A FULL PILLOWCASE : There’s Plenty to Do, Even if Trick-or-Treating Isn’t Your Bag

When I was a kid, Halloween was a lot simpler.

Mom would suit me up in a makeshift costume, stick a pillowcase in my hand and warn me not to eat too much junk before I got home. Thrills and chills came later, when my big brother and sister would descend upon my carefully stashed treats, leaving a trail of bruised apples and lint-covered Juju-bees in their wake.

Today, with more parents worrying about cavities, cholesterol and crime, traditional trick or treating seems to be on the wane. But don’t sweat it, kids. From community parties and carnivals to creepy haunted houses, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate the ghosting season in Orange County.

Parties, Parades, Festivals

The 67th Annual Halloween Parade and Orange County Fall Festival runs tonight through Sunday at the corner of Harbor Boulevard and Broadway in Anaheim. The weekend’s activities include pancake breakfasts, a street fair, children’s art and costume contests, a classic car show and back-to-back performances by international dance and music groups. Singer Chris Finch serves as grand marshal of Saturday’s parade, which begins at 5 p.m. at the corner of Lemon Street and La Palma Avenue. Every child participating in Saturday’s costume contest will be invited to ride in the parade. Admission is free, games and activity prices vary. (714) 999-5191 or 776-7676.

Pumpkin City’s Pumpkin Farm continues from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through Halloween in the Sears parking lot at the Laguna Hills Mall, El Toro Road at Interstate 5. Highlights include pony rides, a kiddie carnival, barnyard animals and thousands of pumpkins for sale. On Saturday there’s a marionette show at 2 and 4 p.m.; on Sunday, a country-Western band plays from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. (714) 586-5862.

Youngsters ages 6 to 13 can create their own spooky masks and crafts at a Halloween Crafts Workshop from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today at Anaheim’s Brookhurst Community Center, 2271 W. Crescent St. Admission is $5. (714) 999-5227.

What was Halloween like before snack-size Snickers and Ninja Turtle masks? Find out Saturday when the Discovery Museum of Orange County (3101 W. Harvard St., Santa Ana) welcomes kids ages 5 to 12 to a Victorian Halloween Party. From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., the museum’s Kellogg mansion will be the site of old-fashioned Halloween games, ghost tales, trick-or-treating and caramel-apple dipping. Children are encouraged to come in costume. Tickets: $10 (parents admitted free); reservations required. (714) 540-0404.

Kids ages 3 to 12 can dress for success at Halloween Happening, a costume contest hosted by South Coast Plaza and Costa Mesa’s Recreation Department on Saturday in the mall’s Carousel Court. Prizes will be awarded and there will be free carousel rides and goodies for the kids. Admission is free. (714) 645-4985.

San Clemente’s Concordia School (3120 Del Presidente Ave.) will host a Halloween Carnival on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Events include a costume contest and parade, games and a haunted house. Admission is free, game tickets are 25 cents each. Call (714) 492-3060.

Nearly 500 pieces of children’s Halloween-themed art will be on view Saturday at Placentia’s Town Center Village Plaza (Yorba Linda and Kraemer boulevards) during the Halloween Art Contest and Costume Parade. Pre-registration for the parade begins at 10:45 a.m.; the parade follows at 11 a.m. Admission is free. (714) 957-2651.

High-tail it down to the Jones Family Mini-Farm (31791 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano) Sunday for the first annual Harvest Festival and Pumpkin Patch. Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, the 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. event includes pony and hay rides, face painting, food and games and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. Admission is free. (714) 496-7328.

Critters large and small come together Sunday when the Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo host Boo at the Zoo, an evening of animal shows, trick or treating, costume contests and art activities for toddlers on up. The event runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the zoo (1801 E. Chestnut Ave.). Tickets are $2. (714) 953-8555.

The 1990 Monster Mash Dash II and Trick-or-Treat Trot, a 5K and 2K fun run/walk, will fill the streets of Santa Ana beginning at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. A benefit for the Orange County Ronald MacDonald House, the run will be capped off by a Halloween carnival with entertainment, face painting and costume contests in the rear parking lot of the MainPlace mall, 2800 N. Main St. Runners pay a $15 entry fee (registration begins at 6:30 a.m.); carnival admission is free. (714) 639-3600 or 661-6062.

“There’s a nightmare in my closet!” On Monday, kids do the Monster Mash with monster-themed stories, poems and a short animated film at the Orange Public Library, 101 N. Center St. Open to preschool through sixth-grade youngsters, the event begins at 7 p.m with a costume parade. Admission is free; pre-registration is required. (714) 532-0379.

