Scare up a good time across the Modesto region

Spirits will be high across the Modesto and Mother Lode regions between now and Halloween with a variety of spooktacular events ready to help folks scare up some good times.

There’s a range of options from scary, adults-only haunted houses and parties to more low-key and whimsical activities for the youngest of revelers. From fests to ghost stories, pumpkin patches and more, there’s plenty for the Halloween-happy across the region to choose from. Here’s a look at what’s continuing and what’s still to come:

Harvest Haunt Express – Through Sunday, Oct. 30: Skeleton crew journeys through the Gold Country. Weekend themes: “Princesses and Pirates” Sunday, Oct. 23; and “Wizards and Witches” Oct. 29-30. Trains run Saturdays and Sundays on the hour from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown. $10-$15; free ages 5 and under. 209-984-3953 or www.railtown1897.org.

Higbee Horror Haunt – Through Saturday, Oct. 31: Walk-through haunted house has nine themed areas with real-life characters. Not recommended for children under the age of 13. Oct. 28-29, 31. 7-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 7-10 p.m. Oct. 31. 2936 Veneman Ave., Modesto. $13 adults; $8 children. www.facebook.com/HigbeeHorrorHaunt.

All Hallows Fantasy Faire – Sunday, Oct. 23: People invited to dress in favorite fantasy costumes and enjoy a vendor fair, encampments, activities, live music, street performers, food and more. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mother Lode Fairgrounds, 220 Southgate Drive, Sonora. $15 general, $5 children 6-12. www.allhallowsfaire.com.

Haunted Museum – Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 27-29: Boys & Girls Club of Stanislaus County-sponsored event features lighter scares for the age 5-to-12 set with a haunted maze and featuring favorite Halloween characters by live actors from Prospect Theater Project, crafts and midway kids games. Kids can decorate a pumpkin and walk through the McHenry Museum. 5-8 p.m. McHenry Museum, 14th and I streets, Modesto. $5; free age 5 and under. 209-222-5826 or www.bgcstan.org.

Trunk or Treat – Friday, Oct. 28: Family event with classic cars, games for the kids, trunk-or-treating, pumpkin bowling, pumpkin painting, music and more. 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tenth Street Plaza, 1010 10th St., Modesto. Free. 209-529-9303.

Family Friday Ghost Stories – Friday, Oct. 28: Professional storyteller Megumi shares creepy and fun ghost stories from cultures around the world. Snacks and art project. 7 p.m. Carnegie Arts Center, 250 N. Broadway, Turlock. Free. 209-632-5761. www.carnegieartsturlock.org.

Monsters in Modesto – Friday-Saturday, Oct. 28-29: Haunted house with options from low scares to full scares including Psychotic Circus and Zombie Hurricane. 7 p.m. to midnight, Vintage Faire Mall parking lot, 3401 Dale Road, Modesto. $8-$21. www.monstersinmodesto.com.

Haunted Halloween Hayride – Friday-Saturday, Oct. 28-29. City of Riverbank event with hayride through a variety of themed areas such as Salem Witch Trials, China Dolls, CSI Riverbank and more. Concessions. 7-9:30 p.m. Friday, 7-10 p.m Saturday. Jacob Myers Park, Riverbank. $5-$10; free under age 5. 209-863-7150.

A Silent Movie Haunting – Friday-Saturday, Oct. 28-29: Featuring “The Phantom of the Opera” with live music accompaniment by Dave Moreno on organ. Buffet, dessert and popcorn. 6 p.m. Friday, noon Saturday. Ironstone Vineyards, 1894 Six Mile Road, Murphys. $35. 209-728-1251.

Deathworkz Haunted House – Friday-Monday, Oct. 28-Oct. 31. Locally run haunted house with costumed performers and big scares. Blackout night 7 p.m. Oct. 28; thrill seeker night (18 and over only) 7 p.m. Oct. 30; torment night, (18 and over only) 7 p.m., Oct. 31, Halloween night with kiddie hour 5:30 p.m. and regular scares starting 7 p.m. 2404 St. Charles Place, Modesto. Donations accepted. Call 209-605-3975 or visit www.deathworkz.com.

The Summoning Halloween Party – Friday, Oct. 29. Street party featuring more than a dozen Halloween-themed party rooms including CarnEvil, Zombie Prom, Hocus Pocus, Chucky’s Playhouse and others, costume contests and more. 21-and-older event. 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Downtown Modesto, 11th and J streets. $10 presale, $20 gate; express entry tickets also available. halloweenmodesto.com.

