By David Volz

U Can Ride hosted its annual Halloween Horse Show and Fair at Sand and Spurs Equestrian Park in Pompano Beach on Oct. 12.

Those who came could enjoy a wide range of fun and interesting activities. There was a Halloween costume contest on horseback, contests in barrel racing and walk, trot and cantor. Children could also ride a pony. There were arts & crafts, a bounce house, games and other fun activities. Members of the Pompano Beach Firefighters Benevolent barbecued hotdogs, hamburgers and other food that was sold to visitors. The money they raised went to the U Can Ride Therapeutic Riding program.

“This is a fun, family day. Members of the horse community competed in various activities,” said Jennifer Gross, of U Can Ride. “We had plenty of good food, and people from the community had a good time.”

Emma Loesel participated in the horseback riding competition on her horse named Stryker. She competed in barrel racing and walk, trot and cantor. She lives in Deerfield Beach.

“I love horses and I like being a part of this competition,” said Loesel.

Madeline Devendorf, who lives in Pompano Beach, competed on her horse named Corona.

“I like this show. I get to be with my friends. I really love barrel racing,” said Devendorf.

Rick Cupo, of Pompano Beach Firefighters Benevolent, was helping to prepare and serve food.

“The money we raise goes back to U Can Ride. We want to give back to the community,” said Cupo.

For more information on U Can Ride, visit www.ucanride.org.

Halloween Happening

Thursday, Oct. 24, 6 to 8 p.m.

Dan Witt Park

4521 NE 22 Ave.

Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Costume Contest starts at 6:30 sharp. For more information, call 954-784-3439.

Boo Bash

Friday, Oct. 25, 6 to 9 p.m.

Sample-McDougald House

450 NE 10 St.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

The annual, free family-friendly celebration will include haunted trail, carnival rides, photo booth, face painting, fortune teller, characters, games, costume contest & lots more! Street parking is also available. For more information, call 954-786-4111.

Trunk or Treat

Friday, Oct. 25, 5 to 8 p.m.

Deerfield Beach Elementary School

650 NE 1 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Come out for the PTA fall festival, including spooky games and activities. Food and beverages are available for purchase throughout the evening. Volunteers are appreciated. For more information, e-mail dbes.pta.update@gmail.com.

Halloween Festivities

Friday, Oct. 25, 6 to 8 p.m.

Oveta McKeithen Recreational Complex

445 SW 2 St.

Deerfield Beach FL 33441

There will be a scary haunted house, big screen video games, a magician, pie eating contest, arts & crafts, bounce houses and more. Wear your favorite costume for a chance to win! Costume categories are as follows: most magical, scariest, most unique and super hero for ages 2 & under, 3 – 5, 6 – 9, 10 – 12 and adults. For further information, contact the Oveta McKeithen Recreational Complex at 954-480-4481.

Fall Festival

Saturday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

St. Ambrose Catholic Church

363 SE 12 Ave.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Come out for hamburgers, hotdogs, games, and pony rides (from 12 to 2 p.m).

Halloween HoeDown

Saturday, Oct. 26, 5 to 8 p.m.

Villages of Hillsboro Park

4111 NW 6 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

They usually have a costume

contest, hay rides, games & more.

Trunk or Treat

Sunday, Oct. 27, 3 to 6 p.m.

Emma Lou Olson Civic Center

(West Banquet Parking Lot)

1081 NE 6 St.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Trunk or Treaters will be going from trunk to trunk, collecting candy from vehicle owners who have decorated their vehicles to serve as the backdrop for this family friendly event. For more information, call 954-786-4594.

A Hocus Pocus Halloween Celebration

Sunday, Oct.27, 2 to 5 p.m.

Pompano Beach Cultural Center

50 W. Atlantic Blvd.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Wear your costume and watch Hocus Pocus.The evening will also offer Kid Friendly Halloween themed rooms, giveaways and trick or treating all to be enjoyed before the movie. Adult supervision is required and admission is free.

By “Cinema” Dave

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

With the Oscar winners announced, Green Book enjoyed a noticeable bump at the box office and the positive word of mouth is likely to fill theater seats for people who cannot get seats for Captain Marvel, A Medea Family Funeral or How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. While the mainstream awards season is taking a break until the Tony Awards in June, people who are not members of the Academy, American Film Institute and actor or trade guilds/unions, can vote in the 17th Annual Rondo Hatton Award. Vote at www.rondoaward.com.