Children’s games, coloring and costume contests and other treats are planned at the Tustin Community Service Department’s Halloween Carnival to be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at 200 S. C St. Admission is free; game prices vary. (714) 544-8890, Ext. 220.

The Brea Senior Center’s (500 S. Sievers Ave.) annual Halloween Party on Wednesday will feature an 11:15 a.m. “Parade of Frights” costume show, followed by a noon luncheon for kids aged 60 and up. Guests are invited to come in costume. Tickets are $2. To pre-register, call (714) 990-7790.

Salem Lutheran School at 19921 Frank St. in Orange invites families to its Harvest Carnival, to be held Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. Highlights include a chuck wagon dinner, air jumps and game booths. Admission is free; food and game prices vary. (714) 639-1946.

Pinata-bashing, a costume contest and refreshments will be the hit of the Children’s Halloween Party, to be held from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Corona del Mar Library, 420 Marigold Ave. on Wednesday. Admission is free. (714) 644-3135.

The city of Orange is throwing a Spooky Spectacular Wednesday from 2 to 6 p.m. at 326 E. Almond St. Activities include game booths, prize and costume contests. Admission is free. (714) 532-0383.

Also in Orange, for those aiming to strike a proper balance this Halloween, is the Holiday Skate Center’s third annual Halloween roller skating party from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will feature a costume contest, spooky games and free candy for skaters. Admission is $2.75 per person, which includes skate rental. (714) 997-5515.

‘Squeal’ Estate (Haunted Houses)

Peppers Restaurant at 12361 Chapman Ave. in Garden Grove promises a hot time at its Chamber of Horror Haunted House, a “24-room special effects bonanza” with 35 monsters, ghosts and ghouls. Suggested for ages 8 and up, the event runs nightly through Halloween. Proceeds will benefit the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program at Anaheim’s Martin Luther Hospital. Tickets: $3.50 to $5.50. (Bring a can of food for the Red Cross and receive $1 off adult admission.) (714) 740-1333.

Mild-mannered Knott’s Berry Farm (8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park) goes bad during Knott’s Halloween Haunt, with a park full of frightening forays for the not-so-faint of heart. Ghostly delights include a gaggle of ghouls and goblins roaming the streets of Ghost Town, the “Revenge of the Dead” haunted house and a nightly “Rock ‘n’ Horror” revue starring Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Halloween Haunt is not recommended for children younger than 12. Continues tonight, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Admission is $22 to $25. Advance tickets are recommended. Buy tickets at Knott’s or call (714) 740-2000.

It’s a family affair at the ninth annual Haunted Crypt, 13662 Atlantis Way, Garden Grove. Presented by a family and fiends, the event includes 15 scary characters prowling a back yard-turned-graveyard, and runs from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and Monday through Halloween. Admission is $1 to $2. (714) 641-9731.

The Cypress Recreation and Park District welcomes hearty souls to its Haunted House and Carnival on Wednesday at the Cypress Community Center, 5700 Orange Ave. Activities include game booths, clowns and a pumpkin carving contest. Admission is $2 for the carnival, $1 for the haunted house. (714) 229-6780.

The Newport Beach Parks and Recreation Department hosts a Haunted House on Halloween from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Grant Howald Park and Community Youth Center, corner of 5th Street and Iris Avenue in Corona del Mar. Admission is 5 cents for unlimited access; kids under 7 should be accompanied by an adult. (714) 644-3151.

Thrill-seekers in Placentia can check into a Haunted House at 201 N. Bradford Ave., sponsored by the city’s Recreation Department. It’s open from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $1.50 to $2.50; children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult. (714) 993-8232.

Movies and Shows

The Fullerton Museum Center at 301 N. Pomona Ave. hosts a weekend of Halloween Howls beginning Friday at 8 p.m. with a Horror Classics Movie Medley, starring such nasties as Dracula, The Wolf Man and Frankenstein. On Saturday, it’s a 3 p.m. Children’s Magic Show, followed that night by an 11:30 p.m. “scream-ing” of the original film classic, “The Phantom of the Opera.” And if you’re still searching for that perfect pumpkin, check out the museum’s selection Friday through Sunday. Admission to the Movie Medley is $2 to $3; $4 for the magic show (reservations are required) and $3 for “Phantom.” (714) 738-6545.

A Halloween performance of “Little Shop of Horrors,” the tale of a plant with a taste for hot jazz and warm bodies, will be staged Wednesday at the Golden West College Mainstage Theatre, 15744 Golden West St., Huntington Beach. Audience members are invited to come in costume to the 7 p.m. show. (But don’t come as a dentist. Audrey II may find you a toothsome treat.) Recommended for ages 10 and up. Other performances are scheduled today through Sunday. Admission is $10 to $12. (714) 826-8378.