Boo Boulevard – Saturday, Oct. 29: Fifteen trick-or-treat stops, historical games from 3 to 6 p.m. Wagon rides through the decorated vacant Diggins Tent Town site from 4 to 6 p.m. for $5 a person. Illumination of the jack-o-lanterns at 4 p.m.. Prizes will be given for various categories. At 6 p.m., a costume contest for age 12 and under. Columbia State Historic Park. 209-588-9128.

Zip Line Pumpkin Smash – Saturday, Oct. 29: Drop a pumpkin from the zip line and try to hit targets on the ground. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Moaning Cavern Adventure Park, 5350 Moaning Caverns Road, Vallecito. $45 per smash. 866-762-2837 or http://caverntours.com.

Walk Through the Spooky Woods – Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 29-30: Delta Tule Trekkers host 5K or 10 K walks and barbecues, costume contest on Saturday. 8 a.m.-noon. Caswell Memorial State Park, 28000 Austin Road, Ripon. 209-931-0557 or www.deltatuletrekkers.org.

Halloween Festival & Parade – Monday, Oct. 31: Oakdale city event with downtown trick-or-treating, games, hot dogs, pumpkin contest, costume contest, Haunted Hospital; parade begins at Youth Building, 297 Gilbert Ave. 6 to 8 p.m. Festival at Gene Bianchi Community Center, 110 S. Second Ave., Oakdale.

MAZES AND PATCHES

Dell’Osso Family Farm – Through Monday, Oct. 31: Pumpkin maze, zip lines, giant pumpkin orb races, a giant slide, a ball toss arena, lawn games, pumpkin blasters, a haunted house, kids zone, rides, food court and pumpkin patches. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 26 W. Stewart Road, Lathrop. Admission Mondays-Thursdays is $13.95, Fridays-Sundays $17.95; early bird Mondays-Fridays (before 2 p.m.) is $10. There are a few attractions not included with general admission at an additional $5 to $7. pumpkinmaze.com.

Dutch Hollow Farms – Through Monday, Oct. 31: Pumpkin patch, a picnic area, kids play area and farm animals, 10-acre maze, a corn maze with a farm scene investigation game, hayrides, Farmer John’s Animal Area, corn pit for kids to play in and more. Admission to the patch is free; $4 for farm area activities and $6 for the giant corn maze with an $8 combo pack for all. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. 5101 Oakdale Road, Modesto. 209-541-7448. dutchhollowfarms.com.

Fantozzi Farms – Through Monday, Oct. 31: Corn mazes with haunted maze Friday and Saturday nights from 7 p.m. until closing. Pedal car raceway, hay bale labyrinth, pipe slides, corn cannons, cow train rides, a petting zoo, hayrides, a corn seed pit, hay pyramids, a picnic area and pig races. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays; open daily the last week of October, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Parking and access to the pumpkin patch are free; admission to activities range from $5-$12. 2665 Sperry Ave., Patterson. 209-892-2015. fantozzifarms.com.

R.A.M. Farms – Through Monday, Oct. 31: Corn maze with Freaky Flashlight Nights on Fridays and Saturdays, free movies under the stars (weather permitting) on Fridays and Saturdays and Sunday, Oct. 30, and Monday, Oct. 31. Scary shed, corn hole games, pumpkin bowling, pedal tractors, hay maze and more. Free with maze tickets $7-$11. Open noon to dusk Mondays-Thursdays; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays. R.A.M. Farms Inc., 716 N. Daubenberger Road, Turlock. 209-668-2425. ramfarms.com.

OTHER SEASONAL EVENTS

A few events are decidedly non-Halloween but come during the same season. Here are just a few:

Dia de Los Muertos – Saturday, Oct. 29: Event includes free screening of “The Book of Life” at Brenden Theatres, community booths, noon opening ceremony, face painting, games, sidewalk chalk drawing, 5:30 p.m. procession, evening DJs and casino entertainment. Presented by the American GI Forum. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tenth Street Plaza, 1010 10th St., Modesto. Free. 209-585-6590.

La Ofrenda Dia de Los Muertos – Sunday, Oct. 30: Celebration of the diverse, traditional Mexican festivals that pay homage to the memories of ancestors. “La Ofrenda” (The Offering) is a journey through various states in Mexico which presents the customs and rituals that take place on “Dia de Los Muertos” (Day of the Dead). 4 p.m. Mary Stuart Rogers Theater, Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto. $29-$44. www.galloarts.org.

Knights Ferry Pumpkin Roll – Sunday, Nov. 6: The 53rd annual pumpkin roll featuring craft fair, food, games and “World Championship Pumpkin Roll.” 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Knights Ferry, Sonora Road, off Highway 120. 209-881-3314.

This story was originally published October 21, 2016 at 1:21 PM with the headline "Scare up a good time across the Modesto region."