This weekend will serve as the big lead-in to most children’s second-favorite holiday, Halloween, which this year is Thursday (Oct. 31).
For adults and children alike, though, Halloween isn’t a one-day event anymore, and this weekend’s calendar is evidence of that.
There are quite a few Halloween-themed events, and a trunkload of trunk-or-treat events. In case you’re not familiar with trunk-or-treats, they’re events sponsored by a church or civic group that allow children to hone their trick-or-treating skills among cars (sometimes decorated for the holidays) offering candy and other treats. It’s considered a safer alternative to visiting homes of strangers.
Here’s the schedule for parents wishing to plan out the next few days:
Friday, Oct. 25
Shocktober Trunk-or-Treat Halloween Party, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Jefferson College, Hillsboro. Games, activities, hayride, candy. Tickets per trunk or hayride: 25 cents. Costumes encouraged. Benefits college’s holiday adopt-a-family program. Call 636-481-3231.
Trunk-or-treat event, 5-8:30 p.m., High Ridge VFW, 2220 Gravois Road. Call 636-677-1772.
Trunk-or-treat event, 4:30-7 p.m., Gordman’s parking lot, 225 Arnold Crossroads Center. Sponsor: Optimist clubs to raise money to fight childhood cancer and fund scholarships. Peanut butter collected for Brenden’s Friday Backpacks.
Saturday, Oct. 26
Fall festival and trunk-or-treat event, 4-6 p.m., Windsor Baptist Church, 6701 Hwy. 61-67, Imperial. Games, face painting, hayrides, crafts, photos, bounce house. Free food; marshmallows roasted in fire pits. Children encouraged to wear costumes. Call 636-464-9008.
Great Pumpkin Festival, 10 a.m. to noon, merchants on Main Street in Festus and Bailey Road in Crystal City displaying an orange pumpkin will hand out candy to children accompanied by an adult. Costume contest judging in eight age categories plus a family costume contest throughout event at Metro Gift Shop, 102 Main St. Top three costumes awarded prizes at noon. Sponsors: Festus Tourism Commission, Historic Tanglefoot Association. Call Chris or Abby, 314-623-5336.
Pumpkin patch, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1629 Boyd St., De Soto. Food, bake sale, pumpkins sold; vendor and craft booths. Music by Mostly Country Band. Pony rides, candy hunt in a haystack, temporary tattoos, pumpkin bowling, bounce house. Call 636-586-8903.
Trunk-or-treat event, 4-6 p.m., Sanctuary Church, 6700 Old Hwy. 21 south of Hwy. M, Otto. Candy, games, hot dogs, chips, face painting. Call 636-674-5559.
Children’s Halloween party, 2-4 p.m., Herculaneum Amvets, 690 Joachim Ave. Free. Motorcycle trick-or-treat, crafts, games, races, photo booth, temporary tattoo parlor. Free lunch for children; adult meals sold. Call Sharon Walker, 314-596-8418.
Trunk-or-treat event, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 6500 Metropolitan Blvd., Barnhart. Entertainment by Sunday School children, free hot dogs, juice. Children and adults asked to wear non-scary costumes. Call 636-464-4114.
Sunday, Oct. 27
Trunk-or-treat event, 4-6 p.m., Bethlehem Baptist Church, 8325 Hwy. Y, Dittmer. Children of all ages invited to come in costume. Call 636-944-3945.
Trunk-or-treat event, 3-4:30 p.m., St. John’s Lutheran Church, 3517 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold. Hayride, bounce house. Call 636-464-0096.
Trunk-or-treat event, 3-6 p.m., First Baptist Church of Arnold, 2012 Missouri State Road. Free for sixth graders and younger. Bounce houses, pony rides, petting zoo, BMX and motorcycle stunt show. Food and drinks sold. Adult must accompany children. Call 636-296-7729.
Trunk-or-treat event, 2-5 p.m., High Ridge Elks, 2808 Old Hunning Road. Call 636-575-0907.
Trunk-or-treat event, 3-5 p.m., Home Church, 1595 Archer Drive, Arnold.
Monday, Oct. 28
Pumpkin carving, 6:30 p.m., Windsor Branch of the Jefferson County Library, 7479 Metropolitan Blvd., Barnhart. Free for 16 and older; all materials provided. To sign up: 636-741-5933.
Tuesday, Oct. 29
Halloween mini-garden crafts, 6 p.m., Northwest Branch of the Jefferson County Library, 5680 Hwy. PP, High Ridge. Free for ages 16 and older. Create decorations to place in a miniature garden. Sign up by Oct. 26: Call 636-677-8186.
Thursday, Oct. 31
Halloween celebration, 5:30-8 p.m., Herculaneum City Park, 776 Joachim Ave. Free. Trunk-or-treat event, bonfire, glow bracelets and necklaces, free drinks, candy, hot dogs and chips. Sponsors: City of Herculaneum, Herculaneum Fire Department. Call 636-475-3080, 636-475-4447 or 314-852-4964.
Halloween-related presentation, 3 p.m., Northwest Branch of the Jefferson County Library, 5680 Hwy. PP, High Ridge. Free. Topic: “Mobsters, Insanity and Jaded Love.” To sign up: 636-677-8186.
Haunted library tour, 7 p.m., Arnold Branch of the Jefferson County Library, 1701 Missouri State Road. Free for 10 and older; 12 and under must be accompanied by adult. Spooky tour of library with stories of haunted happenings. To sign up: 636-296-2204.