Fright Club

Creepy doings have a long history in Orange County, it seems. Paul Arbiso, the bell ringer at Mission San Juan Capistrano for 42 years before his death in 1994, liked to tell the story of the Wandering Soldier.

In 1818 the mission was raided by pirates who landed at what is now Dana Point Harbor. Arbiso’s tale has it that when the pirates hit the beach, the outnumbered Spanish soldiers at the mission fled . . . except one. He had been hunting that morning and was unaware of the pirates’ arrival. He returned to the mission and was searching for his comrades when the pirates waylaid him and cut off his head with a cutlass.

It is believed that the headless soldier can be seen at the mission at night searching for his fellow troops, according to Jerry L. Miller, executive director of the mission. Arbiso even told people that the soldier had waved to him once.

A reenactment of the mission attack will take place at the Pirate Festival in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday. Other Halloween celebrations, for the young and the bold, are also well within your reach:

Anaheim

Four- to 6-year-olds learn about Halloween creepers and make edible treats at Oak Canyon Nature Center, 6700 E. Walnut Canyon Road. Today, 2 p.m. $3. (714) 998-8380.

Seven- to 12-year-olds have “Howl-O-Ween Fun” with crafts and more at the Oak Canyon Nature Center, 6700 E. Walnut Canyon Road. Today, 3:30 p.m. $4.50. (714) 998-8380.

A haunted house will be held at the Anaheim Indoor Marketplace, 1440 S. Anaheim Blvd. Friday through Tuesday, 4-9 p.m. $3. (714) 999-0888.

A Halloween party and costume contest will be held at the Shack, 1160 N. Kramer Blvd. Friday, 7:30 p.m. Features music by Exhibition of Sound, Dr. Package, Trip Hop Clan, Ordained Noetiks and Stellar. (714) 630-0121.

Monster Masquerade will be held at the Crossroads Center, Imperial Highway at East Santa Ana Canyon Road. Saturday, noon-3 p.m. Free. Trick-or-treating at stores for children ages 12 and younger and a costume contest near Vons from 12:30-3 p.m. (714) 255-1006.

“Howlin’ Canyon,” Halloween parties with crafts, pumpkin games, treats, hikes and more for 6- to 10-year-olds, will be at the Oak Canyon Nature Center, 6700 E. Walnut Canyon Road. Saturday, 4 and 5 p.m. $7.50. Reservations: (714) 998-8380.

A Halloween party will be held at the Learning Light Foundation, 1212 E. Lincoln Ave. Saturday. Dinner, 6 p.m. $15. Five spirit circles. 7:30 p.m. $15 per circle. Magic show. 10 p.m. $15. All three events for $25. Costume judging and dancing. 10 p.m. (714) 533-2311.

Brea

Actor John Astin stars in “Edgar Allan Poe: Once Upon a Midnight,” a one-man show following the author’s life from childhood to his mysterious death, at the Curtis Theatre, 1 Civic Center Circle. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. $17-$27. (714) 990-7727.

Halloween Madness will be held at the Brea Marketplace, Birch Street at State College Boulevard. Saturday, noon-3 p.m. Free. Trick-or-treating at stores for children ages 12 and younger and a costume contest near the Bookstar from 12:30-3 p.m. (714) 255-1006.

A Halloween costume ball will be held at Bobby McGee’s, 200 S. State College Blvd. Saturday. Prizes for best and most exotic costumes. For 21 and older. (714) 529-1998.

Buena Park

The 28th annual Halloween Haunt, featuring monsters, a ghost town, mazes, scare zones and live shows, including “Elvira’s Monster Rock Revue,” “The Hanging Starring the Crypt Keeper,” “Festival of Freaks Theatre” and more, is at Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. Today-Tuesday, 7 p.m.-2 a.m. $35-$40. (714) 220-5200 or (877) 858-7234.

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament presents its annual “Haunted Castle,” featuring a dungeon exhibit and other creepy thrills, along with a show of authentic jousting, swordplay and pageantry. Thursday, Monday and Tuesday, 7 p.m.; Friday, 6:30 and 8:45 p.m.; Saturday, 6 and 8:15 p.m.; Sunday, 5 and 7:15 p.m. $25.95-$37.95, includes a four-course meal you eat with your hands. 7662 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. (714) 521-4740.

