The Fright-Free Zone

What’s a Halloween attraction these days without bloody body parts and grotesque creatures? For most teenagers, the more gruesome, the better.

Young children, however, are another matter.

Parents can avoid sending their little ones into nightmares by simply avoiding the carnage and opting for kid-friendly Halloween parties and attractions offered at museums, theme parks and around the neighborhood. Here are some possibilities.

The Aquarium of the Pacific gives Halloween an ocean theme as it emerges on Saturday and Sunday as the “Scarium of the Pacific.” Young children can pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch in Kids Cove or create crafts involving killer octopuses, sea snakes and spider crabs.

Spike the Ice Dog (mascot of Long Beach’s pro hockey team) will lead a costume parade each afternoon. Live entertainment will take center stage on Saturday while KRTH-FM (101.1) will broadcast from the plaza on Sunday. Three Barnes & Noble Halloween storytelling sessions and two Comedy Vampire Magic shows are scheduled each day, along with the regular aquarium exhibits, featuring more than 12,000 ocean animals.

“We asked ourselves, ‘How can we compete with everyone else on Halloween?’ ” said Delita Ashby, aquarium spokesperson. “We said, ‘Hey, we can provide small children and toddlers with safe and fun activities while still providing a conservation message.’ ”

Each child will get a trick-or-treat bag to fill with aquarium goodies, such as coloring books, bookmarks and sports bottles. At the end of the day, kids will get candy to take home, along with their crafts and the pumpkin they chose.

Scarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Adults $14.95; free to ages 3-11 (must be in costume and present a coupon available in local newspapers, $7.95 without coupon or costume). (562) 590-3100.

Theme Parks

Witch Waze Maze and Linus Great Pumpkin Express are new attractions at Knott’s Berry Farm’s Camp Spooky, a Halloween attraction guaranteed not to have any similarities to Knott’s legendary Halloween Haunt. Other non-scary activities include “Smokey and His Spooky Creatures Show,” a costume contest, the Willy Wonka Trick-or-Treat Trail for ages 11 and younger, and other games and activities.

Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. Friday-Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Adults $29; ages 3-11, $13, or $23 and $4.95 with discounts available through Kmart. (714) 220-5200.

Woody Woodpecker will lend a hand in the sixth annual fright-free festival for children at Universal Studios Hollywood on Sunday. Woody Woodpecker’s Wacky Halloween includes a pumpkin patch, magic acts, pumpkin decorating and mask making from 1 to 5 p.m. From 4 to 7 p.m., kids ages 3 to 8 can trick-or-treat along CityWalk. The festivities are free; parking in Universal City is $7.

Universal Center Drive, Universal City. Information: (818) 622-3801.

At Six Flags Magic Mountain, Looney Tunes Spooky Town takes over Bugs Bunny World. Kids under 48 inches are welcome to wear costumes to explore the bunny maze and trick-or-treat. A live wolf, raven and tarantulas will star in a creepy-crawler stage show in the Animal Star Theater. Crafts, games and entertainment are also planned.

Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia. Saturday-Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. $39; children $19.50. (661) 255-4849.

The haunted house at Haunt ’99 in Scandia Amusement Park is too intense for young children, but “good ghouls” will be on hand to give out candy to the kids. All the rides will be in operation, nightly through Halloween.

Off I-15 at the Jurupa exit, Ontario. Admission: free; all-day ride pass $17.95; kids 36-54 inches, $13.95; under 36 inches, $9.95. (909) 390-3091.

Museums

Discover the Legend of Haunted Gold Mine at Kidspace Museum, today through Sunday. On the lawn outside the museum, the Ghost Town Carnival will feature games and food for ages 4 to 10.

(Activity tickets $1 each.) Today-Friday, 1-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 390 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. $5. (626) 449-9143.

