Variety Show

In an effort to prove that people can have fun without alcohol or drugs, Hoag Hospital is putting on Ocsoberfest, a variety show.

The hospital’s Chemical Dependency Unit created the annual event to raise money to help patients pay for treatment and enter recovery homes.

This sixth show, themed “High on Life,” will begin Friday at 6 p.m. with a “coffeetail hour” and song-and-dance acts by members of Alcoholics Anonymous and the GTE Connection. Tax-deductible donations of $10 per person will be requested, organizers said.

Last year, $5,000 was raised. More than 500 people are expected to attend the event.

What: Ocsoberfest.

When: Friday, Oct. 30.

Where: Costa Mesa Community Center, 1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa.

Whereabouts: From the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway south, take 19th Street east. Make a left on Park. The center is on the right side of the street.

Wherewithal: $10.

Where to call: (714) 760-5656.

Halloween Events

Brea--To celebrate Halloween, merchants from the Brea Marketplace are offering special family events Saturday.

Events include a showing of “The Land Before Time” at the United Artists theater from 10:30 a.m. to noon ($1 admission); a book signing by John Duel at Bookstar from noon to 4 p.m.; trick-or-treating from noon to 4 p.m.; a pizza-eating contest at Jojo’s Pizza Kitchen and a costume contest from 3 to 4 p.m.

Other activities include mask decorating, face painting and free photo sessions. Geoffrey the Giraffe from Toys R Us and Crocodile from the Crocodile Cafe will be there. Registration will be at the fountain area between Bookstar and the movie theater.

Proceeds from the movie showing will go to Children’s Variety Club of California, a nonprofit organization. All participants of the costume contest, including adults, will receive prizes.

What: Halloween trick-or-treating.

When: Saturday, Oct. 31, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Imperial Highway and State College Boulevard, Brea.

Whereabouts: Take the Orange (57) Freeway north to Imperial Highway, left on Imperial Highway, right on State College Boulevard and left on Birch Street.

Wherewithal: Free, except for the movie screening, which is $1.

Where to call: (714) 671-2133.

Music

Los Alamitos--The first concert for the Orange County High School of the Arts Youth Orchestra is tonight, but don’t expect a bunch of amateurs. As with a professional orchestra, students must audition to join.

Those who make it are trained to perform difficult pieces of music not normally offered to youngsters. Tonight they will play “Hoe Down” from “Rodeo” by Copland, the Violin Concerto in E minor by Mendelssohn, the Adagio and Fugue for Strings by Mozart, excerpts from Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2, Gabrieli’s Brass Ensemble and the Finale of Brahms’ Symphony No. 1. Their conductor, Daniel Hege, 27, says the orchestra members “are some of the most gifted young musicians in Southern California.”

What: Youth Orchestra Concert.

When: Thursday, Oct. 29.

Where: Los Alamitos High School, 3591 Cerritos Ave., Los Alamitos.

Whereabouts: Take the San Diego (I-405) Freeway to the San Gabriel (605) Freeway and head north. Exit at Cerritos Avenue and head east.

Wherewithal: $3 to $5.

Where to call: (310) 596-1435.

Festival

Irvine--In the post-riot Southland, the multicultural celebration at UC Irvine gains a new urgency. The theme of the eighth annual event-- ‘Can We All Get Along?” is a quote from Rodney King.

The cultural fair on Wednesday will feature dance and music and other performances by African American, Cambodian, Iranian, American Indian and Korean student groups. Food from many cultures will also be served, and ethnic arts and crafts will be displayed. After the fair at 6 p.m. there will be poetry readings at the Cross-Cultural Center.

The conference will have workshops on minorities and the media, the legal system, interracial relationships and community outreach work. Members of the public will be encouraged to speak from their experiences.

What: Multicultural celebration and conference.

When: Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The conference is on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 5 and 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Where: The Ring Mall at UC Irvine, Campus Drive and Bridge Road.

Whereabouts: Take the San Diego (I-405) Freeway to the Jamboree Road exit and head south. Turn left on University Drive, then right on Campus Drive to Bridge Road.

Wherewithal: Free.

Where to call: (714) 856-7215.

Carnival

Orange--Before gearing up for trick-or-treating Saturday, kids can pan for gold or take a cake walk at the annual Harvest Carnival at Salem Lutheran School.