Knott’s Berry Farm presents its annual Camp Spooky family Halloween event, featuring daytime trick-or-treating, costume contests, the “Witch Waze Maze” and other walk-through entertainment, the “Linus’ Great Pumpkin Express” train ride, pumpkin carving demonstrations, “Monster Mash” dance lessons, performances by jugglers and magicians and the premiere of “Spooky Graveyard,” a walk-through graveyard inhabited by friendly pumpkin people and playful monsters. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. Included with park admission, $15-$30. (714) 220-5200. https://www.knotts.com

Costa Mesa

“Little Shop of Horrors,” the musical comedy by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken about a nerdy florist who cultivates a man-eating plant from outer space, continues at the Trilogy Playhouse, 2930 Bristol St. Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m. $15-$17. (714) 957-3347, Ext. 1.

The Halloween Bug and Monster Show, a car show featuring Volkswagen “bugs” and such cars as Vipers, Spiders and Cobras, as well as orange and black custom and vintage vehicles of all types, will be at the Orange County Marketplace at the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center, 88 Fair Drive. A pumpkin patch and Halloween activities also are planned. Saturday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. $1. Free parking. (949) 723-6660.

The Christ Lutheran School will hold its annual fall festival at the school 760 Victoria St. Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Features carnival games, rides, live entertainment and a craft boutique. (949) 548-6866.

Spooky Fun Days at Triangle Square, 1870 Harbor Blvd. Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Costume contests, trick-or-treating, bounce houses, crafts and games. Swing dancing instruction 6:30-7:30 p.m. (949) 722-1600.

A Halloween Party will be held at the Shark Club, 841 Baker St. First prize in the costume contest is $1,000. Saturday, 8 p.m. (714) 751-0700.

The Red Lion Party, Halloween Ball 2000 will be held at the Hilton Costa Mesa. Tuesday, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $25-$30. Costume contest with $1,500 prize for first place. For those 21 and older. (714) 740-2000.

Trick-or-treating at the Orange County Marketplace at the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center, 88 Fair Drive. Sunday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. $2. Children 12 and younger admitted free. Pumpkin carver Mike Valladao will carve the images of presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush into pumpkins weighing about 200 pounds. (949) 723-6660.

The ninth annual Pumpkins & Pancakes fund-raiser will be held at South Cost Plaza, 333 Bear St. Sunday, 8:30 a.m. $15-$20. Children younger than 2 admitted free. Features breakfast, music, arts and crafts, carnival booths, magic shows and trick-or-treating. Proceeds benefit the Friends of Court Appointed Special Advocates and Child Abuse Services Team. (714) 780-8733.

The third annual “Terror in the Village” at the Piecemakers Country Store, 1720 S. Adams Ave. Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Also Monday, 4-8 p.m. $1.50. Ages 8 and older. Trick-or-treating for children, games and a bounce house. (714) 641-3112.

Trick-or-treating and a costume contest for children will be held at Borders Books, Music & Cafe, 3333 Bear St. Tuesday, 6 p.m. Laura Beasley tells Halloween stories. (714) 432-7854.

Cypress

The 21st annual Halloween Carnival will be held at the Cypress Community Center, 5700 Orange Ave. Tuesday, 5-8:30 p.m. $1. Trick-or-treating for children, games, a moon bounce and a puppet show. Also a haunted house for children ages 7 and younger. Fifty cents per visit. (714) 229-6780.

Dana Point

Halloween carnivals will be held at R.H. Dana Elementary, 24242 La Cresta Drive, (949) 496-5784, and Palisades Elementary, 26462 Via Sacramento, (949) 496-5942. Tuesday, 2:30-4:30 p.m. For children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Free. Trick-or-treating for children, games, rides and contests.

Fullerton

“Into the Woods,” the musical satire by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine exploring the darker side of children’s fairy tales, opens at the Cal State Fullerton Little Theatre, 800 N. State College Blvd. Today and Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 and 6:30 p.m. $11-$15. (714) 278-3371.

Garden Grove

The Regal Horror Nights series continues at Regal Cinemas Garden Grove 16, 9741 Chapman Ave. “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter” (1984) screens at 7:30, 10 p.m. and 12:05 a.m.; “It’s Alive!” (1974) at 7:15, 9:45 p.m. and midnight; “Pet Sematary II” (1992) at 6:45, 9:10 and 11:45 p.m.; “Hellraiser 3: Hell on Earth” (1992) at 7:05, 9:15 and 11:55 p.m.; and “Fright Night” (1985) at 7, 9:30 and 11:50 p.m. $5-$8. Friday, Saturday and Tuesday; no midnight screenings on Tuesday. (714) 530-9864.

Trick-or-treating for children at the First Baptist Church, 12761 Euclid St. Tuesday, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Includes games, a bounce house, a cake walk and pony rides. Costumes allowed for children. (714) 534-1742.

