Halloween and harvest activities available range from the simply fun to the scary in the Ceres area.
The largest event in Ceres will be the city Recreation Department's 27th annual Halloween Festival. The event takes place at Smyrna Park on Halloween on Friday, Oct. 31 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event includes free activities in a safe environment for the entire family. Children will enjoy a petting zoo, carnival games, a fortune telling booth, refreshments, crafts, candy (children 12 years and younger) a costume contest and pictures with Pudge the horse ($2 per person). For more information call 538-5782.
The city of Ceres Department of Recreation will present a Halloween "Mommy or Daddy and Me" craft class. Children and their parents will work together on a variety of age appropriate crafts and get into the spirit of the holiday season. Supplies and refreshments will be provided. The class is for children aged 3 1/2 years to 10 years and their parents and will be held 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Ceres American Legion Hall. Cost is $10 for parent and child. Pre-registration is required one of three ways: visiting City Hall, 2720 Second Street, Ceres, online at www.ci.ceres.ca.us, or by calling Traci Farris at 538-5682.
Modesto Junior College's West Campus will present the fourth annual Halloween Carnival and Haunted House from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30, in the Mary Stuart Rogers Student Learning Center at 2201 Blue Gum Avenue in Modesto. The family-oriented carnival is open to the public and will offer games and events for all ages. There will be a pumpkin decorating contest for children 12 and under and a costume contest will be held for every age group. (Family appropriate costumes are requested.) Tickets for games and events may be purchased at four tickets for $1 and 25 tickets for $5. A family package will also be available for $30 that includes four food items (choice of hot dogs or nachos), four fountain drinks, and 90 game/event tickets. Any questions on the Halloween Carnival and Haunted House should be e-mailed to MJCGamersClub@gmail.com
Church festivals
A number of local churches are offering fun but not scary events for families.
The Healing Place in Hughson will host a Harvest Carnival and Trunk-or-Treat event in the church parking lot, 7781 Fox Rd, corner of Fox and Euclid across from the Samaritan Village. The event offers a family safe night of fun and games with the community. The carnival will offer game booths and trunk-or- treat with lots of candy and prizes. Admittance is free and all children will be given a pass good for one visit to each of the booths and the jump house where they will receive candy and or prizes. Hot dogs, beverages and additional game tickets will be sold at minimal cost.
Stanislaus State event
Youngsters who visit the 15th annual Housing and Residential Life Halloween Gala at California State University, Stanislaus on Halloween evening will receive a free book along with their tricks and treats. The Phi Kappa Phi honor society chapter is conducting a "Spooktacular Booook Drive" on the University campus through tonight so that trick-or-treaters at the Haunted House in The Village will receive the gift of reading during their visit. New paperback book donations for children ages 2 to 14 are being accepted on campus in Room 360 of the Mary Stuart Rogers Educational Services Gateway Building, Room 108 in Bizzini Hall, and at the Vasché Library Circulation Desk.
The free Halloween Gala at The Village, located on the northeast corner of the campus and accessible from the Crowell or Geer Road campus entrances, is open to children of all ages from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Halloween. In addition to the traditional Haunted House and locations for trick-or-treating, the event will include a carnival featuring a variety of games and crafts. Parking is free and shuttle service will be available. More information is available by calling the University Housing and Residential Life office at 667-3675.
The largest event in Ceres will be the city Recreation Department's 27th annual Halloween Festival. The event takes place at Smyrna Park on Halloween on Friday, Oct. 31 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event includes free activities in a safe environment for the entire family. Children will enjoy a petting zoo, carnival games, a fortune telling booth, refreshments, crafts, candy (children 12 years and younger) a costume contest and pictures with Pudge the horse ($2 per person). For more information call 538-5782.
The city of Ceres Department of Recreation will present a Halloween "Mommy or Daddy and Me" craft class. Children and their parents will work together on a variety of age appropriate crafts and get into the spirit of the holiday season. Supplies and refreshments will be provided. The class is for children aged 3 1/2 years to 10 years and their parents and will be held 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Ceres American Legion Hall. Cost is $10 for parent and child. Pre-registration is required one of three ways: visiting City Hall, 2720 Second Street, Ceres, online at www.ci.ceres.ca.us, or by calling Traci Farris at 538-5682.
Modesto Junior College's West Campus will present the fourth annual Halloween Carnival and Haunted House from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30, in the Mary Stuart Rogers Student Learning Center at 2201 Blue Gum Avenue in Modesto. The family-oriented carnival is open to the public and will offer games and events for all ages. There will be a pumpkin decorating contest for children 12 and under and a costume contest will be held for every age group. (Family appropriate costumes are requested.) Tickets for games and events may be purchased at four tickets for $1 and 25 tickets for $5. A family package will also be available for $30 that includes four food items (choice of hot dogs or nachos), four fountain drinks, and 90 game/event tickets. Any questions on the Halloween Carnival and Haunted House should be e-mailed to MJCGamersClub@gmail.com
Church festivals
A number of local churches are offering fun but not scary events for families.
The Healing Place in Hughson will host a Harvest Carnival and Trunk-or-Treat event in the church parking lot, 7781 Fox Rd, corner of Fox and Euclid across from the Samaritan Village. The event offers a family safe night of fun and games with the community. The carnival will offer game booths and trunk-or- treat with lots of candy and prizes. Admittance is free and all children will be given a pass good for one visit to each of the booths and the jump house where they will receive candy and or prizes. Hot dogs, beverages and additional game tickets will be sold at minimal cost.
Stanislaus State event
Youngsters who visit the 15th annual Housing and Residential Life Halloween Gala at California State University, Stanislaus on Halloween evening will receive a free book along with their tricks and treats. The Phi Kappa Phi honor society chapter is conducting a "Spooktacular Booook Drive" on the University campus through tonight so that trick-or-treaters at the Haunted House in The Village will receive the gift of reading during their visit. New paperback book donations for children ages 2 to 14 are being accepted on campus in Room 360 of the Mary Stuart Rogers Educational Services Gateway Building, Room 108 in Bizzini Hall, and at the Vasché Library Circulation Desk.
The free Halloween Gala at The Village, located on the northeast corner of the campus and accessible from the Crowell or Geer Road campus entrances, is open to children of all ages from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Halloween. In addition to the traditional Haunted House and locations for trick-or-treating, the event will include a carnival featuring a variety of games and crafts. Parking is free and shuttle service will be available. More information is available by calling the University Housing and Residential Life office at 667-3675.