A bite-size version of “The Phantom of the Opera” unfolds in a Cypress garage at 5803 Holmby Court on Halloween Night only. Loosely based on the hit musical, this ambitious show features lots of spooky special effects (including rising coffins and billowing smoke), and excerpts from the original score. The 20-minute show will be presented at 6 p.m. and repeated until about 9:15 p.m. Admission is free. (714) 826-6911.

Do the time warp again at the 15th anniversary celebration of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” The film screens every Friday and Saturday night at midnight at the Balboa Cinema (709 E. Balboa Blvd.), and on Wednesday, at 11 p.m. A special pre-show celebration is planned on Saturday with balloons, cake, prizes and a costume contest. The Halloween showing will also feature a costume contest and prizes. Admission is $6. Call (714) 675-3570.

At the Malls

(All events take place on Halloween night, unless otherwise noted.)

The merchants at MainPlace/Santa Ana (2800 N. Main St.) welcome trick or treaters between 7 and 8 p.m. For $2, kids can have their photos taken with famous cartoon folk at a booth sponsored by Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Orange County. Call (714) 547-7800.

At the Brea Mall (1065 Brea Mall Ave.), little goblins and ghouls can nab a free trick-or-treat bag at the information booth before hitting up the merchants for goodies between 6 and 8 p.m. Call (714) 990-0440.

A kid’s costume contest, featuring an appearance by Spider Man, highlights the Halloween fun at the Mall of Orange (2298 N. Orange Mall) on Sunday. Pre-registration begins at 11 a.m. for the 1 p.m. contest. On Halloween, kids can make the rounds at the mall between 5 and 8 p.m. Call (714) 998-0440.

The Mission Viejo Mall (27000 Crown Valley Parkway) teams up with the Saddleback Valley School District to offer a Witches’ Carnival and Haunted Chamber between 4 and 8 p.m. at the center of the mall. Pre-registration for the costume contest ($1 entry fee) begins at 4 p.m.; the fun starts at 5 p.m. Trick or treating gets under way at 7 p.m. Call (714) 364-1771.

“Environmentally safe” trick or treat bags will be available for kids at the Laguna Hills Mall (El Toro Road at the Santa Ana Freeway). Trick or treating goes from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Call (714) 586-8282. Pumpkin City’s Pumpkin Farm continues in the Sears parking lot (see Parties, Parades and Festivals).

The Westminster Mall (195 Westminster Mall Ave.) offers game booths in its center court and trick or treating from 6 to 8 p.m. Call (714) 898-2558.

MORE FUN (but not so creepy) STUFF:

“Gambling Jones,” a musical melodrama for families, tracks the misadventures of 14 fortune seekers during the Gold Rush days in a presentation by the Mother Lode Musical Theatre at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Orange Coast College Robert B. Moore Theatre, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Tickets: $3.50 to $5.50 advance; $5 to $7 at door. (714) 432-5880.

Ballet Pacific leaps into its 1990-91 Children’s Series with “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Mixed Vegetables,” a high-protein mix of dancing carrots, weepy onions and potato pas de deux . Performances are Saturday, Oct. 27, at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 28, at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. at the Festival Forum Theatre, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Recommended for ages 3 to 10. Tickets: $5 to $7. (714) 642-9275.

The Yorba Linda Service League celebrates the city’s birthday Saturday, Oct. 27, with the 23rd annual Fiesta Days Parade, beginning at 10 a.m. at the corner of Casa Loma and Yorba Linda boulevards and ending at the Richard Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Ave. A street fair with food, games, crafts and entertainment runs at the library from noon to 3 p.m. Admission is free. (714) 692-1992 or 777-2330.

Tricks to Safe Treats

Today’s kids need more than a spiffy costume and a cavernous trick-or-treat bag when they hit the streets on Halloween. Here are some safety tips for parents from McGruff the Crime Dog:

* Make sure children are accompanied by an adult or responsible teen-ager when they go on their rounds.

* Children should not eat any of their goodies until they return home, at which time parents should examine them closely and throw away anything that is unwrapped.

* Wrappers on commercial treats should be examined for signs of tampering.

* Police should be alerted if suspicious treats are discovered.

* Costumes should fit well, be flameproof and not hinder children’s vision or walking in any way.

* Children should trick or treat in their own neighborhoods and on well-lighted streets. Daylight hours are best.

* Nighttime trick-or-treaters should carry flashlights.

* Sidewalks should be used whenever possible. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side facing oncoming cars.

* You should know who your children will be with and what route they will take.

* You should leave your own porch light on to welcome trick-or-treaters to your home, and keep your entry and front lawn clear of any debris.