Creepy Hollows

When Halloween falls on a Sunday, as it does this year, the celebration lasts all weekend long. And between haunted houses, fall festivals and spooky theater to raise everybody’s spirits, there’s plenty going on in Orange County to keep ghosts, goblins and gremlins of all ages trick-or-treating for days. Here’s a list to get you started:

Anaheim

* “The Diaries of Frankenstein” is Brian Newell and Martin E. Williams’ retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic horror tale, performed by Spare Change Productions, Chance Theater, 5576 E. La Palma Ave. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 6 p.m. Sunday. Continues through Nov. 14. $10-$15. (714) 777-3033.

* The Howlin’ Canyon is Halloween-themed fun that’s not spooky. Hiking, pumpkin painting, spider crafts, creepy-crawly station, games and cookie decorating in 1 1/2-hour programs at Oak Canyon Nature Center, 6700 E. Walnut Canyon Road, Anaheim Hills. 4 and 5 p.m. Saturday. Ages 6-10. Registration limited. Call in advance: (714) 998-8380.

* Church of Grace will host its 10th annual Family Carnival, featuring a moon bounce, cakewalks, a petting zoo and pony rides at 1026 S. East St. 5-9 p.m. Sunday. Burgers, popcorn and desserts available. Free. (714) 535-2000.

Brea

* Goth is a Halloween horror revue by magician Loren Christopher Michaels and BlackDawn productions, featuring horrific illusions and macabre special effects at Curtis Theatre, 1 Civic Center Circle. 8 p.m. today, Friday and Sunday; 8 p.m. and midnight Saturday. $10-$17. (714) 990-7722.

* Spooky Halloween readings for kids, including Merrily Kutner’s “Z Is for Zombie,” at Borders Books, Music and Cafe, 429 Associated Road. 7 p.m. today, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Friday. A 7 p.m. Friday reading will include a costume contest for kids 7 and younger. Free. (714) 672-0120.

* Annual Fall Festival with carnival games, bounce house, food and contests at Carbon Canyon Church, 5600 Carbon Canyon Road. 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday. Free. (714) 524-5433.

Buena Park

* Knott’s Berry Farm hosts its 27th annual Halloween Haunt, promising a “casket-full” of scary fun. Horror host Elvira and the Crypt Keeper from “Tales From the Crypt” will perform stage shows, and the park will have two scare zones, 10 horrifying mazes and rides, seven sinister shows and enough prowling monsters, ghosts, goblins and beasts to raise the dead. Not recommended for children younger than 13. 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday. $35 and $40 the day of the event. Call (213) 365-3535, (714) 703-2555, (805) 583-8700 or (619) 220-TIXS or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

A “Pre-Scare Dinner” buffet is available for $11.50. Reservations recommended: (714) 220-5055. Overnight accommodations with the “Haunted Dreams Hotel Package” at Knott’s Buena Park Hotel. Package includes “Pre-Scare Dinner,” a double room and two T-shirts, for $169.95 including tax and gratuity. Space limited. Reservations: (800) 422-4444.

* For the younger set, try Knott’s seventh annual Camp Spooky--an alternative celebration, included in park admission. 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. throughout the weekend. Adults, $36; children (ages 3-11) and seniors older than 55, $26. Discounts for Southern California residents: Adults, $27; children (ages 3-11) and seniors older than 55, $13.

* Medieval Times offers its Haunted Castle, a creep through the dreaded dungeon of torture at 7662 Beach Blvd. Witness horrifying deeds of terror and torment from centuries past. Feast on a four-course medieval banquet while watching six valiant knights in jousting matches and sword fights. 6:30 and 8:45 p.m. Friday; 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Saturday; 5 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Sunday. $35.95 adults, $23.95 for children 12 and younger. Reservations required. (714) 521-4740 or (800) 899-6600.

Costa Mesa

* A chili cook-off, a skate park and game booths will be just some of the fun at Vineyard Christian Fellowship’s annual Fall Fun Night at 102 E. Baker St. 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Free. (714) 556-8463.

* A Trick or Treat Fest for all ages features a coloring contest, entertainment, treats, prizes and a Guess the Weight of the Giant Pumpkin competition at the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center, 88 Fair Drive. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. $1. Free for children 12 and younger. (949) 723-6616.

