Where to Find a Spooky Good Time

Haunted houses, carnivals and a journey through the terrors of times gone by are among the activities planned for Halloween throughout North County.

Friendly or frightening, the festivities begin this week and continue through Halloween night. Here are some of the events scheduled:

CARLSBAD

Youth Theater: The headless horseman rides again in the Carlsbad Youth Theater’s production of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” this Friday-Sunday at Carlsbad Community Cultural Arts Center, 3557 Monroe St. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. This musical comedy in three acts is cast entirely with children ages 6-16. Tickets are $5. Call 931-8709. Pumpkins will be sold during intermission at a pumpkin patch outside the theater.

Gourmet Goblins: In this Halloween cooking class sponsored by Carlsbad parks department, kids ages 7-12 year old will learn to make Jack-o-Lantern Chili, Ghastly Ghoulaid, Fruity Witch Salad and Spooky Black Cat Cupcakes, from 4-6 p.m. Monday at Calavera Community Center, 2997 Glasgow Drive. Cost is $12 for Carlsbad residents, $15 for others, plus a $4 materials fee. To register, call 434-2923.

Carnival/Haunted Gymnasium: New monsters and special effects make up this year’s haunted gymnasium sponsored by the Carlsbad parks department from 5:30-9 p.m. Oct. 30 at Calavera Hills Community Center, 2997 Glasgow Drive. The sixth annual Halloween carnival will be held in conjunction with the haunted gymnasium. The carnival is $3 per child (adults free), and $1 per person for the haunted gymnasium. Refreshments will be sold. Everyone is encouraged to wear their scariest costume.

Mall Treats: Plaza Camino Real will celebrate Halloween with trick-or-treating from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31 at participating shops. Children are encouraged to wear their costumes.

DEL MAR

Terror Time: The San Dieguito Boys and Girls Club and Torrey Pines High School students present “Terror Through Time,” a reflection of horrors through the ages, at the Piazza Carmel building in the Vons Shopping Center at Carmel Valley Road and Carmel Creek Road. Hours are 6-9 p.m. Monday-Friday (Oct. 26-30) and 5-8 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 31). Admission is $4 for kids; adults free when accompanied by a child.

ENCINITAS

Halloween Stories/Crafts: Storyteller Harlynne Geisler will tell ghost stories for children ages 8 years and older from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Friday at Reading Patch Children’s Books, 288 N. El Camino Real. Cost is $1. A craft class to make glow-in-the-dark trick-or-treat bags will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. today and Saturday. A class on making a jeweled Halloween Jack-o-lantern will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Saturday. Cost of the classes are $20 per person and are open to children ages 5 years and up. For reservations, call 632-0301.

Carnival: A carnival will be held from 2-5 p.m. Sunday at Magdalena Ecke YMCA, 200 Saxony Road. Admission is $2.50 for children ages 12-23 months; $3.50 for kids ages 2-6.

Street Fest: The Downtown Encinitas Mainstreet Assn. hosts its fourth annual Haunted Holiday from 5-9 p.m. Halloween night, on 1st Street in downtown Encinitas. The family oriented evening features a live Creepy Crawly Critter show, a Witches Brew concert, face painting, scary window displays and trick-or-treating at shops marked with balloons. Admission free.

Sleepover: Children ages 5-12 can participate in a Halloween party and sleepover from 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 31) to 8:30 a.m. Sunday (Nov. 1) at the Magdalena Ecke YMCA, 200 Saxony Road. Games, swimming, movies and a costume contest are included. Children should wear their costumes and bring a swim suit, towel, sleeping bag, night clothes, toothbrush and paste and a flashlight. Dinner will not be served, but an evening snack and breakfast will be provided. Cost is $20 for Y members, $24 for others. If paying by credit card, call 632-1311. All other reservations must be made at the Y.

ESCONDIDO

Haunted House: A house of horror dubbed “The Haunting” will be open from 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday (Oct. 28-31) at the site of the future East Escondido Community Center, 2245-61 East Valley Parkway. Tickets are $2 on Oct. 28 and $3 Oct. 29-31. This house of horror, sponsored by the Escondido Parks and Recreation Department and the Patio Playhouse, is recommended for ages 10 years and older. Younger visitors must be accompanied by an adult.

Monster Maze: An elaborate labyrinth has been created, complete with torture rooms, fog and surprises around every corner, and will be open from dusk to 10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and dusk to 11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through Oct. 31 at the Family Fun Center, 830 Dan Way. Cost is $5 per person.

Mall Treats: Palomar Family YMCA is sponsoring a day of Halloween activities for kids, including mask decorating and magic shows, from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 31 at North County Fair. Mall merchants will also participate in trick-or-treating from 5-7 p.m. Halloween evening.