Children can help build a haunted house or make Halloween costumes at the L.A. Children’s Museum Saturday and Sunday. Construction of the haunted house takes place from noon to 2 p.m., costume making will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

310 N. Main St., downtown Los Angeles. Admission is $5. (213) 687-8800.

Fund-Raiser

Special Halloween activities for kids are planned at the House of Blues during the Tutornet Foundation Awards on Sunday, from 4 to 9 p.m. A costume contest, face painting, mask making and exotic animals will coincide with the auction and awards ceremony. Participants include Quincy Jones, event chairman; Khaliah Ali; Angela Bassett; Steven Seagal; Rain Pryor; Tracie Spencer; and Euburn Ford. Little Richard will perform.

House of Blues, 8430 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. Family of four, $200. Individual tickets, $150 to $350. Reservations suggested: (818) 990-4002.

Community-Based

Bob & Dave’s Spooky House, sponsored by America Online, has arisen from the depths of summer storage to haunt the San Fernando Valley once again. The matinees are reserved for young children, featuring a guided, interactive adventure seen in the less frightening light of day. Topanga Canyon and Victory boulevards, Woodland Hills. $5.50 for noon-3 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday (after dark admission $10). (818) 888-8570.

On Saturday, Manhattan Beach Family Halloween Carnival includes a costume parade and a G-rated haunted house, game booths and storytelling for ages 6 to 12. Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Manhattan Heights Community Center, 1600 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Food available. Admission free; haunted house, 50 cents. (310) 802-5419.

Take a hike among the critters of Eaton Canyon and explore the witch’s kitchen at the Howl-o-ween Walk in Eaton Canyon Park, Saturday, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Storytellers will stir up the ghosts around the campfire. 1750 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena. $4; $15 per family of five ($3 for each additional person). (626) 398-5420.

Creepy-crawly critters, a pumpkin hunt, magic show and a costume contest for kids are all part of an early Halloween on Saturday, on South Lake Avenue, between Colorado and California boulevards in Pasadena. Many of the South Lake businesses will welcome trick-or-treaters. 2 to 5:30 p.m. Free. (626) 792-1259.

Rides, games, a petting zoo, food booths and entertainment are highlights of the Halloween Carnival on Sunday, 3 to 8 p.m., at La Cienega Park, 8400 Gregory Way, Beverly Hills. Purchase a Boo Band for $10, good for unlimited rides. Free parking at the Tennis Center, 325 S. La Cienega Blvd. Admission $2 (includes two games or ride tickets); 1 and younger free. (310) 550-4765.

Puente Hills Mall begins its Halloween-themed festivities with a puppet and music show, featuring Mark Beckwith, from 3 to 4 p.m. Trick-or-treating follows, from 4 to 6 p.m., throughout the mall. Exit the 60 Freeway at Azusa Avenue, City of Industry. Free. (626) 912-8777.

Torrance Parks and Recreation presents its annual Halloween Carnival in Wilson Park, 2200 Crenshaw Blvd., on Sunday, 2 to 8 p.m. Activities include games (book of 10 tickets $5), food booths and a costume parade at 6:30 p.m. Free. (310) 618-2930.

Plummer Park in West Hollywood is the site of the Youth Halloween Carnival on Friday, 6 to 9 p.m. Activities include rides and games for the kiddies, a graveyard scene and entertainment. 7377 Santa Monica Blvd. $1. (323) 848-6530.

Trick-or-treat down the Unspooky Trail at Oak Canyon Nature Center, 6700 E. Walnut Canyon Road, Anaheim. Ages 6 to 10 can venture down the trail at 4 or 5 p.m. Saturday, while learning about bats, owls and other creatures that can be spotted along the way. Other activities include pumpkin decorating, Goblin Games and cookie making. Costumes encouraged. Children $7.50, adults free. Registration required: (714) 998-8380.

Get an early start trick-or-treating on Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Orange County Market Place. Halloween festivities in the Market Place Pumpkin Patch include contests, entertainment and free treats. Children are encouraged to wear costumes. Trick-or-treat bags and maps will be provided free. Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. Admission $1; ages 12 and younger free. Parking free. (949) 723-6616.

Gear up for the screaming contest at the Howl-O-Ween Spook-Tacular Carnival at Temecula Skate Park. Also costume contest, carnival games, clowns and face-painters. Friday, 6-9 p.m. 42569 Margarita Road. Free admission, game tickets 5 for $1. (909) 694-6480.