The Best Places To Be On Halloween

Halloween is a favorite holiday in Santa Cruz County. Neighborhoods go all out with decorations, kids participate in parades and adults head downtown for impromptu promenades. Here’s a brief listing of some of the Halloween events this year. Check our online calendar at www.santacruzsentinel.com for more events.

For families

THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW: Costumed actors re-enact scenes from the story as it’s narrated during the one-hour and 15 minute train ride at Roaring Camp Railroad, off Graham Hill Road in Felton. Designed for young children and the young-at-heart with a haunted house, games and costume contests. Trains depart at 6 p.m., 6:15 p.m., 8 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reservations required. Cost is $27 per person; $7 parking fee. Details: http://www.roaringcamp.com or 335-4484.

HALLOWEEN AND HARVEST CARNIVAL: With a haunted house, horse rides, a dunk tank, cake walk, games, jump house, face painting, balloons, arts and crafts activities, raffle, live music, seasonal crafts, vendors, gourmet hot dogs and other food concessions. Costumes optional. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Aptos Academy, 1940 Bonita Drive, Aptos. Details: 688-1080.

Capitola Village Children’s Halloween Parade: Calling all ghosts, goblins, boys and ghouls. Don’t miss the annual Capitola Village Children’s Halloween Parade at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Gault School 60th Annual Halloween/DIA de los Muertos Parade & Carnival: Carnival activities include a climbing wall, calacas toss, cakewalk, jump house, sugar skull decorating and other great games. A Seabright tradition since 1948. From 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Gault Elementary School, Santa Cruz.

HALLOWEEN ON THE WHARF: With trick-or-treating on the Wharf where merchants will provide free treats, free face painting and balloons and a costume contest at 4 p.m. with awards set for 5 p.m. and free photos 4-6 p.m. With ribbons for each participant and prizes for best costumes. Scheduled from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. Rain or shine. Cost is free. Details: http://www.santacruzwharf.com or 420-5273.

MARINE MASQUERADE: All are invited to a Halloween Ball at the Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz. Candlelight stories, marine mask-making and a tour to the world’s largest skeleton. Fun begins at 6 p.m. Admission for adults is $6, $4 for students, seniors and children 4-16; Marine Lab members $4, $3 children. Details: 459-3800.

For adults

EXTRA LARGE HALLOWEEN EXTRAVAGANZA: With costume contest at Don Quixote’s, 6275 Highway 9, Felton. Cost is $10. Details: http://www.donquixotesmusic.com or 603-2294.

SAMBADA’S ANNUAL HALLOWEEN COSTUME BALL: Part of a two-night Afro-Brazilian dance party. 9:30 p.m. Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Moe’s Alley, 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz. Cost: $20 Friday; $15 Saturday. Details: http://www.moesalley.com or 479-1854.

BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S HALLOWEEN BASH: Live blues, funk at Seabright Brewery, 519 Seabright Ave., Santa Cruz. Details: 426-BREW.

HALLOWEEN COSTUME BALL WITH WARRIOR KING: With cash prizes for first, second and third place costume contest winners. The Midtones also perform. Doors 8 p.m.; show 9 p.m. at The Catalyst, 1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. Cost is $15 advance, $19 door. In the atrium, LAVISH GREEN, LIVITZ LIVITZ and GREYSCALE perform at 9 p.m. No cover. Details: Http://www.catalystclub.com or 423-1336.

THE SANTA CRUZ HALLOWEEN BALL: With Fishbone and the Eric McFadden Trio and a costume contest with $300 for first prize. Doors 7 p.m.; show 8 p.m. at Portuguese Hall, Harvey West Park, Santa Cruz. All ages welcome; full bar for 21+. Cost IS $35 advance, $40 door; free parking. Details: http://www.santacruzhalloweenball.com.

TRICK OR TREAT HALLOWEEN DANCE: With prizes for best costumes, live music and refreshments. All ages welcome to attend. 7:30-10:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at Mid-County Senior Center, 829 Bay Ave., Capitola. Cost is $8 donation.

Freaker’s Ball Halloween Party: The 14th annual Halloween Freaker’s Ball features The Greatest Show Unearthed, a fun-filled night of live music, electronic artists, DJs, and performance art. 5 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Vets Hall, Front Street, Santa Cruz. Tickets are $30.

ScripTease Improv & Sketch Comedy: “An American Barewolf In London.” Come celebrate Halloween with ScripTease Improv & Sketch Comedy, the world’s only stripping improv troupe. Costume contest. 8 p.m. Saturday at Pacific Cultural Center, Santa Cruz.

HALLOWEEN HOOTENANNY: Billy Martini takes the stage in a night that features haunted tours and a costume contest. Grand costume prize is $100, gift certificates will be offered as prizes as well. Admission is $8. Concert starts at 9 p.m. at Brookdale Inn and Spa, 11570 Highway 9, Boulder Creek. Details: 338-1300.

RONNIE DOBBS AND THE FUZZ: Windjammer Lounge, 1 Rancho Del Mar, Aptos, goes all out with the music starting at 9 p.m. Oct. 31. Costume contest awards Windjammer T-shirts and trophies. Windjammer also participates in Safe Halloween put on by the shopping center to give away candy from 3-5 p.m. Pumpkin carving contest is held on Oct. 30 for a $3 donation to St. Jude’s Hospital. Pumpkins are then giving to trick or treating kids on Oct. 31. The party continues Nov. 1 night with Halloween 2 featuring a heavy metal tribute band Ikki Lamb Slaughter. Dress up as ’80s rockers. Details: 685-1587.

Best of the rest

Some of the smaller bars and clubs host bands and costume contests as well. Here is a selection.

NIGHTLIFE performs at Severino’s, 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos. A costume contest will be held Oct. 31, awarding $100 gift certificates to the hotel. No admission. Details: 688-7300.

LAURA PRICE BLUES BAND takes the stage Oct. 31 at the Fog Bank, 211 Esplanade, Capitola Village. Details: 462-1881.

HONEST MISTAKE and DEVIL HIMSELF play oct. 31 at annual Halloween Extravaganza at Henflings, 9450 Highway 9, Ben Lomond. Details: 336-9318.

THUNDER UNICORN and THIRD STONE FROM THE SUN headline the Great British Mullet Rock Party at the Crow’s Nest, 2218 East Cliff Drive at the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor. Tickets are $10 and costumes are required for entry. Show starts at 9:30 p.m. Details: 476-4560.