Around & About
EVENTS: Halloween Ghost Train — Weekends, Oct. 22-24 and Oct. 28-31, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The 12th annual Halloween Ghost Train attraction at Griffith Park. Presented by the nonprofit Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum. The ride will depart from Scarewood Station and travel through devilish displays, an Old Western ghost town and more. Five new displays this year follow an Appalachian Mountain theme. Children must be at least 34 inches tall and all riders must be less than 350 lbs. There is a suggested donation of $7 per person, with proceeds going toward maintenance and equipment purchase. The museum is next to Travel Town, 5202 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles.
Harvest Festival and Plant Fair — Oct. 22-24, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada. Plants for sale, horticulture talks and demonstrations, and children’s activities, including a costume parade at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturday. Free with Gardens admission: $8 adults, $6 senior/students and $3 for children 5-12. For more information call (818) 949-4200 or visit https://www.descansogardens.org.
Relay for Life Kick-off Ceremony — Saturday, Oct. 23, 6:30 p.m. Attend this mini-luminaria ceremony at the northeast corner of Oceanview and Honolulu in Montrose to sign up to participate in the May 14-15, 2011 Relay for Life, which will take place at Clark Magnet School in La Crescenta to raise funds for cancer research. Teams that sign up for the Relay during the kick-off ceremony Oct. 23 will have a registration fee of $11. For more information call Relay for Life Chairman Paula Warner at (818) 269-2155.
“The Fight for the Right to Vote: Women Changing History” — Sunday, Oct. 24, 2 p.m. The La Cañada Thursday Club, 4440 Woodleigh Lane, La Cañada. This free afternoon tea and program is open to the public but reservations are required and can be made by calling Val Burgess at (818) 249-2669 or e-mailing her at valkath91214@yahoo.com.
Book-signing, author Jeff Sherratt —Thursday, Oct. 28, 7:30 p.m. Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse, 964 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada. Jeff Sherratt, author of “Detour to Murder” will sign his novel.
Lecture, Patterns for A Movement: The Arts & Crafts in England and Scotland — Saturday, Nov. 6, 4 p.m. The Ahmanson Auditorium at Art Center College of Design, 1700 Lida Street, Pasadena. Gamble House curator Anne Mallek offers this presentation on the beginnings of the Arts & Craft Movement in Great Britain as part of The Sidney D. Gamble Lecture Series. Free to members of Friends of the Gamble House; $12 general public. Reservations are required. For more information or to order tickets call (626) 793-3334, ext. 52 or visit https://www.gamblehouse.org.
EXHIBITIONS
Day of the Dead Altars & Ephemera — Until Nov. 6. The Folk Tree gallery, 217 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena 91105. More than 65 artists are participating in this year’s exhibition, which includes paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photography, jewelry and more. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information call (626) 795-8733.
KIDS’ PICKS
Halloween Haunt — Saturday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. La Cañada Elementary School, 4540 Encinas Drive, La Cañada. Fun for all ages: a cakewalk, pumpkin-carving and decorating contest, silent auction, games, confetti eggs, Silly String battles in the Beastly Battlezone and more. Korean barbecue food and special treats will be available for hungry goblins.
Bob Baker’s Halloween Hoop-Dee-Do — Through Oct. 31. Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First Street, Los Angeles, marks its 50th anniversary season with special Halloween costume parades at select performances of the Hoop-De-Doo. At the 2:30 p.m. matinee performances on Oct. 23, Oct. 24, Oct. 30 and Oct. 31, guests are encouraged to attend in costume and be part of the parade. There will be a special prize for best costume of the day at each of those performances. Children and adults $20. Seniors $15. For more information go online to https://www.bobbakermarionettes.com. Phone (213) 250-9995.
Flick and Float —Saturday, Oct. 30, 6:30 p.m. Watch the film “Monsters Inc.” while floating in the heated pool at the Crescenta-Cañada YMCA, 1930 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada. Wear a bathing suit and bring a towel. Snacks and floating devices will be provided. Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information and to make a reservation call Heather Wilson at (818) 790-0123, ext. 223.
Spooktacular Halloween Trunk or Treat — Sunday, Oct. 31, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lutheran Church in the Foothills, 1700 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada. Lunch, games, prizes, a bounce house and “trunk or treat” activity, where goodies will be handed out from the trunks of vehicles. All community members are welcome to this event as well as to adult or children’s church services at 10 a.m. Costumes are optional. To enter a vehicle in the fun, sign-up via e-mail to office@lcifoothills.org.
Vegging Out —Thursday, Nov. 4, 3:30 to 5 p.m. For children who attend kindergarten through third-grade, accompanied by an adult. The Crescenta-Cañada YMCA plans several fun-filled activities to make nutrition cool. Among them: planting vegetables, participating in interactive story time, making holiday-themed healthy snacks and learning from a nutritionist. Free and open to community members. For more information call Rosanne Malogolowkin at (818) 790-0123, ext. 247.
Toddler Time — Saturday, Nov. 13, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tots ages 18 to 36 months, accompanied by a parent or caregiver, are invited to enjoy a morning of science and art exploration, sing-a-long time and active play. Child must be accompanied by an adult. Fee is $25 per child. Register online at https://www.kidspacemuseum.org.
PERFORMANCE
Boggs, Brock & Pratt: Oldies Concert —Friday, Oct. 22, 8 p.m. In the Worship Arts Center of La Cañada Presbyterian Church, 626 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada. Janet Boggs, Andrew Pratt and Judy Brock present this concert featuring pop classics of the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, which will have a theme of “harmony, humor and hits,” said Brock, director of the church’s children’s choirs. Tickets are $15 and are available in advance at the church office, or at the door on the night of the performance. For more details go online to https://www.lacanadapc.org or call (818) 790-6708.
Los Angeles Clarinet Choir — Tuesday, Nov. 9, 8 p.m. In the Worship Arts Center of La Cañada Presbyterian Church, 626 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada. This free concert featuring a group of 15 accomplished clarinetists ranging in age from 17 to 70 is sponsored by the Voyagers Club at the church. For information call (818) 790-6084.
WRITERS’ CORNER
The Art of the Short Story — Sunday, Nov. 14, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse, 964 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada, presents a reading and workshop with author Leslie Parry. Parry will share one her short stories, then lead a 30-minute writing exercise and a question-and-answer session. Free. For more information call (818) 790-0717.
The 4th annual Festival of California Poets — Saturday, Oct. 23, 3 p.m. Presented by the Friends of the Pasadena Public Library together with PEN USA and Poetry Society of America in the DW Wright Auditorium at Pasadena Central Library, 285 E. Walnut St., Pasadena. Contemporary California poets introduce poems. Featuring Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Al Young, Luis Rodriguez. Free. To learn more call (626) 744-4680.
TO YOUR HEALTH
Free flu shots for seniors — Friday, Oct. 29, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Verdugo Hills Hospital, 1812 Verdugo Blvd., is offering free flu immunizations to residents 55 years of age and older. Shot will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. For more details call the hospital’s flu hotline at (818) 949-4003.
Zumba Toning — Saturdays, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Vonder Haar Center, 457 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada. Using light weights, this class combines body-sculpting techniques and Zumba moves. First class is free. For more information call (818) 395-7760.
To submit calendar listings, send an e-mail with the pertinent details to lcnews@valleysun.net.