* The Halloween Ball ’99 is an adults-only costume ball sponsored by Elite Group Entertainment at the Doubletree Hotel, 3050 Bristol St. Dress up: There’ll be $1,500 in cash prizes for best costumes. Saturday 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. $25-$35. (714) 740-2000.

Fullerton

* The Irvine Youth Symphony and String Ensemble presents a Halloween music and costume parade for the whole family at Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave. A parade follows the performance. Awards for prettiest, funniest and scariest costumes. 3 p.m. Sunday. $3; free for children under 3. (714) 738-6595.

* A Halloween Costume Party will be sponsored by the Veselo Selo folk dancers at Hillcrest Recreation Center, 1155 N. Lemon St. 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday. $4-$5. (714) 554-6271.

* At the Un-Haunted House, kids can enjoy games, treats, face painting and a costume contest at the Retirement Inn of Fullerton, 1621 E. Commonwealth Ave. 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. Free. (714) 992-1750.

Garden Grove

* J. Christopher Pardini, Kristin Ball and Janet Keulen-Thorson perform an evening of trick-or-treat organ music at Crystal Cathedral, 12141 Lewis St. Includes a children’s costume parade and contest. 7:30 p.m. Friday. $6-$8. (714) 544-5679.

* Join the fun at a Halloween party for families with games, a jack-o’-lantern contest, costume parade for all ages, prizes and trick-or-treat stations at Garden Grove United Methodist Church, 12741 Main St. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $1 plus one bag of unwrapped treats per child. (714) 534-1070.

Huntington Beach

* The Huntington Beach Playhouse will premiere “The Haunting of Hill House,” based on Shirley Jackson’s classic novel at 7111 Talbert Ave. A group of “psychically receptive” people are brought together to remote Hill House. Terror mounts as the mansion casts a supernatural spell on the visitors. Come in costume and win a prize. Champagne reception after the premiere performance. 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Nov. 21. General admission $13. Some discounted performances for students and seniors. (714) 375-0696.

* “Werewolf Silence,” a spoken-word performance presented by Larry Schulz and Richard Lockhart, will be performed at Barnes & Noble, 7777 Edinger Ave. 7 p.m. Saturday. Free. (714) 377-0338.

* DarkWrath Keep Haunted House, Huntington Beach Mall, old Wells Fargo building, 7777 Edinger Ave. 8 to 11 p.m. today through Sunday. $8. Recommended for ages 10 and up. (714) 381-1516.

Irvine

* Witches and goblins stroll the grounds for the Great Halloween Happening at the Irvine Spectrum. On Saturday, pop band Stranger’s Milk performs from 3 to 6 p.m. and Dirk K performs contemporary instrumental music from 7 to 10 p.m. On Sunday, contemporary adult musician Alicia Grant performs from 3 to 6 p.m.

* Children’s costume contest at University Center across Campus Drive from UC Irvine. Prizes for cutest, scariest, best homemade and most original costume. 4 p.m. Sunday.

* Kiddy Haunted House at Woodbridge Village, Culver Drive at Walnut. 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

* A Harvest Carnival will feature pizza, hots dogs and lots of fun at Mariners Church Community Center, 5001 Newport Coast Drive. 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Admission: one can of donated food. (949) 854-7030, Ext. 450.

Laguna Hills

* Walk through a Haunted House of spooks presented by the Trabuco Hills High School aquatics team at Laguna Hills Plaza, Hon Avenue and Alicia Parkway. 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $3-$5. $1 off with a canned-food donation. (949) 760-1210.

Laguna Niguel

* Haunted House 1999, sponsored by the Laguna Hills Recreation Center, features friendly and scary mazes at 27752 El Lazo Road (behind Laguna Niguel City Hall). Evenings today through Sunday. $5. For ages 5 to adult. For specific times and age appropriateness: (949) 362-4351.

La Habra

* The Minikin Puppet Theatre presents Freakie Follies, a fast-paced Halloween puppet show at the Children’s Museum at La Habra. 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Free with museum admission of $4.

Long Beach

* Shipwreck ’99 transforms the Queen Mary into a ship of horrors, turning the cavernous decks in the historic ship into the Haunted Hull of Horror, Londontowne of Terror and Decks of the Dead, to name a few. 6:30 p.m. to midnight Friday through Sunday. $20. Not recommended for children under 13. (888) ETM-TIXS.