Huntington Beach

A Halloween party and costume contest will be held at Geckos, 7887 Center Ave. Saturday and Tuesday, 8 p.m. For 21 and older. (714) 892-2227.

Irvine

“Nightmares,” a haunted house at the Irvine Spectrum Center, 71 Fortune Drive. Today and Monday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday, Saturday and Tuesday, 5 p.m.-midnight; Sunday, 5-11 p.m. $5. (949) 790-4812.

The “Visions of the Future” film series continues with “Videodrome” (1982), David Cronenberg’s sci-fi thriller about a cable-TV programmer (James Woods) who becomes hypnotized by mysterious transmissions, at UC Irvine’s Student Center, West Peltason and Pereira drives. Friday, 7 and 9 p.m. $2.50-$4.50. (949) 824-7365.

“Halloween Happening” at the Irvine Spectrum Center, 71 Fortune Drive. Trick-or-treating for children from 3:30-5 p.m. Costume contests for children 12 and younger at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. (949) 790-4812.

“Witches Brew” performs a Halloween concert in Myrtles Courtyard, Irvine Spectrum Center, 71 Fortune Drive. Today, Friday, Monday and Tuesday, 7 and 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 and 9 p.m.; Sunday, 6 and 8 p.m. Free. (949) 790-4812.

A Halloween party will be held at Gameworks at the Irvine Spectrum, 71 Fortune Drive. Trick-or-treat for children 12 and younger. 5-6 p.m. Unlimited game play. 7 p.m.-midnight. $25. (949) 727-1422.

Laguna Hills

“A Ghostly Affair” will be held at City Hall, 25201 Paseo de Alicia, Suite 150. Saturday, 10-11 a.m. $8. Includes games, crafts, prizes and a costume parade. (949) 707-2686.

Laguna Niguel

Laguna Niguel opens its Haunted House 2000 at the Rancho Niguel Shopping Center, Crown Valley Parkway and Greenfield. Today, 6-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8-10:30 p.m. Also a “Not-Too-Scary” haunted house on Friday and Saturday, 5-7 p.m. $5. (949) 425-5100.

La Habra

An “Un” Haunted House will be held at the Children’s Museum, 301 S. Euclid St. Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 1:30-4 p.m. Fifty cents per visit. Ages 2-8. (562) 905-9793.

Lake Forest

The Autumn Harvest Festival will be held at Heritage Hill Historical Park, 25151 Serrano Road. Saturday, 4-9 p.m. The carnival will feature tours of historical buildings, games and entertainment. (949) 855-2028.

La Palma

A Halloween carnival for children will take place at Central Park, 7821 Walker St. Tuesday, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Includes a costume contest, games and a special area for children younger than 5. (714) 690-3350.

Long Beach

“Shipwreck” 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. Friday to Tuesday, 7 p.m.-midnight. $23. Not recommended for children younger than 13. (562) 435-3511.

The Cal State Long Beach’s University Symphony Orchestra celebrates the macabre with “Halloween IV: It was a dark and stormy night . . .” at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 1250 Bellflower Blvd. Tuesday, 6 p.m. $5-$10. Features a carnival, food, games, costume contest and concert. (562) 985-7000.

A Day of the Dead celebration will be held in Downtown Long Beach, Linden Avenue at 1st Street. Saturday, 7-11 p.m. Live music, giant puppets, parade, frog-jumping contest, hearse rides and costume contest with a $500 first prize. (562) 437-5142.

Los Alamitos

A Halloween carnival will be held at the Community Center parking lot, 10911 Oak St. Tuesday, 3:30-5:30 p.m. For children 12 and younger. $2. Includes games, costume and pumpkin-carving contests. (562) 430-1073.

Mission Viejo

A pet costume contest will be held at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center, 28095 Hillcrest. Saturday, 10:30 a.m. (949) 470-3045.

A Halloween party with storytellers will be held at the Mission Viejo Library, 25209 Marguerite Parkway. Saturday, 11-11:45 a.m. (949) 830-7100.

A Halloween party will be held at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way. Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. Features a costume parade, prizes and refreshments. (949) 470-3062.

Trick-or-treating at the Shops at Mission Viejo, 27000 Crown Valley Parkway. Tuesday. Children’s costume parade and game booths open at 4 p.m. Trick-or-treating begins at 6 p.m. and lasts until the candy runs out. (949) 768-0981.

Newport Beach

The second annual Great Pumpkin Giveaway at the Corona del Mar Plaza, MacArthur Boulevard at Pacific Coast Highway. Friday, 3-5 p.m. Over 5,000 pounds of pumpkins will be given away while supplies last. Includes decoration areas for children and entertainment. (949) 790-9713.

