Halloween scares up full schedule of events

Here’s a roundup of Halloween events and activities arranged geographically:

Baker

First Baptist Church of Baker will hold its annual Trunk or Treat 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 in the parking lot. There will be decorated vehicles with trunks full of goodies, complimentary photographs, free hot dogs and drinks. Vote for your favorite trunk. Donations of non-perishable food will be accepted for the food pantry in Holt. The church is across from Baker School Stadium. Call 537-2993.

Crestview

The Downtown Crestview Fall Festival, jointly sponsored by the Main Street Crestview Association and the City of Crestview, will be 3-8 p.m. Oct. 31 on Main Street. The event includes a Halloween costume contest, musical entertainment, food and craft vendors, games, clowns, free goodies for chidlren. Call 865-8595 or 689-3722.

Destin

The United States Coast Guard Station Destin is a putting on its Haunted House 7-10 p.m. Oct. 29, 30. There will also be a safe-boating display, Coast Guard vessels on display and kids bounce area. Donation of one item of non-perishable food per person or cash donations are requested, but not required. All proceeds will be donated to Destin Harvest at Thanksgiving time. Please car pool because of limited parking available. Call 217-2918 or visit online hauntworld.com/haunted_house_in_destin_florida_2009_coast_guard.

Visit the Fort Walton Beach Jaycees Haunted House at Fudpucker’s Oct. 29, 30, 31 from 7 p.m. until everyone is scared away. Donation of $8 per victim. Not recommended for children under 10. Visit the Web site fwbjaycees.com or call 850-642-5292.

Destin Commons will hold a Lil Goblins Spooky Halloween Costume Contest 2–4 p.m. Oct. 31 in Center Plaza. The contest is for kids ages 1–12. Prizes will be awarded by age groups for the scariest, cutest and most original costumes. Registration is at 2 p.m.; costume contest is at 3. Cost is $5 registration fee per child entered, with all proceeds benefiting Ronald McDonald House. Call 337-8700.

The Destin Elks Lodge will hold a safe place to trick or treat at the lodge at 115 Palmetto St. 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31 in the parking lot. Call 837-0744.

The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin will hold trick or treat 6-7:30 p.m. for children in costume to visit Village merchants for free goodies and treats. Abrakadoodle will be the featured children’s entertainment at the events plaza, providing materials for children to decorate guitars so they can rock out with the DJ that will be playing on stage from 6-8 p.m. Magician Rick Moore will perform a magic show at 7:30 p.m. on the Events Plaza Stage. There will be a special fireworks display at 8 p.m. The season’s debut of the Village’s outdoor ice skating rink will take place 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission to the rink is $8 and skate rental is $2. Bring a coat for “Coats for Kids” and buy one ticket and get one free for the ice rink.

The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa gets into the spooky season with the Third Annual Monster Mash Bash 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Oct. 31. The Halloween event features full open bars, food and live entertainment by Mr. Big and the Rhythm Sistas – a high-energy eight-piece ensemble. Prizes will be given at the costume contest judged by the audience. Cost is $69 per person or $129 per couple (not including tax). For the little princesses and pirates, Hilton Sandestin Beach is throwing a special party for children ages 5 to 12 during the Monster Mash Bash, so the kids can have a safe and fun Halloween celebration of their own. Cost is $39 per child and includes dinner, drink and activities. For reservations, call 267-9500 or (800) 367-1271, or visit HiltonSandestinBeach.com.

HarborWalk Village will hold Halloween events for families and children noon-3 p.m. Oct. 31. Activities include trick or treating, costume contest, spooky train ride, pumpkin carving, ghost stories and arts and crafts. Activities for adults run 7-10 p.m. Oct. 31 and include a costume contest, Monster March with drink specials and live music by the Michael Jackson tribute band Thriller.

Keller Williams Realty, 151 Regions Way, is holding the Great American Pumpkin Giveaway and Chili Cookoff 4-6 p.m. Oct. 29 in its parking lot. There will be a pumpkin decorating contest for children and an auction of pumpkins decorated by local artists. Chili, beverage and dessert will be available for a $5 donation.

Fort Walton Beach

The City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park & Cultural Center presents Haunted History Tours based on authentic local history, folk stories and spooky downtown historic sites. One tour will be conducted at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 30, and two will be conducted at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Tours are limited to 50 people each and early sign-up and ticket purchase is encouraged. Pre-sale tickets are available during museum hours at the Indian Temple Mound Museum at a cost of $8 per adult and $5 per child. On tour nights, tickets can be purchased starting at 6 p.m. outside the Indian Temple Mound Museum entrance. On Halloween Night, additional tickets to join a paranormal investigation and ghost hunt with Fort Walton Paranormal will be available for $10 per person, all ages. The program will begin immediately after the 8:30 p.m. Haunted History Tour end. Heritage Park & Cultural Center is at 139 Miracle Strip Parkway S.E. The Indian Temple Mound Museum is open for ticket sales 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Call Mike Thomin at 833-9595.