Established in 2002 by David Colton and Kerry Gammill, The Rondo Hatton Awards was one of the earliest collections of World Wide Web fan sites and the growth of the convention circuit. Oscar-winning director Guillermo Del Toro has been quoted that he would rather win a Rondo than an Oscar. Fortunately for Del Toro, the writer/director/producer has both.

With no surprise, Halloween and The Nun (both now on DVD) are two films that are nominated for the coveted “Best Film of 2018” in a crowded field of 15 nominations. 

Halloween was the most hyped horror movie of 2018. Jamie Lee Curtis returned to the role of Laurie Strode, in a role that made Curtis famous 40 years ago. With John Carpenter returning as a producer/creative consultant, this Halloween exorcised seven Halloween sequels and the two Rob Zombie reboots. Instead, this film focuses on a showdown between a grandmother and the boogeyman who harassed her in 1978.

Young Director David Gordon Green does a great job setting up the conflict with creepy cinematography and a good performance by Curtis. However, the film falters during the much-awaited climax that features poor survival decisions by our heroine. Without meaning to, this Halloween becomes a version of Home Alone, minus the sense of humor.

The Nun is part of the horror universe created by James Wan and has been represented by the The Conjuring and Annabelle movies. Set in war torn Romania, circa 1952, The Nun does a fine job setting up the atmosphere recreating the Gothic world of  Vladimir Dracula the Impaler. Alas, like Halloween, the climax does not live up to the build-up that went before. For Monster Mavens, there are 13 other “Best Film” choices to choose from by the April 20 due date.

So who is Rondo Hatton? The Hollywood publicity machine described Rondo as a man so ugly that he needed no make-up [to be in monster movies]. Rondo did appear in many mainstream motion pictures, mostly as a bit player in classics like The Ox Bow Incident or The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Rondo became a certified movie star as “The Hoxton Creeper” in the Sherlock Holmes film The Pearl of Death, which led to his featured films House of Horrors and The Brute Man.  

At the height of his career, Rondo died of a broken heart on Groundhog Day, 1946.

Like Richard Kiel, Andre the Giant and Irwin Keyes, Rondo really died from the complications from acromegaly, a disorder from one’s growth hormone. It is the acromegaly that distorted Rondo’s jawbone and gave him such gaunt features.

Like any monster legend, there are many folk tales that grew from Rondo’s malady. Having served in World War I, the Hollywood publicity machine claimed that Rondo was a victim of a German mustard gas attack. It is a fact that Rondo Hatton did serve (possibly with my Grandfather Dave Glen Watson) in World War I and aided the Pancho Villa Expedition under General Pershing. A Christian all of his life, Rondo is interred in the American Legion Cemetery in Tampa, his adopted hometown where he served as a sports writer for the The Tampa Tribune.

By “Cinema” Dave

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

One month shy of her 60th birthday, Jamie Lee Curtis received an early present from the box office gross of her latest Halloween movie. When it was announced that Curtis would be returning, the hype machine cranked up, but, in the shadow of the Me Too movement, this Halloween motion picture took on added significance. Like Nightmare on Elm Street’s Heather Lagenkamp’s “Be Nancy” advocacy, Halloween places emphasis upon the heroine, with less glorification on the boogeyman.

Released 40 years ago, the original Halloween, starring a teenage Jamie Lee Curtis, had the shadow of the Chi Omega murders on the Florida State University campus earlier in the year, which led to the arrest (and eventual execution) of serial killer Ted Bundy. While a good horror movie can provide pure escapist entertainment, the subtext will provide dark unease.

There have been a total of 11 films in the Halloween franchise and Jamie Lee Curtis has been in five of them. Twenty years ago, Curtis first acknowledged her debt to the franchise. With Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, despite a strong ensemble cast, the film felt repetitive. Yet, it is significant for this film features the final onscreen appearance of Jamie Lee Curtis’s mommy, Janet Leigh. As an Easter egg, Leigh offers Curtis some maternal advice, then drives away in a car similar to the car she drove in Psycho [with score from Psycho playing in the background]. Leigh was Oscar-nominated for playing the victim (most known for the shower scene) in that classic Sir Alfred Hitchcock movie.

Ironically, Leigh was given the role that was originally written for J.P. Soles, a memorable victim from the first Halloween movie. Having been seen as a memorable bully with a red baseball hat in Carrie, Soles appeared topless in Halloween and improvised her funny dialogue and tragic death scene.

