At first glimpse at the calendar, seeing that Halloween falls on a Monday sounds like a downer. Who has time for a party – or extended sugar-induced highs – on the first day of the work week?
But give it some thought, and you realize that having Halloween on a Monday opens up the holiday to a four-day celebration.
That’s the way it is in Jefferson County, at least, from the Shocktober safe Halloween party Friday night (Oct. 28) Street at Jefferson College in Hillsboro to the Great Pumpkin Festival Saturday morning (Oct. 29) on Festus’ Main Street right on through Herculaneum’s annual Halloween night bash on Monday.
And, although it’s not billed as a Halloween event, the Kimmswick Apple Butter Festival is an annual rite of autumn.
Here’s a summary of some of the weekend’s festivities:
FRIDAY
Shocktober safe Halloween party, 6-8:30 p.m., Field House, Jefferson College, Hillsboro campus. Family friendly event for children of all ages. Haunted hayride, music, costume contests, candy. Costumes encouraged but not required. Free; activity tickets 25 cents each. Separate session 5:30-6 p.m. for children who may be overwhelmed by excessive lights and sounds. Call 636-481-3249.
Haunted circus 3D fun house, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday, Clastique the Market Place, 1222 N. Truman Blvd., Crystal City. Admission: $1 adults; 50 cents children under 12 or canned or dry good per person. Family oriented event benefits Hillsboro Food Pantry. Photos with Batman and Batmobile. Call 314-560-0685.
Harvestfest, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Jefferson Heights Baptist Church, 5106 Old Hwy. 21, Imperial. Trunk-or-treat event with children’s games. Rain date: Oct. 29.
SATURDAY
Apple Butter Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, in Kimmswick. Kimmswick Historical Society will sell apple butter. Music, children’s activities, wood-carving demonstrations. Burgess-Howe house open for tours. Parking available at Windsor Schools campus on Hwy. 61-67 in Imperial, with shuttle buses available, and at Imperial Youth Association’s fields on Hwy. K. Some paid parking along Hwy. K, Montebello Road and Windsor Harbor Road. Handicap-accessible parking at Windsor Elementary School in Kimmswick.
Great Pumpkin Festival, 10 a.m. to noon, Main Street in Festus and Bailey Road in Crystal City. Merchants displaying orange pumpkin will give out candy to children accompanied by adult. Costume contest for ages 12 and under; judging at Metro Office Supply, 102 Main St., Festus, on staggered schedule by time starting at 10 a.m. Sponsors: Downtown Twin City Business Association, Metro Office Supply. Call Chris or Sue, 636-937-7757.
Trunk-or-treat event, 5-7 p.m., New Hope Fellowship, 5919 Antire Road, High Ridge. Candy, games, inflatables, archery, food. Call 636-343-8001.
Trunk-or-treat event, 3-6 p.m., Comtrea’s Bridle Ridge Acres, 5 Bridle Ridge Spur, Hillsboro. Free for ages 12 and younger. Games, activities, chance to meet horses at facility. Prizes to best decorated car and for best children’s costume. Call Liz Meyers, 636-232-2338.
Northwest Zombie Run, 5 p.m., Northwest Early Childhood Center, 6180 Hwy. MM, House Springs. Registration 4:30 p.m. Entry fee: $25. Runners and zombies needed for 5K run. Zombies try to take flags given to runners. Trunk-or-treat, children’s activities 5-7 p.m. Sign up at any Northwest R-1 School District office.
Halloween party, 7-11 p.m., Big River VFW, 1 Lynn Lane, Cedar Hill. Music, costume contest; costumes optional. Call 636-274-5001.
Shocktober Monster Dash 5K fun run and one-mile walk, 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, Jefferson College, Hillsboro campus. Fun run registration: $30; walk $15. Costumes encouraged but not required. Prizes to top male and female runners and top three in 10 age groups. Sponsors:Jefferson College Foundation and athletics department. To sign up: jeffco.edu/foundation or Marie Self, 636-481-3391.
