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Halloween fun starts today
HAUNTED-PROMO3-10-22-09
Manteca Parks & Recreation’s Brandy Kendrick-Clark, back right, and Heather Herrera of the Manteca Youth Advisory Commission, back left, get a scare in prior to today’s haunted house and carnival at the Manteca Boys & Girls Club. See details in story. - photo by HIME ROMERO

Halloween kicks off today 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 today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Manteca Interact Club, a youth service organized 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.

Boys & Girls carnival & haunted house

The Boys & Girls Club Halloween Haunted House & Carnival – takes place today 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 and haunted house is $4 for non-members while club members are free. Adults accompanying a child are free. The haunted house is $2.

Manteca School  Farm Corn Maze

The Manteca Unified School District farm students have a pumpkin patch and corn maze that are a perfect haunt for Halloween fun.

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 today (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and next Friday from 1:30 p.m. until dusk.

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.

Manteca Christian Harvest Party

The Manteca Christian School Harvest Party takes place Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. at the school, 486 Button Ave.

It will feature games “trunk or treat”, dunk tank, prizes, food, and more.

For more information call 239-3436.

St. Anthony’s plans Safe Halloween

St. Anthony’s School will host its fourth annual Safe Halloween Night at the school, 323 N. Fremont Ave., in Manteca on Saturday, Oct. 31.

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.

MRPS Halloween Festival & Dance

The MRPS Halloween Festival and Dance takes place Saturday, Oct. 31, at the MRPS Hall, 133 N. Grant St. from 4 p.m. to midnight.

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.

First Baptist Church Bible Land Festival

Want a fun and safe alternative to trick-or-treating? Need a little more excitement than dragging your kids around strange neighborhoods? Then join us First Baptist Church, North and Sherman, Saturday, Oct. 31, for a night of relaxation and family fun. It is open to all children from toddler age to 6th grade (older brothers and sisters are welcome.) All activities will be moved inside if the weather is cold or wet.

There will be game booths including festival classics such as bowling, sack race, darts, maze, cake walk, etc. They will introduce some new and exciting games: carpet ball and ladder golf. Come by to check them out. Every child will go home with a treat bag full of goodies and candy won at each game booth.

Also, visit our Loaves and Fishes Cafe to get your dinner (hot dog, nachos, dessert, hot chocolate, apple cider, coffee and punch.) Get a food ticket when you enter the festival. Suggested donation is $2 each. No charge for admission and games.

The church is located at 715 E. North Street in Manteca. If you have any questions, please call the church office at 823-1781.

Journey Church Trunk ‘N Treat
On Oct. 31 beginning at 6 p.m. is Journey Church’s annual Trunk ‘N Treat.

Children are invited to come through our parking lot at the church and receive goodies from the trunks of the congregation’s cars. They will have hot chocolate and coffee for the moms and dads who need a “pick-me-up” after all that walking. This is a free event.

The church is located at 444 Argonaut Street, Manteca; 823-7133. Visit the church onthe web at: wwwmantecajourney.com.

Halloween fun run benefits food bank
It is arguably the fun run with the most interesting characters racing through one of San Joaquin County’s most picturesque fall settings.

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.