The comedic spark has served Soles well as she made appearances in comedies like Stripes, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (starring the Ramones), Private Benjamin (starring Goldie Hawn) and the Oscar-nominated Breaking Away, where she worked with her future ex-husband, Dennis Quaid. A friendly face on the horror convention and film festival circuit, Soles has a cameo appearance as “Teacher” in the new Halloween film.

Last Saturday night, Abbott and Costello meets Frankenstein played on Svengoolie on MeTV. This film effectively retired the champion monsters from the previous 18 years: Dracula, the Frankenstein Monster and the Wolf Man. As a closing gag, the Invisible Man shows up to scare off Bud & Lou. The voice of the Invisible Man is portrayed by Vincent Price, an actor who retained his reign of terror for the next 50 years of Cinema.

Vincent Price earned a Lifetime Achievement honor from the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival in 1991. In recognition of the 65th Anniversary, Savor Cinema will be screening House of Wax on Saturday, Nov. 3 and Friday, Nov. 9 and it is this columnist’ honor to host these two screenings. At each screening, Cinema Dave will donate Vincent Price’s book about his faithful dog, The Book of Joe , which was autographed by Vinnie and his daughter Victoria Price. BE THERE and BE SCARED, if you DARE!

 

Shriek Week

Oct. 19 to 27

Sugar Sand Park

300 S. Military Trail

Boca Raton, FL 33486

Haunted houses, black-light games, animal exhibits, LED robots & DJ shows, magic shows and more are all happening on various days during Shriek Week. Kids can even Trick or Treat here. Find out all the details at www.sugarsandpark.org.

Annual Halloween Festivity

Friday, Oct. 26, 6 to 8 p.m.

Oveta McKeithen Recreational Complex

445 SW 2 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Get a sugar rush as you “Trunk or Treat.” Stay busy with the cookie decorating station, participate in a pie eating contest, enjoy bounce houses, balloon artists, face painters, and arts & crafts! Don’t forget to dress up for the costume contest at 6:30 p.m. Awards will be handed out for age groups 12 & under. Also, walk through their very scary Haunted House, if you dare! For more information, contact Constitution Park at 954-480-4494 or Oveta McKeithen at 954-480-4481.

Trick-or-Treat Trail

Saturday, Oct. 27, noon to 4 p.m.

Deerfield Island Park

1720 Deerfield Island Park

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Kids of all ages are invited to explore the Trick-or-Treat Trail at Deerfield Island Park. Visit the Mad Scientist’s Lab and try to figure out what’s cooking in the Crazy Chef’s Kitchen, and stop by the Creature Feature station! To sign up, e-mail info@friendsofdip.org by Oct. 24. (Please include name, phone number and number of attendees). $8 per person donation to the Friends of Deerfield Island Park. Donation includes water bottle and candy! A free boat shuttle for the island departs from Sullivan Park (1700 Riverview Rd., Deerfield Beach). Shuttles take approximately five minutes. For additional shuttle information, call Quiet Waters Park at 954-357-5100. For more information about the event, call 954-357-5100.

Halloween Hoedown

Saturday, Oct. 27, 5 to 8 p.m.

Villages of Hillsboro Park Center

4111 NW 6 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

This family fun festival includes games, a Kiwanis cookie station, a pumpkin patch, a bounce house and hayride. Live music from Juna N Joey starts at 5:15 p.m. followed by the costume contest at 6:30 p.m. Parking is located at Quiet Waters Elementary School, 4150 W. Hillsboro Blvd, where a free shuttle will run from 4:45 to 8:30 p.m. For more information, contact Constitution Park at 954-480-4494 or Oveta McKeithen at 954-480-4481.

Send us pics from your Halloween & Harvest events. E-mail observereditor@comcast.net.

Fall Festival

Saturday, Oct. 20, Noon to 4 p.m.

Pioneer Park

501 NE Eller St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Pick out the perfect pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, run through a hay maze, enjoy live entertainment, pet some animals in the petting zoo, ride on a hay ride, enjoy tasty treats and more! Complimentary shuttle from the Middle School Athletic Complex (501 SE 6 Ave.) to Pioneer Park. The shuttle will run continuously from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Trick-or-Treat Trail

Saturday, Oct. 27, Noon to 4 p.m.

