 | | | Scarecrows return to Orinda streets Fall wouldn't be the same in Orinda without the many scarecrows and pumpkins adorning streets and sidewalks, thanks to the Orinda Garden Club's and community members' efforts. This trio welcomes visitors to Orinda from Highway 24 on their way into town. Photo Cathy Dausman | | | | | | Halloween is time for oh-boys and ghouls to join in creepy fun-filled activities ranging from costume parades to community fairs and fright-filled haunted houses. If you're haunting down something to do, here is a monster mash-up of Lamorinda area celebrations:
Boo Fest, Orinda
Del Rey Elementary School will scare up its Boo Fest from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, which will feature class carnival-like booths, bouncy houses, cake decorating contest/cake walk, Halloween puppet show, DJ Clem, dunk tank and for an extra cost, shaved ice and food trucks. Admission is $10 per person; tickets are available online at https://delreyparentsclub.revtrak.net/Boo-Fest-Tickets/#/v/Boo-Fest-Tickets-364.
Pumpkin Craft Extravaganza, Moraga
Children age 3 and older can decorate pumpkin cards and mini pumpkins (while supplies last) during the Pumpkin Craft Extravaganza Tuesday, Oct. 24 from 4 to 4:45 p.m. at the Moraga Library.
Halloween Parade for Tots, Orinda
Costumed kids can follow Glenda the Good Witch in a stroll around the Orinda Community Center Park during the Halloween Parade for Tots at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26. Light Halloween activities and refreshments are provided. Registration is not required. The event will occur rain or shine; if it rains we move the parade indoors. Admission is free.
Trick or Treat Street, Lafayette
Lafayette Chamber of Commerce's Trick or Treat Street allows kids to trick-or-treat from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, along Mt. Diablo Boulevard between Oak Hill Road and Dewing Avenue and in La Fiesta Square. Participating stores display "Trick-or-Treat" posters and balloons; there's also a costume contest and movie in the Plaza.
Get Your Ghoul On - just for teens, Orinda
Teens in grades 6-12 can make creepy crafts, gory treats and participate in bone-chilling activities at the Orinda Library from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27.
Halloween Haunted House, Lafayette
The Lafayette Youth Commission's 12th annual Halloween Haunted House at Lafayette Community Center Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 28 and 29 comes in two degrees of fright. The Not Too Scary Haunted House (for children 7 and under with parents) runs 5 to 7 p.m.; admission is $3; A Very Scary Haunted House (ages 8 and up) runs from 7 to 9 p.m.; admission is $5.
Creepy Hollow, Orinda
Sleepy Hollow Elementary School in Orinda (best Halloween-themed school name ever) hosts Creepy Hollow from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, which includes its famous Haunted House, as well as a Denon & Doyle DJ dance party, bounce house, face painting, carnival games, Spooky Spa and more. Home-cooked meals and tasty treats will be available as well as Abel's Mexican Catering and the Slider Guy food trucks. Advance ticket prices are $20 per child and $5 per adult (available at Will Call at the event). The last day to buy tickets online is Saturday, Oct. 21. Same-day tickets will be $20 per child and $15 per adult. Children ages 3 and under and grandparents are free.
Haunted Hardware Store, Orinda
Orinda Hardware on Moraga Way will be transforming into the Haunted Hardware Store from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29 with an upstairs aisle-by-aisle, spooky theme designed for "littles" or slip downstairs to the workshop - where things get a bit gory. Admission is free.
Trick or Treat at Rheem, Moraga
The Rheem Valley Shopping Center in Moraga hosts a trick or treat event for kids in costume from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, where kids can get free candy from participating businesses.
Frankenstein's Toy Lab, Lafayette
Visitors ages 8 to 14 can create their very own monster in Frankenstein's Toy Lab from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31 at Lafayette Library and Learning Center. (Gently used toys gladly accepted ahead of time for this project.) You can also view the library's Day of the Dead altar in the library homework center or look for hidden ghosts and goblins in the open space Oct. 23 to Nov. 4.
Zombies willing to travel farther afield might want to try:
Spooky Train Ride, Fremont
Fremont's Ardenwood Historic Farm offers a spooky but not scary train ride through the forest of Ardenwood Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights Oct. 20 through 29 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. (9 p.m. on Sunday). Tickets are $7 per person ages three and up; parking is free. (Note: neither Tilden park RR or Niles Canyon RR offer Halloween themed rides.)
Not-too-Spooky Halloween, Berkeley
Berkeley's Habitot Children's Museum hosts a Not-too-Spooky Halloween 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA