Halloween Events, Some Beginning Today, Planned for Young and Old

Parks, schools, shopping malls and hospitals are joining in efforts to help make Halloween enjoyable and safe for people of all ages.

Spooky but safe activities are already under way at the Courtyard Mall, 550 Deep Valley Drive, Rolling Hills Estates, where an “Elvira” look-alike greets visitors to a haunted house operated by the Palos Verdes High School Drama Boosters. The house is open today from noon to 5 p.m., Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Halloween, from noon to 9 p.m.. Proceeds from tickets at $1 and $1.50 will benefit the high school’s drama department. Activities at the mall include a costume parade at 4 p.m. Saturday.

A Halloween dance for senior citizens is planned for Wednesday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Lawndale Civic Center, 14701 S. Burin Ave. Tickets and information are available at Prairie Avenue Community Center, 15331 S. Prairie Ave., telephone 973-4321, Ext. 137.

Scary stories and a puppet show, “The Monster and the Tailor,” await schoolchildren at the Westchester Library, 8946 Sepulveda Eastway, at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Prizes will be given for the best costumes. Call 645-6082 for information.

Halloween Carnival

The Hawthorne Parks and Recreation Department will stage its annual Halloween carnival at Hawthorne Memorial Center, 3901 El Segundo Blvd., Hawthorne, on Friday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Attractions include three costume contests, a witch’s cavern, games, prizes and candy. Call 970-7230 for information.

A Halloween party for older adults, a roast beef lunch and a performance by Dale’s Dancers is planned for Friday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Torrance-South Bay Area Family YMCA, 2900 W. Sepulveda Blvd., Torrance. Tickets are $1.50 and must be purchased in advance. Call 325-5885 for information. A Halloween carnival sponsored by Torrance Parks and Recreation Department will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Wilson Park, 2200 Crenshaw Blvd. Admission is free. For information call 618-2930.

Bay Harbor Hospital and the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks will co-sponsor a Halloween carnival Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. at Harbor City Recreation Center, 24901 Frampton Ave., Harbor City.

Carson Mall will have a magic show Saturday, with performances at 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. The cartoon character “Garfield” will lead a costume parade at 4 p.m. The mall is on Avalon Boulevard at Del Amo Boulevard, Carson.

YMCA Event

The San Pedro and Peninsula YMCA will sponsor a Halloween Carnival on Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. at 301 S. Bandini St., San Pedro. All proceeds will benefit the Youth and Government program at the YMCA. For information call 832-4211.

A “Spooktacular” Halloween extravaganza is promised by the Rancho Palos Verdes Recreation and Parks Department. It will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Ladera Linda Community Center, 32201 Forrestal Drive, Rancho Palos Verdes. Admission is $4, or $7 for one adult and a child. Pre-registration is required. Call 541-4566 or register in person at 30940 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes.

The Singles Friendship Club of the Redondo Beach Church of Religious Science will hold a Halloween party Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $3 and $4. Call 540-4334 for reservations and location.

The Wicked Witch and Count Dracula await visitors to the Peninsula Center and Peacock Alley on Halloween day between noon and 3 p.m. A pumpkin-painting contest for children and a comic face painter will be on hand. The center is on Hawthorne Boulevard at Silver Spur Road on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. For information call 541-4777.

Treats to Be X-Rayed

To wind up the holiday on a safe note, the following hospitals will X-ray treats collected by little goblins and ghosts:

AMI South Bay Hospital, Radiology Department, 514 N. Prospect Ave., Redondo Beach, 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday.

San Pedro Peninsula Hospital, 1300 West 7th St., San Pedro, 6 to 9:30 p.m., Saturday. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Medical Center of Manhattan Beach, 2809 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach, 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Robert F. Kennedy Medical Center, 4500 West 116th Street, Hawthorne, 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 1.

Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital, 333 N. Prairie Ave., Inglewood, noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 2.