Deerfield Island Park

1720 Deerfield Island Park

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Kids of all ages are invited to explore the Trick-or-Treat Trail at Deerfield Island Park. Visit the Mad Scientist’s Lab and try to figure out what’s cooking in the Crazy Chef’s Kitchen, and stop by the Creature Feature station! To sign up, e-mail info@friendsofdip.org by Oct. 24. (Please include name, phone number and number of attendees) $8 per person donation to the Friends of Deerfield Island Park. Donation includes water bottle and candy! A free boat shuttle for the island departs from Sullivan Park (1700 Riverview Rd., Deerfield Beach). Shuttles take approximately five minutes. For additional shuttle information, call Quiet Waters Park at 954-357-5100. For more information about the event, call 954-357-5100.

Shriek Week

Oct. 19 to 27

Sugar Sand Park

300 S. Military Trail

Boca Raton, FL 33486

Haunted houses, black-light games, animal exhibits, LED robots & DJ shows, magic shows and more are all happening on various days during Shriek Week. Kids can even Trick or Treat here. Find out all the details at www.sugarsandpark.org.

Have Halloween or Harvest Festival happenings? Let us know. E-mail observereditor@comcast.net Also, send us pics of your events too!

By “Cinema” Dave

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

With Labor Day being the unofficial conclusion of summer, Hollywood will attempt to release movies for Academy Award consideration and Halloween inspired movies. In fact, one of the most anticipated movies of this season will be Jamie Lee Curtis’ return to the Halloween, a direct sequel to the original Halloween movie released 40 years ago.

The Nun will have a one-week engagement at the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) IMAX theatre this weekend [and will also be shown in regular theaters]. The Nun is part of an original horror movie franchise created by James Wan that includes titles like The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2 movies and the two Annabelle movies. Like the Marvel Comic universe, each one of these thrillers is a standalone story of a contemporary world around us. After making a memorable, but brief appearance in The Conjuring 2, The Nun features an original story about a nun battling suicidal tendencies.

After The Nun, The Predator, The House with a Clock in its Walls and Venom will take over IMAX’s five-story screen. The now controversial (for not showing American astronauts planting the flag on the moon) First Man opens on Oct. 11 for a two-week stay. Based on the eight years in the life of Neil Armstrong leading up to the moon landing in 1969, First Man has received standing ovations at the Venice Film Festival.

Locally, The Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) will dominate November. The opening film and party will begin Friday, Nov. 2 at the remodeled Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Beyond the regular screenings at the Savor Cinema in Ft. Lauderdale and Cinema Paradiso Hollywood, there will be special screenings and party related themes at a variety of other venues. The Westin Ft. Lauderdale Beach Resort will feature a screening of Where the Boys Are. The wrap party on Nov. 18 will feature a fairway screening of Caddyshack at the Ft. Lauderdale Country Club.

Saturday, Nov. 17 will be an interesting day at Bailey Hall. In honor of the 20th anniversary of Pleasantville, starring Tobey Maguire, Reese Witherspoon and Don Knotts in his final film, the afternoon screening of the film will feature a tribute to writer/director Gary Ross, who also directed Seabiscuit, The Hunger Games and Ocean’s 8.

Twelve years ago, FLIFF premiered Sharkwater, a documentary that was sympathetic to the ocean’s mightiest predator, the shark. Sharkwater Extinction is a follow-up documentary that will examine the roll of the predator and its role in the balance of nature. Has there been progress? The answers can be seen at a party/screening on Nov. 17 at Bailey Hall.

As the film industry wraps up 2018, it will not feature a Star Wars or a Marvel Comics universe movie. There will be a prequel to the Harry Potter series with a sequel to Fantastic Beasts, written by JK Rowling. Co-written by Sylvester Stallone, Rocky Balboa returns to the big screen in Creed II, which stars Michael Jordan in a unique sequel that reaches back to a Rocky sequel from 1985. As lyricist Peter Allen once sang, “Everything old is new again.”

Halloween Hoe Down

Thursday, Oct. 26, 6 to 9 p.m.

Villages of Hillsboro Park

4111 NW 6 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Join the City of Deerfield Beach for a not-so-scary event. Activities for the entire family include costume contest, carnival games, horse-drawn hayrides, Halloween games and more! This is a free event. For more information, call 954-480-4494.

Halloween Party

Thursday, Oct. 26, 6 to 8 p.m.

Dan Witt Park

4521 NE 22 Ave.

Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Costume contest will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. Bring the family for a fun night out. Don’t forget your camera!

Boo Bash

Friday, Oct. 27, 5 to 9 p.m.

