Tricks and Treats in Florida

Florida

“Fantasy Fest” in Key West, from Oct. 23 to 31, mixes Mardi Gras and Halloween in dozens of high-spirited events. The theme this year is “Fright Night on Bone Island.” The festival begins with a Caribbean celebration and ends with a Bloody Mary brunch. There are also a celebrity look-alike contest, adult trick-or-treating, street dances, beach parties and several costume parades. For more information, contact Fantasy Fest, P.O. Box 230, Key West, FL 33041; telephone (305) 296-1817.

Michigan

At Fall Harvest Days at the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Center in Dearborn, visitors will see a typical harvest as it was done in the 18th and 19th centuries. Also, Native Americans will demonstrate traditional harvest time ceremonies. For more information, contact the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Center, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, MI 48124; tel. (313) 271-1620.

North Carolina

Mt. Airy, the inspiration for the TV show “Mayberry R.F.D.” and hometown of its star, Andy Griffith, hosts the 32nd annual Autumn Leaves Festival, Oct. 9 to 11. Downtown Main Street is blocked off to traffic for the weekend, and many locals turn up in old-fashioned costumes to heighten the small-town atmosphere. For more information, contact the Greater Mt. Airy Chamber of Commerce, 200 N. Main St., Mt. Airy, NC 27030; tel. (336) 786-6116.

Ohio

Ashtabula County has the most covered bridges (15) in the state and has celebrated these structures for the past 15 years at the annual Covered Bridge Festival, Oct. 10 and 11. Self-guided tours are broken into two 65-mile segments. with van tours also available. Festival headquarters, Ashtabula County Fairgrounds in Jefferson, features a craft show, antique car and engine displays, and a parade. For more information, contact the Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Festival Committee, 25 W. Jefferson St., Jefferson, OH 44047; tel. (440) 576-3769.

Washington, D.C.

The Taste of DC, Oct. 10 to 12, is expected to draw more than 1 million people to sample dishes from more than 40 of Washington’s hottest restaurants. Sample Carolina gumbo, crab cake sandwiches, American Indian tacos, jerk wings and much more. Booths will be set up along Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, from 9th to 13th streets. For more information, contact Taste of DC, 1212 New York Ave., NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005; tel. (202) 724-5430.

Events appears monthly.