Halloween kicks off in Manteca a week early this Saturday with two long-standing traditions – Safe Halloween as well as the Boys & Girls Club carnival and haunted house.
Safe Halloween, the annual event held in the heart of downtown Manteca, is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Manteca Interact Club, a youth service organization sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Manteca, is again planning for Safe Halloween. The event is for children 8 years or under. They‘re encouraged to don their costumes while trick or treating at the many participating merchants downtown. The Interact Club has arranged for Fun and Games to provide a jump house and several kiddie rides for a small price at the corner of Yosemite Avenue and Main Street.
For more information call Interact Club advisor Tevani Liotard at 858-0876.
The Boys & Girls Club Halloween Haunted House & Carnival – takes place Saturday, Oct. 24, at the clubhouse at 545 W. Alameda St.
The event is staged with the help of the Manteca Parks & Recreation Department and the Manteca Kiwanis. It is open to youth from preschool through the sixth grade. The event also includes a costume contest and takes place from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Kids need to be at the carnival by 2:30 p.m. to be part of the costume contest.
Admission to the carnival is $2 for non-members while club members are free. Adults accompanying a child are free. The haunted house is $4.
The corn maze, designed specifically for youngsters age 10 and under – included is a scavenger hunt, with those kids finding all eight items in the maze earning a prize – and pumpkin patch are accessible via the district office complex parking lot at 2271 W. Louise Ave., and is open every Friday (1:30 p.m. through dusk) and Saturday (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) with the exception of Halloween throughout this month.
Cost is $3 for youngsters age 2 and older. Those 1 and younger are admitted free.
Pumpkins of all sizes along with decorative pieces such as wheat bundles, mini pumpkins and ornamental gourds are among the items available for sale.
Youngsters can also enjoy face painting along with arts and crafts, petting zoo, and pumpkin carving and tattooing.
It will feature games “trunk or treat”, dunk tank, prizes, food, and more.
For more information call 239-3436.
The event is designed to keep children safe and off the streets on Halloween night. Haunted house, games, prizes and food will be featured in the school gym from 4 until 8 p.m. Admission is free. Ticket prices are 25 cents each, 20 tickets for $5 or 40 tickets for $10. For more information, please call the school office at 823-4513.
There is an adult costume contest at 10:30 p.m. and a kid’s costume contest at 8:30 p.m.
The family orientated event includes a bounce house, games, prizes, food, pumpkin painting and cake walk.
The cost is $5 for adults 16 and older while those 15 and under are free.
For more information call Evelyn at 599-6650.
The Halloween River Run sponsored by Almond Valley Chiropractic takes place Saturday, Oct, 31, at Caswell Memorial State Park
The one-mile run/walk starts at 9 a.m. followed by the 5K run at 9:30 a.m. at the park located along the Stanislaus River at the southern terminus of Austin Road.
There is another reason why the Halloween River Run is a bit different. All proceeds will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank that helps meet the food needs of struggling families in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.
Race day registration starts at 8 a.m. on Oct, 31. The cost is $20 for adults and $12 for kids. The charge is $35 on race day for adults to compete in both runs.
Bring 10 canned goods to race and and you’ll be entered into a drawing for an iPod.
Costumes are encouraged. The wearer of the best costume will receive $20.
There is a $25 award to the overall fastest male and female in the 5K run. Medals go to the top three in each division that includes 12 and under, 13 to 18, 19 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, and masters.
The registration fee includes a T-shirt.
Registration forms are at www.avcproadjuster.com. For more information contact Mary Pat at drmarypat@aol.com or call (209) 599-2699.
