Scare up a good time at Tri-Cities Halloween programs

Aurora

• Aurora Noon Lions Club will hold a third annual Great Pumpkin Halloween pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. The fundraiser to benefit Lions charities is at Luigi's Fun Center and Pizza, 732 Prairie St. in Aurora. The public is invited. The breakfast will feature unlimited pancakes with sausage, mini doughnuts, and milk, cider, coffee or orange juice. Children are invited to attend in Halloween costumes and to have photos taken with a Great Pumpkin background. Special photo frames will be available for purchase. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 3-12, and $15 for a family. Tickets are available from Lions members and at the door. Admission is discounted $1 per person from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Proceeds will benefit Lions activities to benefit hearing and visually impaired persons. For more information, call (630) 921-1307.

• Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Road, will celebrate the fall season throughout the month of October with its popular "Pumpkin Weekends." A picnic area will feature an assortment of pumpkins for purchase, and a decorating station with painting supplies is provided. Carousel rides, hayrides and tours on the "Pumpkin Train" are also part of each weekend's festivities. Discounted rates are $3 for residents and $5 for nonresidents. There will be a "Trick-or-Treat Walk" from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturdays, Oct. 17 and Oct. 24, before the park officially opens. Visitors can make their way around to nine stations, then stay after the park opens at 11 a.m. for a costume contest at the Huntoon House. Advanced registration required. Check out an assortment of sharply decorated pumpkins, courtesy of the artistic talents of local Scout groups and individuals on Saturday, Oct. 25, and Sunday, Oct. 26. For details, visit foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

Batavia

• The Albright Theatre gets into the Halloween spirit with their annual children's production of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." The play is one of the highlights of Batfest, the annual fall festival sponsored by Batavia Mainstreet. "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," based on the classic short story by Washington Irving, tells the tale of superstitious schoolmaster Ichabod Crane, who arrives in the haunted village of Sleepy Hollow and competes with rough-and-tumble local hero Brom Bones for the hand of the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel, until his fateful encounter with the legendary Headless Horseman. It will run Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 16-17 and 23-24. Performance times will be at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays. Tickets are $13 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Reservations are recommended. For reservations, call (630) 406-8838. Visit albrighttheatre.com.

• "The Crypts of Campana - A Factory of Fear" began Oct. 9 and will run weekends through Oct. 31 at the Campana Building at Route 31 and Fabyan Parkway in Batavia. Cost is $13 per person, however coupons are available at www.factoryfear.com or e-mail info@factoryfear.com.

Elgin

• If being frightened silly is your idea of fun, then head to the Three Fires Council, Boy Scouts of America's annual Haunted Hike at Camp Big Timber, 37W955 Big Timber Road in Elgin. Admission is $10. Admission is $7 for Scouts (boys and girls) wearing their uniforms. This year's guided woodland haunted hike will be filled with creepy sounds, scary sights and lurking creatures from 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays and 6:30 to 11 p.m. Saturdays. They also offer a "Kiddie Hike" from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, with a $6 admission for younger fans of Halloween and those frail of heart. For details, visit tfchauntedhike.org.

$CLASS=BriefHead$North Aurora

• Come join the fun at the annual North Aurora Community Halloween Party, sponsored by the North Aurora Mothers Club. The party will take place from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at Jewel Middle School, 1501 Waterfront Road. All children should be dressed in their scariest or prettiest costume. Once at the party children will be able to participate in numerous games and take home prizes. Admission to the party is free, but all guests are encouraged to bring a nonperishable donation such as canned food or household supplies. The donated items will be given to families in need throughout the North Aurora area during the North Aurora Mothers Club Operation Christmas Program in December. For more information, call Rachel at (630) 907-9459.

St. Charles

• St. Charles Jaycees holds its annual haunted house at Aquascape, 901 Aqualand Way, St. Charles. The event is designed for those 12 and older. Admission is $7 with $1 off for a canned good donation. There will be a matinee with friendly ghosts handing out candy from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 31; admission is $2. Hours are from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays, and 7:30 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through Oct. 31. For details, visit stcharlesjaycees.org.

• Looking for something spooky and free to do for Halloween? Pick up a complete list of the "Best in St. Charles" Gallery of Ghoulish Homes Tour Guide and pack up the family for an evening out. On a self-guided tour, you and your family can drive by dozens of the spookiest Halloween-decorated houses and admire the ghoulish yard displays of St. Charles' finest home haunters. Homes are best viewed at dusk. Judging Night, the best night to see all the "spooktacular" Halloween action, will be on Saturday, Oct. 17 from dusk to 10 p.m. Award categories include: Best Rookie, Big Scare, Low Budget, Best Actors, Judges' Favorite, Best Special Effects, and Family Fun. Remember you can vote online for the People's Choice Award between Oct. 16 and Nov. 1 at www.stcparks.org. Winners will be announced online and in local newspapers. Complete lists of all the houses on the tour will be available beginning on Friday, Oct. 16 by 9 a.m. at any park district facility or at www.stcparks.org. Be courteous and respect the homeowners' rights and properties during your tour. Note that some displays may not be appropriate for all ages. For information, contact Jeff Greenwald at (630) 513-4335 or jgreenwald@st-charlesparks.org.

South Elgin

• The Halloween Hiawatha ghost story train will be held on Oct. 17-18 and 24-25 at Fox River Trolley Museum, 361 S. LaFox St. (Route 31), South Elgin. Rides will be at 4:30, 5:45 and 7 p.m. at Castlemuir Depot in Jon Duerr Forest Preserve. A spooky ride on a haunted trolley to a campfire along the shore with hot chocolate and s'mores. Register in advance at www.foxtrolley.org. Cost is $10. Tickets will not be sold over the phone, at the museum ticket window or day of event. For details, call (847) 697-4676 or visit foxtrolley.org.

• The Pumpkin Trolley will be held at the Fox River Trolley Museum, 361 S. LaFox St. (Route 31), South Elgin. Special trolleys operate from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18. Ride an old-time electric trolley car to the pumpkin patch and choose a pumpkin to take home. Pumpkins $2 each, plus regular fares. Fares are $3.50 for adults, $2 for children 3-11 and seniors, under 3 ride free. For details, call (847) 697-4676 or visit foxtrolley.org.

Sugar Grove

• Mad Science Spooktacular will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 30 at Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove Campus auditorium, Route 47 at Waubonsee Drive. Celebrate Halloween with a mad scientist. Mad Science Spooktacular combines a little bit of magic with a lot of science to generate a whole bunch of fun. This spooky, yet educational, show features floating eyeballs, levitating monsters, fire-breathing dragons, creepy potions and really cool special effects. All children receive free slime to take home with them. This family event is recommended for ages 4-12. Tickets are $9 for adults and $6 for children 12 and younger. Call (630) 466-7900, ext. 5755 or visit www.waubonseetickets.com.