Fun events span several days in Flathead Valley

Whether a Fall Festival or Fright Night fits your fancy, there’s plenty of fun to be had around the Flathead Valley during this week of Halloween festivities.

Here’s what’s happening:

TODAY

• First Presbyterian Church in Kalispell hosts a free Halloween Carnival for the community from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Costumes are welcome. A trunk or treating event will follow the party.

The church is located at 540 Main St.

FRIDAY

•  Bigfork Elementary School kindergarteners and first-graders will parade in costume along Electric Avenue at 12:15 p.m.

The children will not be trick-or-treating so merchants may save their candy for Halloween trick or treaters.

The public is invited to come and show its support.

•  A Halloween carnival hosted by Flathead High School International Baccalaureate students is planned from 4 to 6 p.m. in the school commons.

Enjoy a cake walk, maze, photo booth, games and spooky science activities. All children 10 and under are invited. Costumes are encouraged. Admission is one canned food item.

FRIDAY/SATURDAY

• The Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts rolls out its new video projection equipment with two movies this weekend.

On Friday, the children’s movie, “Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit” will be shown. This slightly scary and hilarious claymation movie is great for the entire family. Doors open at 4 p.m. The movie starts at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $1, available at Electric Avenue Gifts and at the door. Cookies and cider will be provided in the lobby. Costumes are welcome.

On Saturday, adults are encouraged to come in costume for a screening of “Young Frankenstein” by Mel Brooks. Tickets are $5, available at Electric Avenue Gifts, Jug Tree, Kalispell Grand Hotel and at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the movie starts at 8 p.m.

The lobby will be decked out for Halloween. The celebration will include a framed movie poster award for the best costume. Come early to enjoy wine, beer and a signature drink available for purchase along with other beverages and snacks.

SATURDAY

•  The Climb to Conquer Cancer 5K trail run/walk takes place from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Lone Pine State Park near Kalispell.

The Halloween-themed event features entertainment, food and a celebration of survivors.

Individuals and teams are encouraged to come in costume. Each participant has the opportunity to participate in fundraising for the event.

There will be individual and team costume contests, trick-or-treating water stops, vendors and more.

Participants will meet at Kalispell Center Mall and be shuttled to Lone Pine State Park. Pre-registration is encouraged; day of registration will be available. Entry fee is $25 for adults and $15 for children. A team of 12 may also register for $250.

To register yourself or a team, go online to www.flatheadcountyclimb.com

Spectators and participants may remember loved ones lost to cancer and honor those battling the disease by purchasing a flower in the Survivor and Remembrance garden.

•  CrossFit Flathead sponsors Raise the Bar for Breast Cancer Awareness beginning at 9 a.m. to raise money for cancer patients in the Flathead Valley.

All ages and fitness levels are welcome to participate. CrossFit experience is not necessary and coaches will be on hand.

Prizes for best pink outfit and best Halloween costume will be awarded and a raffle, silent auction and bake sale (paleo and non-paleo items) will take place. T-shirts will be for sale and the coffee shop will serve coffee drinks and smoothies.

The gym is located at 1896 Airport Road in Kalispell.

For more details, call Trina Vanomy at 406-261-8297.

•  The Halloween Family Boo! Run hosted by the Whitefish Theatre Company takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday. The race begins and ends at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish.

The event includes a 5K run/walk with prizes awarded for best costumes, post-race food and fun. Halloween costumes are encouraged but not required.

Pre-register at www.runsignup.com. Same day race registration will also be available from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m.

The cost is $20 for adults, and $12 for children 12 and under.

Contact Whitefish Theatre Company at 862-5371 for a $50 family pass or for questions.

All funds raised from the fun run will support free theater and music outreach programs for area youth.

•  Families are invited to bring their children to trick or treat in the Spring Prairie shopping center on Treeline Road in Kalispell from 1 to 3 p.m. Cabela’s, the Dressbarn, Boot Barn, Discount Tire, MacKenzie River Pizza, Grill and Pub and Petsmart will participate.

At 2 p.m. Cabela’s will have a children’s costume contest and parade with prizes for Best Woodland Animal and Best Aquatic Species.

•  Lone Pine State Park near Kalispell invites little ghouls and goblins ages 4 to 9 to attend its Creatures of the Night Party from 2 to 4 p.m.

Enjoy a monstrous celebration of bat and spider crafts, wolf games, “bob-cat” for apples and some nocturnal animal trivia. Costumes are highly encouraged.

The cost is $4 per child. For more information, call 755-2706.

•  The Big Arm Association sponsors a “Charlie Brown Halloween” event from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the historic Big Arm School.

There will be games, crafts, snacks and activities centered around the video, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Costumes are optional. For more information, call Nancy Foster at 849-5064.

•  The Flathead Valley Community College Veterans Association and Student Government invite the community to participate in a Halloween Trunk or Treat from 4 to 7 p.m.

Free and open to the public, the family-friendly event will feature decorated vehicle trunks filled with treats for guests to enjoy. The event will take place in the college’s west parking lot off U.S. 93. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes.

For more information, contact Scott Brooke at 756-3981 or scottdbrooke@fvcc.edu.

•  Kalispell Center Mall hosts its annual Mall-O-Ween event.

The fun starts with a costume contest for ages up to 13 from 4 to 6 p.m. sponsored by Parkside Credit Union and The Monster KZMN. Prizes will be awarded for the top costumes.

Family Friendly Flathead will have games to play from 4 to 6 p.m. in the JCPenney Court area.

Trick-or-treating gets under way from 5 to 7 p.m. at participating retailers.

The Montana Trolley will be parked outside the Red Lion Hotel entrance to let people tour the haunted trolley from 5 to 7 p.m.

•  Family Life Christian Church in Kalispell invites the community to its Harvest Festival from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Festivities include games for all ages, maze, raffle, a pumpkin launch and free food. Those who bring in a coat to donate a coat will get a free extra raffle ticket.

The church is located at 1075 Foy’s Lake Road. For more details, call 257-9315.

SUNDAY

 Celebrate Red Ribbon Week with an Ice Skating Halloween Party from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Woodland Ice Rink in Kalispell, weather permitting.

Admission is free with your red ribbon. All ages are welcome and costumes are encouraged. There will be a bonfire, s’mores, games, music, food concession and prizes.