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A Mountain Halloween

Spooky activities

Sierra Star Staff Report

(Updated: Thursday, October 29, 2009, 1:46 PM)

Fun and frightful events are planned throughout the Mountain Area to celebrate Halloween Friday and Saturday.

Motorists are urged to drive with caution Saturday evening, especially while entering "ghost and goblin" crossings.

After Saturday night's activities, be sure to turn your clocks back one hour for Daylight Savings Time.

Haunted house

The Sierra Lions is hosting the third annual Haunted House from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and 31 at Camp Pacifica in Ahwahnee, 45895 Highway 49. Tickets cost $6 at the gate or $5 prior to the event and can be purchased at Oakhurst Feed.

Children 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Also, for the first time ever, there will be a "Spooky Theatre" where scary movies will be playing throughout the evening for free. Refreshments will be sold including popcorn, candy, sodas and water.

Details: (559) 683-7977.

Night at the museum

Join the fall festivities at Spring Valley School from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.

Turn east on Road 200 from Highway 41 and the campus is located three miles down the road.

There will be a costume contest held at 6:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to the best historical characters that might spend a night at the museum.

There will also be a cake decorating contest with all submissions being used for the cake walk.

A wrist bracelet will provide unlimited use of the bounce houses.

Turn in tickets at the game booths, archery stand, face painting and hair coloring stands. Select prizes at the redemption booth.

For shoppers, there will be lots of silent auction items and services offered. Bid on classroom baskets including "Kindergarten Camping," "Kids Cooking," "Family Movie Night," "Twilight/New Moon" and "Spa Day."

There will be a drawings for spa services and a limo ride and four tickets to a Fresno State football game. There will also be hot dogs with all kinds of toppings, nacho boats, a dessert stand and cotton candy.

There will also be musical performances and local dance troupes.

All proceeds will benefit the students of Spring Valley School, O'Neals Digital Middle School and Chawanakee Academy.

Church of the Sierras

The Church of the Sierras in Yosemite Lakes Park will hold their Harvest Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at 43840 Patrick Ave., 1.3 miles off Highway 41. The event will feature bounce houses, petting zoo, game booths, cake walk, silent auction, raffle, live music, karaoke, funnel cakes, tri-tip barbeque and Mexican dishes.

Tickets for the game booths and food will be five for $1. The day will end with a Trunk or Treat at 5 p.m. Details: (559) 658-7447.

Sierra Pines Church Trunk or Treat

The Sierra Pines Church is holding its annual Trunk or Treat at 5 p.m. Saturday at 40855 Covey Court. There will be games, prizes, food, candy and a costume contest.

Details: (559) 683-2882 or sierrapineschurch.com.

Coarsegold trunk or treat

a Truck or Treat event will be held at 5:30 p.m. at J Carol Graham Realty on Highway 41 in Coarsegold. A bounce house and hot dogs will be available along with a costume contest. Details: (559) 658-2486.

Mountain Christian Center trunk or treat

Stop by for a free evening of "Trunk Or Treating" complete with a bounce house. There will also be free hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks.

The event opens at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Mountain Christian Center, 40299 Highway 49. Details: (559) 683-7332.

Goldside Estates

Residents of Goldside Estates on Highway 49 will be ready and waiting to hand out candy to all the trick-or-treaters between 6 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Security will be provided by the Goldside Estates Homeowner's Association. Details: www.goldsideestates.com.

Assembly of God

The Lighthouse Assembly of God Church will host their harvest Festival from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at 45543 Raymond Road (415). There will be bounce houses, inflatable jousting, candy, a cake walk and carnival games. Details: (559) 683-8056.

Community College trunk or treat

The Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce and the Oakhurst Community College will hold a Truck or Treat from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Saturday in the south parking lot of the college on the corner of Crane Valley Road (426) and Golden Loop Lane.

"Trunkers" and their cars are both encouraged to dress to impress in Halloween costume - without gore.

The chamber, community college, Pet Palace, Fire Station 12 and Sierra Ambulance will be participating in the event. The Pet Palace is sponsoring the costume contest.

There will be contests with prizes throughout the evening as follows:

Kid's Costume Contest: 6, 6:30 and 7 p.m.
Prize: $20 Toys R' Us gift card.

Adult's Costume Contest: 6:45 and 7:15 p.m.
Prize: $25 Best Buy gift card.

Best Decorated Trunk Contest: 7:30 p.m.
Prize: $50 Home Depot gift card.

Details: (559) 760-6288 or (559) 683-3940.

Raymond Halloween dance and dinner

The fifth annual Raymond Volunteer Fire Department Spaghetti Benefit Dinner and Halloween dance is particularly important due to budget cuts and the upcoming closure of the Raymond Cal Fire Station.

The event is 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30 at the Raymond General Store. Tickets cost $10 and $12 at the door. Dinner includes spaghetti with meat sauce - vegetarian is also available - salad, garlic bread and a beverage. Dessert will also be available from the Raymond-Knowles bake sale.

All dinner proceeds will be donated to the Raymond Volunteer Fire Department. Details: (559) 658-7424.

Haunted mines

Miners have believed for years that mines are inhabited by ghosts. The public will have the opportunity to explore a haunted mine tunnel and see for themselves this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

This event will be held at the Mining and Mineral Museum in Mariposa located at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds on Highway 49. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission costs $4 for adults, children under 12 are free.

Details: (209) 742-7625.