* The Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific turns into the “Scarium” with magic shows, costume parades, arts and crafts and activities related to the “scary” effects of pollution on ocean animals at 100 Aquarium Way. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. One child free with every paying adult, but child must be in costume. (562) 590-3100.

* Cal State Long Beach’s University Symphony Orchestra will take music lovers on a wild Halloween thrill ride with selections to conjure images of witches, trolls and evil sorcerers with the wonderfully macabre music of Wagner, Sibelius and Stravinsky in Daniel Recital Hall, Cal State Long Beach campus, 1250 Bellflower Blvd. The orchestra will be in costume. Audience members are encouraged to dress up too. 7 p.m. Sunday. $8 general admission; $5 for students with identification and seniors. (562) 985-7000.

Mission Viejo

* Saddleback Chamber Sinfonietta and conductor Joseph Massaro perform “Music of the Night,” a Halloween program at McKinney Theatre, Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway. 8 p.m. Saturday. Also at McKinney Theatre, pianist Rebecca Rollins and storyteller Angela Lloyd perform stories, poems, riddles and music in “The Big Toe and Other Disguises.” 3 p.m. Sunday. Children are invited to wear costumes and must be accompanied by an adult. $6 general admission; $5 for students and seniors. Children 12 and under, free. (949) 582-4656.

Newport Beach

* Masquerade Ball for the Arts annual Halloween costume ball with dancing to live Latin funk and salsa music and hot and cold hors d’oeuvres at the Orange County Museum of Art, 850 San Clemente Drive. Proceeds benefit South Coast Repertory, the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Opera Pacific and the Orange County Museum of Art. 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday. $75. (714) 556-2122, Ext. 546.

* Great Halloween Happening, trick-or-treating at Fashion Island stores. 3:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Orange

* Old Towne Orange hosts a Halloween Harvest Festival from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Plaza, at Glassell Street and Chapman Avenue. Costume contests, booths, prizes, face painting, pumpkin carving, crafts, petting zoo and trick-or-treating.

* KLOS (95.5 FM) hosts the Mark and Brian Halloween Parade in the Old Towne Plaza at 7:30 a.m. Friday. (800) 955-KLOS.

* For a $5 donation, artists will help youngsters Paint-a-Pumpkin at Cafe Tu Tu Tango at the Block at Orange, 20 the City Drive. Proceeds will benefit Children’s Hospital of Orange County. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. (714) 769-2222.

Santa Ana

* Get spooked and learn some Orange County history in the process at the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society’s Cemetery Tour on Saturday, starting at Fairhaven Chapel, 1702 Fairhaven Ave. Thinking staid, chipped headstones? Nah. Orange County’s most famous dead actually will prowl cemetery grounds providing a glimpse--not of the afterlife--but rather of their lives before death. Be on the lookout for David Hewes, who first claimed a stake here in the 1870s on what is now El Modena; Dr. Willela Howe-Waffle, one of the county’s first female physicians and Westminster pioneer; Jenny Lasby-Tessman, one of the first women in the country on staff at Mt. Wilson Observatory and a science teacher at Santa Ana High School and Santa Ana College. One-and-a-half-hour tours begin every half-hour starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. $12 for adults; $10 for seniors, $5 for children under 12. (714) 547-9645.

* In the House of Madame Guignol offers five original horror vignettes in the style of the Grand Guignol Theatre, by Kelly Flynn, Eric Person, Melissa Petro and David Scaglione at Hunger Artists Theatre, 4th and Bush streets. 8 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday; 7:30 p.m. Sunday. $10-$12. (714) 547-9100.

* Celebrate Mexican Day of the Dead by making calavera puppets, face painting in traditional designs and enjoying Mexican bread and hot chocolate at Bowers Kidseum, 1802 N. Main St. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free. (949) 496-1960.

* Vampire’s Lair costume ball featuring music by Johnny Monster at the Galaxy Concert Theatre, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd. 8 p.m. Sunday. $20-$22. (714) 957-0600.

Westminster

* The Westminster Mall will host a family-oriented carnival--including bumper cars and a merry-go-round--in the parking lot near Best Buy. 5 to 10 p.m. today, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.