The carnival, sponsored by the Parent Teacher League, features several games for the young and young at heart. Carnival-goers can try their luck at the basketball shoot, fishing game, football toss and bingo. There also will be lots of food and drinks.

This is the fourth year the school has held the carnival to raise money for supplies. Last year proceeds went to buy new computers for the 420 students. This year funds are earmarked for new science equipment.

Admission is free, but carnival-goers must purchase 25-cent tickets to play the various games.

What: Harvest Carnival.

When: Saturday, Oct. 31, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Salem Lutheran School, 19921 Frank St. Orange.

Whereabouts: Take the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway to the Katella Avenue exit. Head east to the corner of Orange Park Boulevard. The school is near the corner of Orange Park Boulevard and Santiago Canyon Road.

Wherewithal: Free.

Where to call: (714) 633-2366.

Halloween Event

Orange--The world of the dead comes alive this Halloween at Chapman University’s Haunted Crypt, designed to scare visitors of any age.

The vault of nightmares features supernatural special effects, spirits from the beyond and a graveyard complete with tombstones and ghosts.

For those who dare, the crypt’s door creaks open tonight through Halloween at the university’s Sunken Lawn.

The Crypt was built and organized by the Chapman University chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

Proceeds benefit the university’s Community Services Volunteer Program, which is a joint effort between Chapman University and the city of Orange.

The program gives student volunteers opportunities to gain work experience by filling roles needed by the city.

What: Haunted Crypt.

When: Thursday, Oct. 29, from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and 31, from 7 to 11 p.m.

Where: Chapman University, 333 N. Glassell St., Orange. The Sunken Lawn is in front of Memorial Hall.

Whereabouts: Take the Garden Grove (22) Freeway to the Glassell Street exit. Head north on Glassell.

Wherewithal: General admission is $4; $3 for students with ID cards; $2 for children under 12.

Where to call: (714) 997-6761.

Book Signing

Laguna Beach--Ray Bradbury, not his ghost, will sign books in Laguna Beach the day after Halloween at a small bookstore and coffeehouse named in his honor.

Fahrenheit 451 employees say the famous science-fiction writer may also read at the book signing, which features his book “The Halloween Tree”--a fantasy about a kid who takes a Halloween broomstick ride.

Owner Dorothy Ibsen said her store’s name stands for freedom of expression, and she stocks books that she may even disapprove of. “I don’t feel that it’s up to me to choose what people can read,” she said.

Other Bradbury titles are available to be signed, and Ibsen said Bradbury likes to talk with his readers at events.

What: Ray Bradbury book signing.

When: Sunday, Nov. 1, at noon.

Where: Fahrenheit 451, 540 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach.

Whereabouts: From the San Diego (I-405) Freeway, take Laguna Canyon Road south, turn left on Coast Highway.

Wherewithal: Free.

Where to call: (714) 494-5151.

Carnival

Laguna Niguel--Late October isn’t usually prime time for dunk tanks. “If it was still hot I’d have an easier time signing people up,” admitted carnival organizer Barbara Adler. “It’s a little too cold now.”

But plenty of teachers and children at Moulton Elementary School have agreed to be dunked. Warmer activities will include face painting, a pumpkin walk contest (“sort of like musical chairs”) and a goldfish toss. There also will be a haunted house. Hotdogs, pizza and other foods will be sold.

The carnival is sponsored by the PTA to raise money for teacher supplies and computer equipment. “Every year we add a computer to our school,” Adler said.

What: Carnival.

When: Saturday, Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Moulton Elementary School, 29881 Highlands Ave., Laguna Niguel.

Whereabouts: Take Pacific Coast Highway to Crown Valley Parkway and head northeast. Turn left at Alicia Parkway and then left again on Pacific Island Drive. Then turn right on Highlands Avenue.

Wherewithal: Free.

Where to call: (714) 495-0440.

Music

Orange--The concert season gets into full swing this weekend at Chapman University as the college’s Chamber Orchestra, University Concert Choir and University Singers hold their inaugural performances for the year.

Under the direction of William Hall, who is celebrating his 30th year as music professor at Chapman and who has recently become chair of the music department, the Concert Choir and University Singers present their opening concert Friday at Salmon Recital Hall. The choir, accompanied by Tania Fleischer, will perform works by Brahms, Byrd, Schumann, Daniel Pinkham and others.

