Hallo-whee! Cemetery tours, haunted houses, trick-or-treat events abound in October

By PAM KRAGEN - Staff Writer | Saturday, October 4, 2008 10:01 PM PDT ∞

Halloween is right around the corner, and local theme parks, businesses and community groups are scaring up all sorts of fun to celebrate All Hallows Eve. Here's a sampling of some of the spooky things happening in October:

Echoes from the Past ---- Escondido's Oak Hill Memorial Park is the location for the Escondido History Center's fifth annual cemetery tour on Oct. 5. Docents will lead small groups through the graveyard, where costumed actors will portray early Escondido residents. Featured dead citizens include pioneer Rose McGookin Culp, newspaper publisher Alvin Dunn, civic leader Lloyd "Lefty" Mitchell, ranchers William and Leticia Prior, and teacher Hettie Malory Wade. The 45-minute to one-hour tours leave every 15 minutes, between 1 and 3:30 p.m.; Oak Hill Memorial Park, 2640 Glen Ridge Road, Escondido; $10, adults; children 10 and younger are free; (760) 743-8207.

Julian Cemetery Tours ---- Julian Walks' historic tour guide Charles Spratley leads nighttime tours of the Julian Pioneer Cemetery every Oct. 11 in October. Founded in the 1870s during the town's gold rush era, it holds the remains of prospectors, cowboys and other early residents. The 45-minute tours begin at 8 p.m. Oct. 11 and Oct. 18 and 25. Two tours will be offered (at 7 and 9 p.m.) on Oct. 31, and a Dia de los Muertos celebration is planned on Nov. 1; Julian Pioneer Cemetery; $5; (619) 889-6222.

Desert Ghost Tours ---- Thousands of pioneers crossed the great California deserts on their way to a new life in the Golden State in the 1800s, and hundreds died along the way. Julian Walk will offer a 16-hour overnight ghost tour on Oct. 12 that visits the grave sites and ghostly spots in the Anza-Borrego desert area; $150 (or $75 for a six-hour portion of the tour); (760) 767-1232.

Haunted Hotel ---- Radio station 91X hosts this haunted attraction, where guests will visit scary scenes from movies ("Saw II," "Hostel" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre") in the spooky rooms of a historic Gaslamp Quarter hotel; 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 7 to 11 p.m. Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, plus Oct. 27-28; through Nov. 1; 424 Market St., San Diego; $14.99; hauntedhotel.com.

Haunted Trail ---- Radio station 93.3 FM hosts this haunted walk along Balboa Park's trails, where guests will encounter spooky spirits and ghouls; 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays; 7 to 11 p.m. Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, plus Oct. 27-28; through Nov. 1; tour begins at Marston Point, just east of Sixth Avenue and Juniper Street, San Diego; $14.99; (619) 231-0131.

Scare Away Hunger ---- Westfield shopping centers hosts safe trick-or-treating events from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31 at its seven San Diego County malls, including in Escondido and Carlsbad; admission is one nonperishable food item to benefit the San Diego Food Bank; westfield.com.

San Marcos Halloween Party ---- The city's Family Enrichment Program hosts its fourth annual family party at the Wood House, with spooky crafts, creepy treats, bingo contests, carnival games and a costume contest; 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 18; Wood House, 1148 Rock Springs Road, San Marcos; $3; (760) 744-9000.

Monster Manor ---- Pardee Homes sponsors Mira Mesa's annual haunted "house" owned by the long-deceased Ghastley family. Features include a scary tour for adults and a not-so-scary tour for small children. Proceeds benefit the Mira Mesa Theatre Guild. The haunted attraction takes place under a 4,000-square-foot tent in the Target store parking lot; "Night Haunt" (for ages 13 and older), 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 17-18, 24-26, 28-31; "Lite Fright" (for children), noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 18-19, 25-26; 8235 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Diego; $5-$10; monstermanor.org.

SeaWorld Halloween Spooktacular ---- During October, San Diego's marine theme park presents "Clyde and Seamore's Trick or Treat," a themed sea lion and otter show; cookie-decorating crafts; photos with costumed characters; and trick-or-treating events from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 5, Oct. 11 and Oct. 5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26 and 31 and Nov. 1-2; Sea World Drive, San Diego; $61, general; $51, ages 3 to 9; seaworld.com.

Universal Studios Hollywood "Halloween Horror Nights" ---- Annual haunted attraction features scary mazes, terror tram ride, scare zones and themed shows; runs from 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 10-11, 17-19, 24-26, 30-31 and Nov. 1;100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City; $39-$54; universalstudioshollywood.com.

Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest ---- The annual October Halloween haunt will feature a trick-or-treat trail, scrary-oke and costume contests, pint-sized scares, wheel of fright, haunted warehouse, roaming monsters, scary and backward coaster rides, "Heckle and Twitch" show, monster bash DJ party, haunted 3-D attractions and more; 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. to midnight Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays; through Oct. 30; 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia; $29.99; (661) 255-4111.

