The Halloween season in Manteca and Ripon gets underway Saturday.
The biggest kids orientated event in Manteca — Downtown Safe Halloween — is expected to draw more than 2,000 people.
The Manteca Unified School District Interact Club with the support of the Manteca Rotary is hosting the 18th annual Safe Halloween in downtown Manteca from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Young children 10 and under are encouraged to don their costumes and trick or treat at participating merchants. The Interacters will have free face painting with several games and booths in the Manteca Bedquarters parking lot at Yosemite and Main. 
The traditional Halloween carnival and haunted house is from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday  at the Boys & Girls Club as well. It is designed for preschool through sixth graders. It will feature games for all ages, face painting, arts and crafts, costume contests, and treats. The costume contest takes place at 2:30 p.m. The cost is $5 at the door. Boys & Girls Club members with ID are $2. There is no charge for parents.
Manteca Rec is expanding its Halloween offerings by offering Lunch with Dracula and His Friends at the Manteca Boys & Girls Club, 545 W. Alameda St., on Saturday from noon to 1:30 p.m. A lunch of hot dogs and chips will feature plenty of opportunities to have photos taken with Count Dracula and his friends. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own cameras. Tickets are $4 each and are only on a presale basis. They can be purchased at the Parks & Rec office. If you combine with the admission to the carnival that follows, you can get a discounted ticket of $8 for both events if purchased in advance. Call 456.8600 for details.
Also on Saturday at 2 p.m., the Manteca Library presents Halloween craft time for families at 2 p.m. at the library at 320 W. Center St. Attendees will make decorations such as tissue paper pumpkins and monster signs. It is designed for children of all ages. Materials will be provided. The free program is made possible through the generosity of the Friends of the Manteca Library.
In Ripon, Saturday is the Men’s Auxiliary to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1051, 12455 W. Ripon Road, Halloween party at 5 p.m. The $15 ticket covers a pork dinner, dancing, costume contest, and “freaky fun.” Tickets are available at the post or by calling 209.599.6815.

THURSDAY, OCT. 27
uSHASTA HARVEST FESTIVAL: The Shasta School’s 9th annual Harvest Festival is Thursday, Oct. 27, from 5 to 7 p.m. and includes a costume contest at 6 p.m.. There will be games for the kids to play with the purchase of tickets. Ticket prices are 3 for $1, 15 for $5 and 30 for $10.  Games range from 1 to 4 tickets. There will be face painting, a scarecrow contest, and a raffle. You can also buy a small pumpkin for $2 which kids can decorate.  Student body will be selling $1.50 slices of pizza, $1 soda and $2 piece of pie.

uBROCK ELLIOTT FALL CARNIVAL: Brock Elliott School’s Fall Carnival is Thursday, Oct. 27, beginning at 4:30 p.m. with the booths, food, games, and prizes in the school courtyard. Trunk or Treating will begin about 7 p.m. in the front parking lot.

FRIDAY, OCT. 28
uMANTECA SENIOR CENTER HALLOWEEN DINNER & DANCE: The Manteca Senior Center is staging a Halloween Dinner & Dance on Friday, Oct. 28, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the center, 295 Cherry Lane. Tickets are $7 per person. You must be 40 or older. There will be costume contests (though not required to wear a costume, candy, games, dancing, and more. The menu consists of a two-piece chicken dinner, rice, beans, cheese enchilada, corn tortillas, and salsa along with dessert and beverages. Tickets are available at the senior center, 209.456.8650. The deadline to buy tickets is Oct. 25.

SATURDAY, SUNDAY OCT. 29-30
uSPOOKY WALK: The Delta Tule Trekkers are hosting a fun “Spooky Walk” at Caswell Memorial State Park, 28000 Austin Road, Ripon, this Halloween weekend Saturday, Oct.29 and Sunday, Oct. 30.  Families and individual walkers are invited to join either a 5K or 10K walk through oak woodlands. The Trekkers are affiliated with the American Volkssport Association and offer non-competitive walks.  Starting period is from 8 a.m. to noon with a BBQ at noon planned for both days.  All walkers are welcome, member or not, and may walk for AVA credit or for free, except for a park entry fee.  There is costume contest on Saturday with prizes.  For more info call (209) 931-0557 or go to www.deltatuletrekkers.org.

MONDAY, OCT. 31
uREFUGE CHURCH TRUNK OR TREAT: The Place of Refuge Church, 486 Button Ave, Manteca, is conducting its free annual Trunk or Treat from 5 to 8 p.m. Adults decorate the trunks of their cars for kids to trick or treat at and they walk around and collect treats. There will also be am Inflatable Zone for safe indoor play and a place for parents to sit down. There is also free kettle corn and popcorn. There will be a coffee shop open to purchase coffee drinks.

u ST. PAUL’S SAFE HALLOWEEN: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church is hosting is Safe Halloween from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31, in the fellowship hall, 910 E. North St., Manteca. For more information call 209.823.7154.