Local Halloween festivities begin on Friday

There’s a cornucopia of community happenings, from hayrides to haunted houses, coming up in the days ahead to celebrate Halloween and the harvest. Here’s a look at what’s going on:

Kalispell

Immanuel Lutheran Communities invites children ages 12 and under to the 16th annual Halloween Trick or Treat Trail and Boo Bash Carnival of Fun from on Friday.

The popular event has been expanded this year and will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. at The Immanuel Lutheran Skilled Care Center, 185 Crestline Ave.; and then from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at The Buffalo Hill Terrace Retirement Community, 40 Claremont St.

Come show off your costume (no scary costumes, please), trick or treat with your friends and play Halloween games.

Admission is free. For further details, call 752-9622.

In honor of Red Ribbon Week there will be a Say Boo to Drugs ice skating and Halloween party from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Woodland Park Ice Center, in Kalispell.

Enjoy music by a DJ, a bonfire, s’mores, games, food, prizes and more.

Admission is free if you’re wearing your red ribbon. Skate rental is $3. Costumes are encouraged.

Evergreen Boy Scout Troop 1948 is putting on a Haunted House Friday through Sunday at the Kalispell Moose Lodge next to Cardinal Hardware on U.S. 2 in Evergreen.

The troop will offer two different haunted houses nightly. The one for elementary children is from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. A second for junior high students and older is from 8:30 to 10 p.m.

Admission is $3. Refreshments will be available.

Flathead Valley Community College Theatre presents the rock musical “The Rocky Horror Show” live on stage nightly from Friday through Nov. 3. All shows begin at 7 p.m.

The production of the decades-long cultural phenomenon will feature humor and schlock horror, along with a live band, and is appropriate for mature audiences.

Advance tickets are $15 for adults or $10 for students and seniors, available online at www.fvcc.edu/theatre/html or at the FVCC Bookstore. Any unsold tickets will be available at the door.

Go batty at Lone Pine State Park’s Bat Day celebration from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Bat crafts and games are scheduled from 1 to 1:40 p.m., followed by a children’s costume contest at 1:45 p.m. Costumes featuring bats and other creatures of the night are encouraged. Show off your zaniest attire to classic monster mash tunes. There will be prizes for those in costume.

At 2 p.m., biologist Angela Daenzer will give an interactive presentation on the intriguing nature of bats and the value of their existence.

The Great Pumpkin Carnival is taking place from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at The Gym, 305 E. Evergreen Dr.

Bring in your homemade pumpkin baked goods by 1:30 p.m.. to enter in the Coats for Kids baking contest. Prizes will be awarded. The entry fee is $5.

Bring your carved pumpkin to the festival for displaying and for the contest. Vote on your favorite.

The festival also will feature fun games and prizes. Everyone will receive 20 free game tickets. Additional tickets will be 25 cents each or five for $1.

Food and baked goods will also be for sale.

Flathead Cancer Aid is hosting a Masquerade Bash and Bachelor/ette Auction Saturday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kalispell. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Each bachelor or bachelorette package has been paired with a cancer patient who will benefit from the sale of that package. Those who bid on a package can take the bachelor or bachelorette or anyone of their choosing for the package. Examples of packages include a raft trip or a ride with a professional pilot.

The bash also will feature live music by Smart Alex, face painting, a magician, silent auction and raffles.

Tickets are available at Reecia’s Salon in Whitefish, Electric Avenue Gifts in Bigfork, O’Brien’s Liquor in Columbia Falls and Colter Coffee in Kalispell. General admission is $15. Reserved tables also are available.

For more information, visit the Flathead Cancer Aid Facebook page or call 471-5146.

Kalispell Elks Lodge No. 725 at 1820 U.S. 93 S. invites parents and grandparents to bring their children and grandkids to their annual pumpkin carving event from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28.

First Presbyterian Church in Kalispell is having a free, community-wide Trunk-or-Treat from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday. The event will feature a trunk-or-treat in the parking lot, games, a haunted house and free pizza.

The church is located at 540 Main St. Call 752-7488 for further details.

