It’s that time of year: {510} Halloween Guide

Kids so pleased with their costumes they want to wear them more than once? Here is a round-up of Halloween activities and outings where Jedi Knights and Cleopatra will be more than welcomed.

Ardenwood Farms’ Evening Train Ride: Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 pm, October 19th, 20th, 26th, 27th. Train ride through fields and woods. How scary will it be? The hosts say that the “slightly frightful” evening is designed for families with children 12 years of age and under. Tickets will be available at the gate on arrival: $6/adults, $4/child (3-12 yrs.)

Barnes and Noble, Emeryville: 2 pm Halloween-themed storytime on Saturday the 27th.

Pumpkin Festival at Mountain View Cemetery in Piedmont:  Saturday, Oct 27, from 2-3 pm. The event will follow the local Piedmont Avenue Merchants Association’s annual Halloween parade, which is part of a daylong celebration that includes trick-or-treating at participating stores on the avenue. To join in the fun, head down to the end of Piedmont Avenue after the parade and proceed into the cemetery to the pumpkin patch meadow. Children can choose a free pumpkin and enjoy five “jumpers,” a hay-bale tunnel, a balloon artist, face painting, craft table, refreshments and a treat bag.

Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley: Saturday the 27th includes access to a pumpkin catapult experience and the animal discovery room where you can visit tarantulas and other creepy critters. Regular museum admission prices and hours.

Children’s Fairyland’s Jack O’Lantern Jamboree: Saturday and Sunday, the 27th and 28th. This event promises to be more delightful than frightful, unless you’re a member in which case you’ll be paying $5 to enter the park for this special event. Non-members are $10. Bouncers, face-painting, and balloon-twisting will be on hand.

Boo at the Zoo: Saturday and Sunday, the 27th and 28th, costumes are encouraged and children can collect treats as they walk around the zoo. The train will be decked out for Halloween and face painting stations will be available.

MLK Middle School Pumpkin Patch Dash: Track races for all grades K-8th, plus carnival with games, prizes, and face painting. Sunday, October 28, 9.30 – 12.30. $5 per child who participates. See City of Berkeley website for race times for each age group.

Rockridge Halloween Parade: There is a parade and merchant trick or treating on College Ave on Sunday, Oct 28th from noon to 2 pm. Meet in front of the College Avenue Presbyterian Church, 5951 College Avenue, at 11:45 a.m.

James Kenney Harvest Festival: Wednesday, Halloween Day 3:30–5:30pm. Free carnival games, costume contest, costume parade, make arts and crafts, have a tasty snack.

Live Oak Park Rec Center Halloween Party: Wednesday, Halloween Day at 3 pm. Free event includes costume contest with prizes, Halloween parade in the neighborhood, and Halloween games. Party refreshments will be served.

Frances Albrier Halloween Community Parade: Wednesday, Halloween Day at 4.30 pm at San Pablo Park.

Solano Avenue Trick or Treating with Costume Contest: Halloween Day, children can trick or treat at the businesses from 3-5. At 5 pm, a costume contest will be held at 1245 Solano (@ Masonic)

Coyote Hills Halloween Twilight Hike: For those who would rather stroll through nature than pound the pavement for candy, there will be a hike at 5:30 pm on Halloween at Coyote Hills Regional Park. The three-hour program will end with a campfire and treats. Costumes encouraged.

Berkeley’s Fourth Street Trick-or-Treating: The merchants will be welcoming trick or treaters from 2 to 5 pm on Halloween Day. Live music, face painting, scary hair styling and a photo booth will be on hand.

Montclair Village Parade and Trick-or-Treating: The parade forms at 3 PM on Halloween Day at the Village Park entrance closest to Bank of America on Mountain Blvd. The parade starts around 3:30 PM and ends at Montclair Park. Merchants will share goodies in the park at the conclusion of the parade.

Face-painting at Awaken Cafe in Oakland: If your child’s costume could benefit from a fabulous make-up application, head over to the Awaken Cafe on Broadway and 15th Street.

Haunted House & Carnival at UCB Student Co-op: This free event is hosted by  a UC Berkeley student cooperative. Starting at 6 PM on Halloween night, the carnival will begin with face-painting, arts and crafts, story-telling, and music for the young (and young at
heart). At 7 PM the haunted house will open its doors, recommended for middle-schoolers and older, closing at 9:30 PM. Located at 1730 La Loma Ave, Berkeley (two blocks from the north side of campus).

Trick-or-Treat in Temescal: 4 to 6 pm on Halloween afternoon on Telegraph Avenue all the way from 41st Street to 51st Street.