Community Park

850 NE 18 Ave.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Join the City of Pompano Beach for a spooktacular time. They will be scaring up some fun with their carnival and inflatable rides, un-boo-lievable stage performers, DJ music and dancing, hootin’ and howlin’ haunted bus, ghostly games and more. Don’t forget to dress in your best costume for the pick of the pumpkin patch costume contest at 8 p.m. This is a free, family-friendly event. For more information, call 954-786-4111.

Mai-Kai’s 9th Annual Hulaween Party

Friday, Oct. 27, 5 p.m.

Mai-Kai Restaurant

3599 N. Federal Hwy.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308

It’s that time of year again, when ghouls and ghosts haunt The Mai-Kai, scaring up frightening fun. South Florida’s favorite roots and rockabilly band, Slip & the Spinouts, will scare up some monstrous mayhem in The Molokai bar at the 9th annual retro-themed bash. The costume contest will start at 10 p.m. with cash and prizes to the winners. Happy hour will run from 5 to 7 p.m. with half-priced drinks and appetizers. For more information, visit www.maikai.com.

Halloween Festivities

Friday, Oct. 27, 6 to 8 p.m.

Dr. Leo J. Robb Gymnasium

435 SW 2 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Join the City of Deerfield Beach for an evening of fun activities, games, great music, arts & crafts, pie eating contest and costume contest. This is a free event. For more information, call 954-480-4481.

Haunted House

Friday, Oct. 27 through Tuesday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m.

Enigma Haunt

1751 N. Military Tr.

Boca Raton, FL 33486.

Enigma Haunt features three hair-raising haunted attractions in one indoor location, utilizing two floors in more than 19,000 sq feet to create each horrifying destination. Tickets run $25 to $45. For more information, visit www.enigmahaunt.com.

BSO Family Fun Ride & Bike Rodeo

Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Quiet Waters Park – Bald Eagle Pavillion

401 S. Powerline Rd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

The event is open to the public and all are invited to celebrate the benefits of bike safety. The event will consist of an open family bike ride and a kids Bike Rodeo that will be conducted by Fire Rescue. The rodeo is a clinic to teach children the importance of riding safety and what skills & precautions they need to develop to have fun and ride safe on their bike. They will also be conducting a bike and safety helmet check assisted by Bike America.

Halloween Fright Night

Saturday, Oct. 28, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Oceans 234

234 N. Ocean Blvd,

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Enjoy live DJ, drink specials and a chance to win prizes for their costume contest.

Halloween Party

Saturday, Oct. 28, 8 p.m.

Tipperary Pub

1540 SE 3 Ct.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Get into the Halloween spirit. Hang out, enjoy some good food and spirits. Get creative and try your luck with their costume contest to win a $150 prize!

Halloween Bash

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 5 to 7 p.m.

Pompano Citi Centre

1955 N. Federal Hwy,

Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Fun event for kids age 10 and younger. Includes Wizard Show. Free entry, carousel rides for $1. For more information, call 954-943-4683.

Fall Festival

Saturday, Oct. 21, 3 to 7 p.m.

Pioneer Park

501 NE Eller St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Join the city for the 3rd Annual Deerfield Beach Fall Festival. See more, pg. 1. For more information, call 954-480-4429.

Shriek Week

Fridays & Saturdays Oct. 20, 21, 27 & 28, 6 to 11 p.m.

Sugar Sand Park Community Center

300 S. Military Tr.

Boca Raton, FL 33486

There will be Haunted House Superstitions, Granny Grim’s Garage: Alien Lab, Catabella Express Trackless Train Rides, Giant LED Robots & DJ Show, Indoor Blacklight Games, Glitter Tattoos, Make & Takes, Funhouse Maze, Animal Tales “Creature Feature” Show, Trick or Treat Trail and the 6th Annual Kids’ Spooky Film Festival. For more information and to reserve your tickets, call the Willow Theatre Box Office at 561-347-3948

19th Annual Halloween Fair & Horse show

Friday, Oct. 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sand & Spurs Equestrian Park

1600 NE 5 Ave.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Pony rides, carnival games, bounce house, face painting, pumpkin patch, hay rides, fire trucks, arts & crafts, hand-crafted jewelry and more. Some proceeds benefit U Can Ride therapeutic sessions. Costume contest on horseback at 11 a.m. and public costume parade on foot at 2 p.m. All ages, no registration needed; meet at the bleachers. Gate admission $1 for 10 years & older. For more information, call 954-786-4133.

Halloween Hoe Down

Thursday, Oct. 26, 6 to 9 p.m.