FALLBROOK

Play: Fallbrook Players will present Agatha Christie’s whodunit, “The Mouse Trap,” at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Potter Jr. High School, 1743 Reche Road. Tickets at the door are $8 for adults, $6 for students under 18.

Carnival/Haunted House: The Fallbrook Boys & Girls Club is sponsoring a haunted house from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 30 and 5-9 p.m. Oct. 31 at the club, 445 E. Ivy St. Haunted house admission is $2. A carnival, featuring food and game booths, a silent auction and money raffle, will be held at the club from 4-8 p.m. on Halloween. Carnival admission is free. Children are encouraged to wear their costumes.

OCEANSIDE

Halloween Hijinx: Face painting, a cake walk, game booths and a haunted house will be held from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at Heritage Park, 500 Peyri Road, sponsored by the parks and recreation department. Children are encouraged to wear their costume.

Crafts: Free arts-and-crafts sessions for kids ages 5-12 years will be held at several playgrounds and recreation centers from 2:30-5 p.m. Monday-Friday (Oct. 26-30). The locations are Balderrama Recreation Center, John Landes Recreation Center, North River Road Recreation Center, Ditmar Elementary and Mission Elementary.

Craft Fair: A craft fair, haunted theater and trick-or-treating will be held from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Halloween day at Oceanside Senior Center, 455 Country Club Lane. Admission free. Children are encouraged to wear their costume.

POWAY

Haunted House: The Poway Teen Council will sponsor a haunted house from 6-10 p.m. Oct. 30-31 at Poway Community Center, 13094 Bowron Road. The haunted house is geared for all ages. Admission is $1.50.

Pumpkin Carving: A carnival including a pumpkin carving workshop and costume contest for kids ages 6-12 years will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Halloween day at Lake Poway. A petting zoo, game booths, Astro Jump, balloons, prizes and refreshments will be featured. Carnival admission is free. Game tickets are 10 cents each and the Astro Jump is $1. Children are encouraged to wear costumes and a contest will be held at 1 p.m. Children can bring their own pumpkin or purchase one at the carnival. Participants in the pumpkin carving need to bring a carving knife and strong spoon.

Rehearsal Bash: Members of the Arts Alive! Foundation and their families can participate in acting, singing and dancing in costume at the first Halloween Rehearsal Bash from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. Refreshments, games, prizes for best and worst costumes and treats will be highlights of the afternoon. The event is open to those who join the Foundation, which supports the center. Memberships, which range from $35 to $1,000, will be sold at the door.

RANCHO BERNARDO

Carnival/Contests: A free Halloween carnival featuring a cake decorating contest and pumpkin carving contest will be held from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at Westwood Club, 17394 W. Bernardo Road. Children are encouraged to wear their costumes. Participants in the cake decorating contest need to bring the cake on a non-returnable plate to the clubhouse at 11 a.m. Sunday. Cakes will be used for prizes in a cake walk. Families may also bring their carved and decorated pumpkins at 11 a.m. for judging. Prizes will be awarded for the funniest, ugliest, most beautiful and most creative pumpkin. A children’s costume parade will be held at 2 p.m., followed by a costume competition.

RANCHO PENASQUITOS

Adobe Halloween: A hay wagon ride, a grave site visit, holiday crafts and campfire story telling make up a chilling program from 6:15-10:30 p.m. Friday at the historic adobe in Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, 12020 Black Mountain Road, Rancho Penasquitos. Cost is $10 per person. Each child must be accompanied by an adult with a maximum of two children per adult. For reservations, call the San Diego County Parks Society at 475-1633.

SAN MARCOS

Concert: The 70-voice Palomar Chorale will present a Halloween concert with music by P.D.Q. Bach as well as a haunting segment entitled “Ghosts, Witches and Magic,” at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Palomar College’s Howard Brubeck Theatre, 1140 W. Mission Road. Tickets are $8; senior citizens and students $5. Call 744-0136.

Carnival: A costume parade, haunted house, pumpkin decorating, game and craft booths and food will be featured at Richland Elementary School’s annual carnival from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 31 at 910 Borden Road, San Marcos. Admission free.

Country Halloween: A Halloween party for adults, featuring country-Western music by Char Carroll and Durango Band, dancing and prizes for best and most original costumes, begins at 7 p.m. Oct. 31 at Leo’s Little Bit O’ Country, 680 W. San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos.

VISTA

Party: A haunted house, maze, bobbing for apples, costume contest, prizes, music and games will be featured in a party sponsored by the Vista Boys & Girls Club from 5-9 p.m. Oct. 30 at the club, 410 W. California. Admission is 50 cents for members, $1 for others.

Safe Halloween: Vista Town Center Assn. will give a holiday theme to its weekly farmers’ market from 6-9 p.m. Thursday on East Vista Way, between Citrus and Santa Fe. Shop windows will be decorated, merchants will be in costume and children can safely trick-or-treat from store to store. Arts and crafts and food vendors will be featured.