Hollywood Baptist Church, 204 Hollywood Blvd. S.E., will host its fifth annual Fall Festival 4-7 p.m. Oct. 31. Free activities for the entire family include hayrides, pumpkin patch, puppet shows, food, and trunk-or-treat. There also will be baked goods and a chili cook-off. Call 243-1021.

Church on the Emerald Coast, 665 Denton Blvd., will host a Christian alternative for Halloween 3-5 p.m. Oct. 31 in the church parking lot. Activities will celebrate happiness, fun and blessings. There will be games, prizes and food followed by Trunk-or-Treat at 6 p.m.

Join Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge at Howl at the Moon on Okaloosa Island for “Fun”draiser Friday on Oct. 30. Doors open at 7 p.m.; dueling piano show starts at 8 p.m. Before the show, meet the Refuge’s animal ambassadors. There will be a Halloween costume contest with prizes. Tickets are $10 for the event and include two drinks. Call 685-9014 for tickets.

Westwood Retirement Resort will hold trick or treat for area children at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 31 in the atrium. Call 863-5174.

Uptown Station will celebrate Halloween with a variety of events including the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge haunted house called The Dark, located by the new office building. There will be a Haunted Stage Coach by the entrance on Eglin Parkway and signs to direct folks. The Dark will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. till late and also on Thursday, Oct. 29. Tickets are $7.

A Halloween Film Festival competition is being sponsored by the Production Services Association of Northwest Florida. Filmmakers of all ages and skill levels were invited to produce a short film in the "fright" genres of horror, suspense thriller, science fiction/fantasy, scary comedy, or Halloween themed. Movies will be screened on Halloween Day at the Cinema Plus theater in downtown Fort Walton Beach. Moviegoers will participate in judging at the screening. The movies will then be available for online judging Nov. 1-10. Winners will be announced Nov. 11 at the Production Services Association of NW Florida meeting. Prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place winners as well as honorable mentions. Visit the Web site at PSAnwf.com or call RJ Murdock at 850-244-7100.

There will be a Crypt Crawl 6-10 p.m. Oct 29. Participating pubs will be: Fokker’s, Salty Duck, Coasters, KC's, The Block, Slick Mick's, International and Papa Joe's Hideaway. Visit fwbpubcrawl.com.

Mary Esther

The Haunted Woods walk will be on Oct. 30 at Oak Tree Nature Park. Children’s walk is 5-7 p.m. and adult walk is 7:30 -11 p.m. The cost for children is $3, adults $5, families $15. All proceeds go to benefit the Pirates Booster Club which funds activities (weddings, births, promotions, and retirements) for a unit at Hurlburt Field. Visit myspace.com/hauntedwoods2009.

Milton

MILTON – Calling all ghouls for the Main Street Milton's 3rd Annual Haunted House 7-11 p.m. Oct. 29-31 in the two-story haunted house along the spooky Blackwater River. It will be family friendly 7-8 p.m., and maximum terrifying after 8 p.m. Admission tickets are $5 a person. Historic Downtown Milton is at 5232 Willing St. Call 626-6246.

Navarre

Check out the Navarre Presbyterian Church’s Annual Pumpkin Patch at 1870 Lowe Road (in front of West Navarre Primary School on the north side of U.S. Highway 98). Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 31. Pumpkins and gourds range in price from $1 to $15. Call 850-939-3524.

Niceville

The Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra will get concert-goers in the Halloween spirit at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Mattie Kelly Fine and Performing Arts Center on the Niceville campus of Northwest Florida State College. The “Halloween Spooktacular” concert will feature the world premiere of “The Tell Tale Heart,” a new piece written by NWFSC music professor Dr. Jeremy Ribando and other spooky favorites. Jeffrey Rink, NFSO music director and conductor, encourages audience members to arrive in costume to help enhance the mood. “The Tell Tale Heart,” draws its inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe’s story of horror and suspense. The orchestra will play this work assisted by the disembodied voices of Belle Voci, Northwest Florida State College’s premiere women’s vocal ensemble. Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain” will conclude the first half of the concert. Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique” will conclude the concert. Concert tickets are $22.50 each for adults and $16 for youth age 18 and younger and are available by phone or Web from the box office at 850-729-6000 or mattiekellyartscenter.org. The NFSO offers a new discounted ticket rate for active-duty military of $16 per ticket to any NFSO concert for tickets purchased at-the-door by a military member showing ID. The box office opens at 6 the night of the concert. There is a four-ticket limit per person for the military discount.

