Frighteningly fun ways to give yourself the creeps this month

By DEKE FARROW
jfarrow@modbee.com

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Not feeling a chill in the air yet? There's plenty you can do to create your own. Brave a corn maze or haunted house. Curl up at night with a spooky book and only a reading light. Or pop a thriller into the DVD player and watch with only the glow of the television to illuminate your darkened room. For fun without the fright, take in a festival or pumpkin patch. Here are some suggested things to do, watch, read or listen to this Halloween season. Pleasant Screams!

To Do:

Dell'Osso Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch -- The Lathrop attraction is open daily through Oct. 31. More than 60 aces of activities include a 25-acre labyrinthine corn maze, a haunted house, pumpkin blasters, a race-car speedway, train and hay rides, a petting zoo and more. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Dell'Osso Farms is at 26 W. Stewart Road. For prices and other information, visit www.pumpkinmaze.com or call 982-0833.

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Fantozzi Farms Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch -- Located in Patterson, Fantozzi offers two corn mazes that cover approximately 12 acres and include more than 4 miles of paths. There also are a hay bale maze, hay bale pyramids,

bazooka fun guns, a picnic area, corn-seed play box, hayrides and more. The attraction is open through Oct. 31; hours are

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. Fantozzi is at 2550 Sperry Ave. $11-$5. For prices and other information, visit www.fantozzifarms.com or call 892-2015.

ShockerFest International Film Festival -- The annual event, now in its seventh year, wraps up today with sci-fi, horror and fantasy film screenings, plus appearances by "Road Warrior" and "Commando" villain Vernon Wells and '80s scream queen Brinke Stevens. The festival began Friday, and 65 films were selected for screening, including more than a dozen feature-length projects. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The festival is at Galaxy Theatres, 2525 Patterson Road, Riverbank. Admission is $20. To learn more, call 537-5221 or visit www.shockerfest.com.

Symphonic Spooktacular -- The Modesto Symphony Orchestra brings the Headless Horseman to life in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." The annual family-friendly event Oct. 26 includes pumpkin painting, costume contests, kids games and the musical program. Activities begin at 1:30 p.m., with the concert at 3. Tickets are $18. The Spooktacular is in the Rogers Theater of the Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto. To learn more, call 338-2100 or visit www.galloarts.org.

Halloween Spooktacular -- The city of Modesto's Maddux Youth Center offers this fun and safe trick-or-treat alternative for hundreds of kids, ages 12 and under, on Oct. 31. It will include carnival games, a cakewalk, refreshments and more. The event is from 4 to 6 p.m. at the youth center, 615 Sierra Drive, adjacent to César E. Chávez Park. For more information, call 341-2950.

Manteca Pumpkin Fair -- The 24th annual fair began Saturday and concludes today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Activities include pumpkin rolls, pumpkin throws, a kids zone, a car show and several contests. Among the entertainment on three stages is a barbershop quartet, gymnastics troupe, dancers and singers, including Brieanne Jansen of Lathrop, who played Frances Stone in the movie "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl." There also are about 200 vendor booths. Admission to the fair, which is near Library Park off Yosemite Avenue, is free. For more information, visit www.sunrisekiwanis.org/pumpkinfair.html or call 800-592-7419.