The second annual Doggy Costume Contest at the Corona del Mar Plaza, MacArthur Boulevard at Pacific Coast Highway. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. (949) 760-3647.

The third annual Masquerade Ball for the Arts will be held at the Orange County Museum of Art, 850 San Clemente Drive. Saturday, 8 p.m. $50-$75. Proceeds benefit Opera Pacifica, the Orange County Museum of Art, the Orange County Performing Arts Center and South Coast Repertory. (714) 56-2122, Ext. 546.

A Halloween window painting contest will be held at three area shopping centers. Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Registration forms are available at Newport Beach City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd. Contestants must supply art materials. (949) 644-3151.

A Halloween party will be held at the Hard Rock Cafe, 451 Newport Center Drive. Tuesday, 10 p.m. Live music by Common Sense, costume contest and prizes. (949) 640-8844.

Orange

“Trick-or-Treat through the Streets” will be held at Historic Old Towne Orange, Champman Avenue at Glassell Street. Today, 4-7 p.m. (714) 744-5500.

A pumpkin painting party will be held at the El Modena Library’s community room, 380 S. Hewes St. Saturday, 10-11 a.m. Children will decorate a pumpkin to take home. Free. Reservations are required. (714) 288-2454.

A costume party will take place at Cafe Tu Tu Tango at the Block, 20 City Blvd. West. Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Features prizes for best costume, jazz music by the Bayou Brass Band and a chance to win a 2000 Pontiac Aztec. (714) 769-2222.

A Halloween party will be held at Gameworks at the Block, 20 The City Drive. Trick-or-treating for children 12 and younger. 5-6 p.m. Unlimited game play. 7 p.m.-midnight. $25. (714) 939-9690.

San Clemente

A Halloween party will be held at the San Clemente Senior Center, 242 Avenida Del Mar. Tuesday, Noon. Lunch and karaoke. (949) 498-3322.

San Juan Capistrano

A Pirate Festival will be held at Mission San Juan Capistrano, Ortega Highway at Camino Capistrano. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. A costumed raid on the mission will take place at 4 p.m. Mission admission is $4-$6. (949) 234-1300.

Santa Ana

The 11th annual “Boo at the Zoo” will be held at the Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park, 1801 E. Chestnut St. Friday-Sunday, 5:30 p.m. $4-$5. Includes a pumpkin-carving contest, costume parade, storytelling and trick-or-treating. (714) 953-8555.

The seventh annual Family Harvest Hoedown will be held at the Orange County Worship Center, 1440 E. Santa Clara Ave. Saturday, 3-8 p.m. Free. (714) 547-9631.

“Madame Guignol’s Cabaret of Death,” a collection of original short plays with macabre themes, is at the Hunger Artists Theatre, 204 E. 4th St. The program includes “Bad Magic” and “Old Wooden Head” by David Scaglione; “Fiend” by Adam Martin; “Welcome to Hell” by Melissa Petro; “Adda Lee” by Kelly Flynn; “Bloody Business” by Karl Person; “Inoculations” by Jill Johnson; “Dreams” by Bill Carson. Friday-Saturday, 8:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7:30 p.m.; Monday and Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. $10-$12. (714) 547-9100.

The Rude Guerrilla Theater Company presents Clive Barker’s “The History of the Devil or Scenes From a Pretended Life,” in which Satan, who decides he’s served his time in hell, enlists the help of the dead to persuade God to let him back into heaven, at the Empire Theater, 200 N. Broadway, Santa Ana. Contains nudity, violence and adult themes. Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 p.m. $12-$15. (714) 547-4688.

A Day of the Dead Family Festival will be at the Bowers Kidseum, 1802 N. Main St. Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $4-$8. (714) 480-1520.

A costume ball will be held at the Galaxy Concert Theatre, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd. Wednesday. 8 p.m. (714) 957-0600.

Stanton

The annual “Halloween Howl” will be held at the Cultural Arts and Recreation Center, 7800 Katella Ave. Saturday, 5:30-8:30 p.m. (714) 379-9222, Ext. 270.

Tustin

“Tiller Trick-or-Treat” will be held at Tustin High School, 1171 El Camino Real. Tuesday, 6-7 p.m. Trick or treating for children. (714) 730-7414.

“Halloween Howl” will be held at the Columbus Tustin Activity Center, 17522 Beneta Way. Tuesday. 3 p.m. (714) 573-3326.

Yorba Linda

The Madness of Sleepy Porres haunted house will be held at St. Martin’s Catholic Church, 19791, Yorba Linda Blvd. Friday and Saturday, 7-10:30 p.m. $5-$7. For ages 10 and older. No costumes allowed. (714) 970-2771.