The Chamber Orchestra follows with their opening performance Saturday, also at Salmon Recital Hall. The concert, conducted by John Koshak, features the Overture to Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” and Symphony No. 35 (“Haffner”), Stravinsky’s Suite No. 2 and Norman Dello Joio’s “New York Profiles.”

Koshak, professor of music at Chapman for more than 20 years, has conducted orchestras in Australia, China and Europe. He is conductor for the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra.

What: Concerts by Chapman University Concert Choir, University Singers and Chapman University Chamber Orchestra.

When: Concert Choir and University Singers, Friday, Oct. 30, at 8 p.m. The Chamber Orchestra, Saturday, Oct. 31, at 8 p.m.

Where: Salmon Recital Hall, Chapman University, 333 N. Glassell St., Orange.

Whereabouts: Take the Garden Grove Freeway (22) to the Glassell Street exit. Go north on Glassell. The recital hall is in Bertea Hall at the south end of campus.

Wherewithal: General admission for both concerts is $6, $4 for students and senior citizens. Children under 12 are free.

Where to call: (714) 997-6871.

Party

Stanton--Werewolves, ghosts and goblins are welcome at the Stanton Halloween Howl on Friday, as long as they pay at the door like everyone else.

Inside, they can enjoy a costume parade, contests and games. Awards will be given to winners of such games as Loch Ness Lotto and Ghost Toss.

There also will be stage games such as Pumpkin Pass, in which teams of five kids pick up balloons with straws and put them in a basket. The first team to fill the basket wins.

The Recreation and Leisure Services Department, which is organizing the event, is also asking that guests bring a can of food for the poor, although that is not mandatory.

What: Halloween party.

When: Friday, Oct. 30, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Where: Stanton Boys and Girls Club, 11050 Cedar St.

Whereabouts: Take the Garden Grove (22) Freeway to Beach Boulevard and head north. At Katella Avenue take a left and then turn left at the library down Cedar Street.

Wherewithal: 50 cents.

Where to call: (714) 220-2220, Ext. 277.

Lecture

Orange--The shifting relations between the United States and other nations after the end of the Cold War will be explored in “United States and the New Europe,” the first in a five-part lecture series at Chapman University.

Sir Eldon Griffiths, former member of the British Parliament who is leading the lectures, will discuss what this new world order means not only for the United States but for local businesses, at the first address, which is scheduled for Nov. 2.

“Orange County business must go abroad for its future,” Griffiths said. “There is demand and opportunity on the European frontier.”

Some of the topics to be explored include disintegration of the Soviet system, prospects for a single currency and opportunities for U.S. companies.

“Five Keys to Europe” will be held each Monday night in November and is free and open to the public. Each lecture will feature a special guest--a locally prominent business leader who will introduce the evening’s topic and moderate the question and answer period.

What: “Five Keys to Europe” lecture series.

When: Monday, Nov. 2, at 7:15 p.m.

Where: Cinema Room, Chapman University, 333 N. Glassell St., Orange.

Whereabouts: Take the Garden Grove (22) Freeway to the Glassell Street exit. Head north on Glassell.

Wherewithal: Free. Reservations are required.

Where to call: (714) 997-6695.

Crafts Bazaar

Irvine--The holiday arts and crafts fair Saturday won’t just feature the regular decorations, wreaths, clothes, jewelry and toys.

Shoppers will also find topiary--small bushes trimmed in the shapes of animals--as well as Japanese dolls, photography and paintings.

A hundred artists will come from as far as Arizona to sell their handmade items. Some are professional artists, but many create as a hobby, or to make a little extra cash.

The sale is organized by classified employees at Irvine Valley College--grounds people, secretaries and computer technicians--who raised $1,800 for student scholarships last year and want to give more next May.

What: Holiday arts and crafts fair.

When: Saturday, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Irvine Valley College, Parking Lot 2, 5500 Irvine Center Drive.

Whereabouts: Take the San Diego (I-405) Freeway to Jeffrey Road. Go north to Irvine Center Drive and turn right. Or take the Santa Ana (I-5) Freeway to Jeffrey Road. Go south to Irvine Center Drive and turn left.

Wherewithal: Free.

Where to call: (714) 559-3231.