Orange Fest 2009, a fun family event, will be 4:30–7 p.m. Oct. 31 on South Partin Drive. The entire street will be blocked off. Activities include: trunk or treat, singer Chris Cadenhead, inflatables, food vendors, drama presentations, live music, pumpkin patch, carnival games, balloons, face-painting, Army Ranger reptile house, hay rides, WPSM live radio, emergency vehicles display and clowns. There will be a free shuttle bus service to and from Ruckel Middle School’s parking lot. Participants are asked to bring a monetary donation and/or can of food for charity. Hosted by Niceville First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches. Sponsored by Niceville Assembly of God, First Presbyterian Church of Niceville, Rocky Bayou Baptist Church, Valparaiso First Baptist and Rocky Bayou Christian School. The only cost is for food concessions. Visit the Web site at fbcniceville.org or call 678-4621.

Pensacola

“The Rocky Horror Show” is back at Pensacola Little Theatre on Oct. 29-31 at 7:30 p.m. Audience members are encouraged to dress in costume and sing along, but leave the props at home. A packet of props appropriate for use in the theater will be available at the door for $5 each. Tickets are on sale at the Pensacola Little Theatre Box Office, 400 S. Jefferson St., or by phone at 432-2042. Prices are $25, $20, $18, and $15 with a $2 discount available to senior citizens (60 plus), full-time students, or active-duty military with I.D. Ask about group rates when purchasing 10 tickets or more. A $1 handling fee is assessed on every ticket.

Loblolly Theatre, 1010 N. 12th Ave., presents its 10th annual Halloween/harvest celebration, “Miss Fortuna.” Show time is 8 p.m. Oct. 29-31, Nov. 1, 6, 7, 13, 14, 19-21. Admission is $9. Call 850-439-3010 for reservations. Web site is loblollytheatre.com.

A heart-stopper chopper will be open to those who dare to walk through the haunted helicopter for a little Halloween thrill at the National Naval Aviation Museum 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Oct. 31. As part of the 11th annual Halloween Celebration, the hair-raising helo tour is appropriate for all ages. Adding to the Halloween happenings, a special showing of “Superstition” will be available on the motion-based simulator ride and treat stations will be set up outside near the helicopter as well as inside the Museum, complete with costumed staff and volunteers. Spooktacular rides will also be available on the Screamulator (motion-based simulator) featuring a special showing of “Superstition” through Sunday, Nov. 8. Regular admission is $5.50. Special “Spooktacular” combo admission is $8 per person, which includes “Superstition” and “Ride with the Blues.” Children in costume will receive $2 admission for “Superstition.” Admission to the Museum is free. Visit NavalAviationMuseum.org or call the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation at 850-453-2389 or 800-327-5002.

Shalimar

Traditional goodies for trick-or-treaters will be given from decorated car trunks in the Anglican Church of the Resurrection lot on Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. The church is at 66 8th St., at the corner of 9th Avenue. Call 651-2894.

South Walton

SEASIDE – The Merchants of Seaside will offer a variety of games, contests and entertainment as well as trick-or-treating 4– 6 p.m. Oct. 31. Go door-to-door around the shops and restaurants at Seaside to receive candy. In the amphitheater, 30A Radio will spin terrifying tunes from the stage all afternoon long and Seaside Rep actors will read spooky stories. Hitch a ride on the Haunted Hayride behind Heavenly Shortcakes on Quincy Circle. Visit www.seasidefl.com.

ROSEMARY BEACH — The Harvest Market & Monstrous Halloween Celebration will be held Oct. 31. The market runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. A Goblins Kid Block Party/Town Hall Cemetery will run 4-6 p.m. A Ghouls Costume Party will run from 7 p.m. until. Call 951-2148.

ALYS BEACH – D.J. Harry will return to Alys Beach on Oct. 30 to perform at the second annual Noche de los Muertos – or “Night of the Dead” – adult costume party and dance. There will be $500 in prizes. The party will be held at Caliza Pool, ran or shine, 8 p.m. -midnight. Cash bars will be available and costumes are required. The party is for guests ages 21 and older. Tickets can be purchased for $20 online at alysbeachevents.ticketleap.com, or at the door for $30. Call 1-866-481-8387.