Villages of Hillsboro Park

4111 NW 6 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Enjoy a not-so-scary event. Activities for the entire family include costume contest, carnival games, horse-drawn hayrides, Halloween games and more! Free event. For more information, call 954-480-4494.

Halloween Party

Thursday, Oct. 26, 6 to 8 p.m.

Dan Witt Park

4521 NE 22 Ave.

Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Costume contest will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. Bring the family for a fun night out. Don’t forget your camera!

Halloween Festivities

Friday, Oct. 27, 6 to 8 p.m.

Dr. Leo J. Robb Gymnasium

435 SW 2 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Fun activities, games, great music, arts & crafts, pie eating contest and costume contest! Free. For more information, call 954-480-4481.

Mai-Kai’s 9th Annual Hulaween Party

Friday, Oct. 27, 5 p.m.

Mai-Kai Restaurant

3599 N. Federal Hwy,

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308

South Florida’s favorite roots and rockabilly band, Slip & the Spinouts, will scare up some monstrous mayhem in The Molokai bar at the 9th Annual retro-themed bash. The costume contest starts at 10 p.m. with cash and prizes. Happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. with half-priced drinks and appetizers. For more information, visit www.maikai.com.

Family Fun Ride & Bike Rodeo

Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Quiet Waters Park – Bald Eagle Pavillion

401 S. Powerline Rd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Broward Sheriff’s Office hosts this event, which will include an open family bike ride and a kids Bike Rodeo conducted by Fire Rescue. The rodeos are clinics to teach children the importance of riding safety and what skills and precautions they need to develop to have fun and ride safe on their bike. Bike and safety helmet checks assisted by Bike America.

LHP Halloween

Thursday, Oct. 27, 6 to 8 p.m.

Dan Witt Park

4521 NE 21 Terr.

Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Open to all Lighthouse Point boys and girls, ages 12 and under. Costume contests, bounce houses, face painting, rides, and more. Costume contest will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. Free refreshments and candy for every child in costume. 954-943-6500.

Annual Halloween Hoe-Down

Thursday, Oct. 27, 6 to 9 p.m.

Villages of Hillsboro Park

4111 NW 6 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Creepy costume contests, pie eating and pumpkin-carving contests and petting zoo. Enjoy hayrides and a pumpkin patch. Refreshments available for purchase. Free entry. For more information, call 954-480-4494.

Annual Fall Festival

Friday, Oct. 28, 5:30 to 9 p.m.

First Baptist Church

701 NE 2 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Hayride, bounce house, petting zoo, face painting, dunk tank, rock wall, candy bags for kids, popcorn, hotdogs, ice cream floats and much more. Free event. Call 954-427-1216 or visit www.deerfieldfirst.com.

Trunk-or-Treat

Friday, Oct. 28, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Quiet Waters Park

Shelter #10 Parking Lot

401 S. Powerline Rd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Participants are invited to dress up their cars and themselves. $2 fee for reserved parking spot, car costume contest, bounce house, candy giveaway and Halloween-themed movie. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Call 954-357-5100.

Halloween Festivities

Saturday, Oct. 29, 6 to 8 p.m.

Oveta McKeithen Recreational Complex  

445 SW 2 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Silly Magic Stage Show, balloon twisters, bounce houses, a costume contest, haystack candy find, arts & crafts, Halloween games and music by Extra, Extra Entertainment. Free entry. For more information, call 954-480-4481.

Halloween Harvest

Sunday, Oct. 30, 10 am to 2 p.m.

Butler House

380 E. Hillsboro Blvd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Candy, costumes and cornstalks. Fee: donation. 954-429-0378 or visit www.deerfield-history.org.

Annual Halloween Monster Concert

Sunday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church of Pompano Beach

2331 NE 26 Ave.

Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Listen to terrifying toccatas and haunting harmonies on the great pipe organ accompanied by spectacular lumonics/laser display and featuring the Fabulous Follies Florida Show girls. Audience costumes encouraged. $10 suggested donation/kids free. 954-941-2308.

Halloween Bash

Monday, Oct. 31, 5 to 7 p.m.

Pompano Citi Centre

1955 N. Federal Hwy.

Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Children 10 and under are invited to come dressed in their best costumes to enjoy Trick-or-Treating at participating stores at 5 pm. and a magical Wizard Show at 6 pm. The first 1,500 Trick-or-Treaters will receive complimentary candy bags handed out at the Pompano Citi Centre table. Adult supervision required. Admission is free. Ride the carousel during event for $1. For more information, visit www.pompanociticentre.com or call 954-943-4683.