonis Adobe is Brewing up Fun

The Leonis Adobe Museum is brewing up Halloween family fun with a costume party and plenty of activities from 1 to 4 p.m. Sat., Oct. 29 on their rustic grounds at 23537 Calabasas Road, in Old Town Calabasas.

Regina the Witch is making a special appearance that will include a story time and passing out candy for the kids while adults enjoy a reading from author Robert Wlodarksi’s “Spirits of the Leonis Adobe: History and Hauntings in Calabasas.” Autographed books will be available for purchase at the event.

A professional mask painter will be decorating faces, and professional pumpkin artist Doug Goodreau will be demonstrating jack-o-lantern carving techniques and offering custom creations for purchase.

Live music, refreshments, ranch animals and house tours of the Leonis Adobe are also part of the seasonal fun. Guests arriving in costume will receive half off the standard admission fees, which range from $1 to $4 (museum members are admitted free). For more information call (818) 2226511.

Thousand Oaks: Canines in Costume on Parade

PawZessions Pet Boutique and Bakery will host its inaugural Halloween canine costume parade from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sat., Oct. 29 at 2989 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Twenty-five to 40 dogs of all shapes and sizes wear

ing Halloween costumes will participate in the parade, vying for special awards including silliest costume, scariest costume and best matching costumes (dog and owner). Each entrant will receive a prize, and there will also be raffle prizes.

Tickets are $10 per canine entrant. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to Noah’s Wish, a rescue organization that helps pets during times of disaster such as the recent hurricanes. For more information, call Stephanie or Eleanor at (805) 449-1022.

•Ghost and Goblins will be Seeing Double

Conejo Valley Mothers of Multiples (CVMOM), a support group that offers education, play groups and activities for mothers of twins, triplets and more, will host their annual Halloween Children’s Social from 2 to 4 p.m. Sat., Oct. 29 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1 W. Avenida de Los Arboles, Thousand Oaks.

After having refreshments and making crafts, kids will parade outside for their Halloween Trunk or Treat. Participants are invited to get creative by decorating their trunks and/or rears of their SUVs. For very small children, it is recommended they may be carted around in a decorated wagon.

Treats do not have to be candy, CVMOM spokeswoman Cathy Bach-Abril advised. Children like stickers, bouncy balls, crayons and other fun trinkets. An RSVP stating name and the number of children and adults that will be attending should be made to Danielle Talbert at (805) 577-8244.

• Get that Haunted Feeling

The Conejo Recreation & Park District (CRPD) will be offering a night full of safe Halloween fun specifically oriented toward families on Sat., Oct. 29 at the Thousand Oaks Community Center, 2525 N. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. Call CRPD at (805) 3812793 for more information. The activities include the following and are free unless otherwise noted.

Haunted Trail: This spooky short hike is packed full of Halloween fun. At the end of the trail the hayride will pick you up and take you for a ride.

Tickets are $2 in advance or $3 at the gate. The trail is open from 8 to 10 p.m. Call CRPD to purchase advance tickets.

Costume Contest: This is open to ages 2 and under through adults.

Prizes will be awarded for various categories. Please call CRPD for age categories. Please call CRPD for age divisions, categories and registration forms. The contest will get underway at 7:30 p.m.

Trick-or-Treat Street: Looking for a safe place for your child to go trick-or-treating? Come out to the Thousand Oaks Community Center’s Trick-or-Treat Street. Local scout troops and other community groups have made these Halloween-themed houses and will be ready for trick-or-treaters to comea-knockin’ from 7 to 10 p.m.

Live Reptile Show: Halloween is a great time to see these creepy crawly creatures up close. They will be on view at 7 p.m.

Newbury Park: Celebrate Halloween Hawaiian-Style

The Pi-R Squares will host a plus level square dance on Sat., Oct. 29 at Borchard Community Center, 190 N. Reino Road, Newbury Park. The theme for the evening event is “Halloween Howl II Luau and Anniversary Dance,” with a sit-down dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. followed by dancing from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Costumes are optional. Advance ticket purchase is $12.50, or $15 at the door. For information, call (805) 492-1442.

Simi Valley: Pumpkin Painting and All That Jazz

From 6 to 8 p.m. Sat., Oct. 29 the Simi Valley Family YMCA welcomes families to its “Halloween Festival 2005” at the Y, 3200 Cochran St., Simi Valley. Children are encouraged to come in costume and participate in pumpkin painting, apple bobbing and family relays. Games and refreshments will be available.

The cost is $10 per family and families must register to attend by visiting the YMCA or calling (805) 583-5338.

Sun., Oct. 30

Calabasas: Library’s a Creepy Place Today

From 2 to 3 p.m. Sun., Oct. 30 the city of Calabasas Library will host a special Halloween Story Time and Craft program for children ages 4 and older at 23975 Park Sorrento, Calabasas. Children are invited to attend in costume. For more details, call the reference desk at (818) 225-7616.

Mon., Oct. 31

Moorpark: Free Halloween Fun

Grace Bible Church of Moorpark will host their 21st annual Halloween Carnival from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Mon., Oct. 31 at Peach Hill Park. The event will feature carnival games, music, face painting, candy and more. All activities are free with the exception of a Jolly Jump and refreshments (pizza and drinks) offered at a modest cost.

Parents interested in a fun and safe alternative to trick-or-treating are invited to drop by the carnival at the corner of Peach Hill Road and Christian Barrett Drive in Moorpark.

Simi Valley: Have a Spooktacular Time

“Spooktacular” activities are on tap for the Halloween Carnival copresented by Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise and Cardservice International. Open to children ages 11 and under, the carnival will be staged indoors from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mon., Oct. 31 at Rancho Santa Susana Community Center, 5005-C Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. Admission ranges from $1 to $4, and attendees are encouraged to wear costumes.

Attractions include a Trick or Treat Village, inflatable slides and jumps, Balloon Typhoon, and a Mad Science educational show. There will be magic shows, music, and Halloween-theme games like Dracula Darts, Graveyard Putt and Pin the Tail on the Dragon.