Halloween events offer fun for all

MAT-SU — There are a number of opportunities to scare up a good time in the Mat-Su Valley this weekend. Here’s a list of some events going on in town:

Fall festivities continue at Reindeer Farm

The Williams Reindeer Farm (5561 Bodenburg Loop) will host its “Haunted Hay Maze” Oct. 29-31 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 31, the farm will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for children and adults to enjoy games, wagon rides, a reindeer farm tour, and live music from Brothers in Arms at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and Adele Morgan at 2 and 4 p.m. Entry fee is $10 — professional family photos, pumpkins and food from Husky Burger and home kitchens will be available for purchase. For more information, visit reindeerfarm.com or call 745-4000.

Fall fest at Sportsman’s Warehouse

Sportsman’s Warehouse in Wasilla will host a “Fall Festival” event on Saturday, Oct. 31 from noon to 5 p.m. at the store, located at 1901 E. Parks Highway in Wasilla. The event will feature kids’ activities, games, hay rides, trick-or-treating, free pictures, pumpkin carving, costume contests and prizes. Other sponsors include Subway, Red Robin, Papa Murphy’s, Walgreens and AFC. For more information email cdaw@sportsmanswarehouse.com

‘Colony Con’ and ‘Geek!’ onstage at CHS

Colony High School will host its first-ever Colony Con Anime mini-convention this weekend, in conjunction with the drama club’s production of “Geek!,” a play by Crystal Skillman, this weekend. Colony Con will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30 and noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. “Geek!” showtimes are at 7 p.m. Oct. 30-31 and Nov. 6-7. Admission to the convention is $3 or free with play admission ($10 for adults, $7 for students).

The convention includes vendors, movies, a magic card game tournament, Super Smash Brothers tournament, art displays, photo ops, a panel discussion and a costume contest. On Saturday only, children 12 or under in costume and accompanied by a parent are free to trick-or-treat and enjoy the convention.

Mat-Su ‘Haunted Shelter’ open this weekend

The Mat-Su Animal Shelter off 49th State St. in Palmer will turn into a haunted house (shelter) on Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31 from 7 to 11 p.m. Admission is $5 and gets children and adults goodies and games. All proceeds and donations will be used for shelter projects.

‘Rocky Horror’ film fest in Talkeetna Oct. 30

Join the Denali Arts Council for a “Rocky Horror Picture Show” film party at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar on Friday, Oct. 30 from 9 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $10 for arts council members, $15 for non-members. Costumes recommended.

Haunted house for Halloween

The Wasilla Haunted Garage will present “Halls of Fear,” a haunted house event for kids on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 6582 S. Wassim Circle near mile 9 of KGB Road from 6 to 9 p.m. Free admission.

Visit ‘Halloween Hollow’ at the Fairgrounds

A trick-or-treat carnival complete with “Halloween Hollow” will be set up at Raven Hall on the Alaska State Fairgrounds on Halloween from 3 to 8 p.m. Admission is $5 or free with donation of a new but unwrapped Christmas gift (no stuffed animals) for Mat-Su Special Santa to distribute to Toys for Tots.

Valley Performing Arts Halloween party is Oct. 31

Celebrate Halloween with Valley Performing Arts Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 31, by dressing in costume for the showing of “Bell, Book and Candle.” There will be door prizes for best, scariest and funniest costumes. Doors open at 6 p.m., the play starts at 7 p.m.

Firefighters to host open house

The Palmer Fire Association will host its 24th annual Autumn Harvest (Halloween) Open House on Saturday, Oct. 31 at the station across from Fred Meyer from 5 to 8 p.m. Kids can have their photo taken with Sparky the Fire Dog, play games and enjoy treats and pumpkin juice. All kids are welcome. For more information, call 745-3701 ext. 1.

Other Mat-Su fire stations are also hosting trick-or-treat and open house events on Halloween from 6 to 9 p.m.: Stations 51 (1911 S. Terrace Ct.), 61 (Lucille St. and Swanson Ave.), 63 (Mile 12.8 Knik-Goose Bay Road), 64 (Mile 3 Point MacKenzie Road) and 65 (Seward-Meridian Parkway and Palmer-Wasilla Highway).

‘Trunk or Treat’ for Halloween

There will be a “Trunk or Treat” event on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the parking lot at 199 E. Nelson Avenue (near Iditarod Elementary School), with more than a dozen local businesses planning to participate. There will be prizes for best costumes as well as candy. For more information, call 376-7649.

‘Spooktacular’ for domestic violence

Learn about healthy relationships and ways our community can help prevent violence for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October) at the Brett Memorial Ice Arena’s Ice “Spooktacular Boo Bash” on Oct. 31, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Wasilla. Activities include R & R Productions’ deejay and light show, trick-or-treating, costume contest, on-ice games, a skating performance, selfies and more. Attendees may wear purple ribbons provided and show their safety awareness for prize drawings.

This community event is presented by the ice arena and the Alaska National Organization for Women, with thanks to: Alaska’s Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Alaska Family Services, R & R Productions and the State of Alaska Mat-Su Public Health Center.

Skating admission fees, including a two-for-one special are: public skate (adult) $5, public skate (5 and under/seniors) $4, public skate families (up to 4 members) $15, and skate rental $3.

For more information visit matsugov.us or call 861-7690.

Museum to host exhibit, dinner

The Palmer Museum will be hosting a Day of the Dead celebration dinner on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the museum. The event begins the museum’s annual “Recuerdas” temporary exhibit. The festivities will include a feast of home-made Mexican food, live music, a raku skull firing (sculptural pieces of varying sizes will be available for guests to glaze for a small fee) with SL Cook Pottery, and a special unveiling of local artist Pat Garley’s fire sculpture which will only be displayed during the event. Attendees are encouraged to come in costume and to bring pictures (copies can be made at the museum so as not to damage originals) and/or personal items of their loved ones who have passed, to contribute towards the community ofrenda. The celebration dinner is part of the Museum’s winter fundraising program so there is no fee to attend but donations are welcomed and encouraged to help support the Museum’s winter and spring programs and events.