Knott's Halloween Haunt ---- Knott's Berry Farm's annual scare event includes 13 chilling mazes, seven hair-raising shows, three scare zones and 1,000 roaming monsters; open Thursday through Oct. 12, Oct. 15-19, 22-26 and 29-Nov. 1; hours are 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. except Fridays and Saturdays (open until 2 a.m.); 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park; $47.99-$49.99 presale or $52.99 at the gate; (714) 220-5200 or knotts.com.

Boo at the Zoo ---- San Diego Zoo's Children's Zoo hosts a not-too-scary Halloween program where families with children ages 3 to 11 can cast a web at the spider station, see and touch animal skulls and skeletons and show off their costumes; there are two 90-minute "Boo" programs at 5 and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 31; San Diego Zoo, Zoo Drive, San Diego; $12-$15; sandiegozoo.org.

Pumpkins at the Park ---- The San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park presents weekend family programs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25-26 and Nov. 1-2. Activities include a trick-or-treating scavenger hunt, a visit to an extinct animal graveyard, spooky animal encounters, demonstrations of pumpkin decorating and scarecrow stuffing, live entertainment and a costume contest. Program is free with paid park admission; 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, San Pasqual Valley; $28.50-$34, general; $17.50-$24, children (3-11); (760) 747-8702 or wildanimalpark.org.

Legoland Brick or Treat ---- Every weekend in October, the Carlsbad theme park hosts family-friendly Halloween celebrations from 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 5, Oct. 11 and Oct. 12, 18-19 and 25-26. Features include trick or treating, costume parades, photos with the Giant Pumpkin, live entertainment and more; Legoland California, 1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad; free with paid park admission of $59, general; $47, children (3-12) and seniors; (760) 918-5346 or legoland.com.

Halloween Time at Disneyland ---- Themed entertainment through Nov. 2 includes Halloween decor, festive foods, costumed walk-around characters, special shows, meet-and-greets, cookie-decorating crafts and storytellers. Visitors can sign up for the Happiest Haunt Tour, a three-hour behind-the-scenes look at the park's spookiest attractions told by Disney villains; the tours leave at 5:15 and 5:30 p.m. daily through Oct. 31; tour fee is $59 plus park admission. There's also Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party, a children's costume party offered Friday, Oct. 16-17, 22-24, 28-31; $29-$37; Disneyland, Harbor Boulevard at Disney Way, Anaheim; park admission is $69, general; $59, children 3-9; free, 2 and younger; (714) 781-4565 or disneyland.com.

Pumpkins at the Park ---- The San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park hosts Halloween-themed activities 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25-26 and Nov. 1-2. Features include a trick-or-treating scavenger hunt, extinct animal graveyard, eerie entertainment, pumpkin decorating and scarecrow stuffing demonstrations, costume contests for all ages and spooky treats for sale; 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, San Pasqual Valley; free with paid park admission, $28.50-$34, general; $17.50-$24, children (3-11); (760) 747-8702 or wildanimalpark.org.

Haunted Aquarium ---- The Birch Aquarium at Scripps hosts its annual haunted party for "buoys and ghouls of all ages" from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 24-26. Features include wacky science experiments, trick or treating, slimy encounters, live music, haunted maze and marine-themed costume contest; 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla; $15; (858) 534-3474.

Scream Zone ---- The annual haunted attraction at the Del Mar Fairgrounds includes a House of Horror, Haunted Hayride and The Chamber; dates continue Oct. 5, and Thursday through Oct. 12, Oct. 16-19 and Oct. 23-31; 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays; 7 to 11 p.m. other days; Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar; $14.99 for one attraction, $18.99 for two or $27.99 for all three; (858) 755-1161, Ext. 2855, or sdfair/screamzone/.

Monster Bash ---- The eighth annual Dos Equix XX adults-only Halloween street party in the Gaslamp will feature live bands, costume contest, food and drink specials, go-go dancers and more; 6 p.m. to midnight Oct. 31; Gaslamp Quarter, Seventh Avenue between Market and J streets, San Diego; $20 in advance; $25 at the gate; ages 21 and older only; (619) 233-5008.

Boulevard Boo! Parade and Carnival ---- San Diego's College Area hosts its annual free family Halloween festival featuring a costume parade and contest for children, carnival games and rides, live entertainment, haunted beer garden and more; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 25; Clay Park, El Cajon Boulevard at Seminole Drive, San Diego; free; (619) 582-1093.

Whaley House Hauntings ---- San Diego's infamous haunted house will host a series of Halloween tours, where guests may encounter the spirits of up to six former residents of the Old Town mansion. Tours will be conducted from 10 a.m. to midnight Oct. 24-25; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 27-28 and 30; 5 to 10 p.m. Oct. 29; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 31. There will also be special by-reservation ghost hunt and oil-lamp tours in the wee hours Oct. 24-29; Whaley House, 2476 San Diego Ave., Old Town San Diego; tours range from $6 to $25; advance reservations required for some tours; (619) 297-7511.