Superhero 5K run, 9 a.m., Arnold City Park, Bradley Beach Road off Jeffco Boulevard. Entry: $25; $60 for a family of three or more. Costume contest, awards. Sponsor: St. John’s Lutheran Church. Benefits: Branden’s Friday Backpacks Program and the Community Disaster Response Ministry. To sign up: sjlcarnold.org or call 636-761-5489.
Trunk-or-treat event, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Cedar Hill Lutheran Church, 8600 Silver Lane. Free. Snacks, bonfire, hayrides. Call 636-274-4802.
Trunk-or-treat event, 6 p.m., Peace Tabernacle, 11096 Hwy 21, Hillsboro. Free. Glow games, inflatable, face painting, food. Call 636-789-3668.
Trunk-or-treat event, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 6500 Metropolitan Blvd., Barnhart. Games, crafts for children and adults, treats and hot dogs. Children encouraged to wear non-scary costumes. Call 636-464-4114.
Zombie Fun Run and Walk, 9 a.m., Seckman High School, 2800 Seckman Road, in Imperial. Entry: $20; benefits school’s Students Against Destructive Decisions chapter. Participants will run or walk about three miles, trying to avoid students dressed as zombies who will try to take flags worn by participants. To register: eventbrite.com. Information: graczakr@foxc6.org.
Children’s Halloween party, 1-4 p.m., Amvets Post 42, 690 Joachim Ave., Herculaneum. Child-friendly haunted house, games, crafts, face painting, candy. Each child receives fee hot dog, drink. Adults may buy hot dogs for $1 or with a donation of canned good or nonperishable food item. Call 636-479-4040.
Halloween costume party and movie, 5 p.m., Community of Christ Church, 2315 Lonedell Road,Arnold. Movie, “Hocus Pocus,” starts at 7 p.m.; popcorn and soda sold. Call 636-296-7500.
Fall festival, 4-7 p.m., First Baptist Church of Herculaneum-Pevely, 1315 Abbey Lane, Pevely. Petting zoo, bounce houses, hayrides. Call 636-479-9961.
Trunk-or-treat event, 3-5 p.m., Harmony Baptist Church, 5326 Heads Creek Road, House Springs. Free. Costume and car decoration contests, hayride, bounce house, food, games. Call 636-942-2325.
SUNDAY
Trunk-or-treat event, 6-7:30 p.m., Salvation Army, 3740 Telegraph Road, Arnold. Prize for best decorated car or trunk; registration forms at Salvation Army. Hot dogs, chili, chili dogs sold for $1. Call 636-363-0787.
Trunk-or-treat event, 4-6 p.m., Valley View Baptist Church, 2010 Seckman Road,Imperial. For all ages. Giveaway of coats and jackets also held. Call 636-464-8730.
Trunk-or-treat event, 4:30-6 p.m., Good News Community Church, 2793 Hwy. 61, south of Festus. Games, craft activities, photo booth. Call 636-937-3933.
Trunk-or-treat event, 4-7 p.m., First Baptist Church of Arnold, 2012 Missouri State Road. Free candy for sixth-graders and younger, bounce houses, petting zoo, hayride, inflatables. Food and drinks sold. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Call 636-296-7729, ext. 124.
Trunk-or-treat event, 5:30-7 p.m., Arnold Eagles, 1725 Jeffco Blvd. Hot dogs for children in costume. Call 636-282-0208.
MONDAY
Halloween in Herculaneum, 5:30-8 p.m., Herculaneum City Park, 776 Joachim Ave. Free. Bonfire, hayrides, games, free glow bracelets and necklaces, drinks, candy, hot dogs and chips. Trunk or treating allowed. Sponsor: Herculaneum Fire Department. Call 636-475-3080. 636-475-5476 or 314-852-4964.
Trunk-or-treat event, 6:30-8:30 p.m. First Baptist Church, 8265 Local Hillsboro Road, Cedar Hill. Free. Call 636-285-2933.
Trunk-or-treat event, 5:30-7 p.m., First Baptist Church of Festus-Crystal City, 107 N. Truman Blvd., Crystal City. Call 636-937-3668.