The Salvation Army hosts its annual Harvest-fest Carnival from 6 to 8 p.m. on Halloween at 110 Bountiful Dr., in Kalispell.

Games will include football and softball throws, penny and ring tosses, a fishing and duck ponds and more. There will also be a cupcake walk.

The snack bar will sell a hot dog and pop for $1. Proceeds go to youth programs.

Youth World Service is sponsoring a “jail” fundraiser. Lock up a friend for 25 cents. The convict will have to spend 10 minutes in jail or pay 50 cents to be released.

The Nurturing Center in Kalispell invites families to come and trick or treat from 2 to 5 p.m. on Halloween at the center, located at 146 Third Ave. W.

 Children will get to vote on their favorite office space decoration.  

Come in costume and head down Christ Church Episcopal’s Spook Alley from 5 to 7 p.m. on Halloween. The church is located at 215 Third Ave. E. There will be plenty of games and prizes.

Bring a can of food for the Red Door Pantry.

The Flathead Valley Community College Student Government hosts a free Children’s Halloween Party from 5 to 7 p.m. on Halloween in the large community meeting room of the Arts and Technology Building on campus. 

Open to children ages 4 to 8, the event will offer face painting, Halloween games, fortune telling and other festive activities.

Children who attend are encouraged to dress in costumes and must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information, contact Sharon Randolph at 756-3981.

Kalispell Center Mall and Park Side Federal Credit Union are hosting a children’s costume contest and mall-wide trick or treating from 6 to 8 p.m. on Halloween.

The costume contest will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Register at the judging booth in Herberger’s Court. There will be 10 cash prizes awarded in three categories: Scariest, Cutest and Homemade.

First place will win $75; second $50 and third place $25. The best overall costume will win $100.

Photos will be available from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the JCPenney Court.

Prestige Assisted Living invites little ones to come and trick or treat in a safe, warm place, from 6 to 8 p.m. on Halloween at 125 Glenwood Dr. in Kalispell. For more information, call 756-1818.

Whitefish

Downtown Whitefish businesses invite children to trick or treat from 2:30 to 5 p.m. on Halloween. The ninth annual children’s costume contest will also take place. Register at the Park Side booth. Winners will be announced live by Bee Broadcasting. Call 862-2652.

The Whitefish Mountain Mall will host its annual Halloween kids carnival from 5 to 7 p.m. on Halloween. Enjoy games, prizes and trick or treating.

Photos by Fairytale Photography will be available.

Whitefish Assembly hosts a free harvest party from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Halloween. All kids through sixth grade are invited to come and register for door prizes which include a Nintendo Wii, bikes and much more.

There will be games, a hayride, maze, bouncy house, face painting, big trike races, plenty of candy and free hot dogs for dinner.

Children are welcome to come in non-scary costumes.

Whitefish Assembly is located at 1549 Karrow Ave., 2.1 miles from Coffee Traders, 1.4 miles from U.S. 93 North. For information, call 862-4039 or go to www.whitefishaog.com.

Downtown Whitefish bars host their annual adult Halloween costume contest from 6 to 9 p.m. on Halloween. Cash prizes totaling $1,350 will be awarded in the following categories: Best Individual Costume, Best Couple Costume (two people); Best Group Costume (three or more people).

There is a $5-per-person entry fee, with all proceeds benefiting the Whitefish Food Bank. Contestants must be at least 21 and must visit all seven participating bars .

Prizes will be awarded at 9:30 p.m. at the Craggy Range.

For further information, contact Sara at 862-7550 or 270-0972.

Bigfork

Children are invited to trick or treat in the Village from 4 to 6 p.m. on Halloween. Wear your costumes and enjoy the fun. Call 837-5888 for more information.

Polson

Polson businesses invite trick or treaters to stop by from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Halloween. Look for an orange pumpkin on the business door or window.

The Pumpkin Patch Bash is from 6 to 8 p.m. on Halloween at the Polson High School gymnasium.

The free carnival is designed for families with children in sixth grade and under. There will be a free dinner, games, candy and giveaways.

For more information, contact the New Life Christian Center, 883-2447.