Halloween fun

This October, there are a lot of reasons to be scared, and most have nothing to do with the approaching holiday.

The downturn of the economy and resulting losses in 401(k) and mutual funds is, for many, a lot more frightening than a plastic spider or glow-in-the-dark skeleton.

But kids love Halloween, and even grownups could use a little distraction from the news of the day.

Luckily, Fox Valley and Tri-City residents have a variety of spooky and not-so-spooky events from which to choose.

So whether you want to go for an all-out scare at a haunted house, or you prefer the tamer delights of a costume party or hay ride, we've got you covered.

Algonquin

Oct. 24: Kids between the ages of 10 and 14 years can register now for the Village of Algonquin's Halloween trip to the Enchanted Castle from 7 p.m. to midnight Friday, Oct. 24. Participants will have unlimited laser tag, miniature golf, indoor go-karting, karaoke and bumper cars. They also will receive pizza, soda, ice cream and 40 game tokens. There will be a costume contest with prizes.

Fee of $42 includes all items listed and transportation to and from Algonquin village hall. For more information about this event or to register, visit algonquin.org or call Sarah Stefan at (847) 658-2700.

Oct. 25: The village of Algonquin will host its annual Halloween Hoopla special event from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at Algonquin Middle School, 520 Longwood Drive. There will be games, crafts, pictures and an exotic animal show. Participants are encouraged to come dressed in their Halloween costumes and join other area children in the spooky fun. Preregistration is encouraged for this event. Parents will be admitted free of charge with a paying child. All children age 1 and younger are free, but must be preregistered. To register, visit algonquin.org or call Sarah Stefan at (847) 658-2700.

Dundee Township

Oct. 24: The Dundee Township Park District will celebrate Halloween this year with two hayrides.

Spooky Trail, for ages 3 and older, will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. This is for young children and those people who do not like surprises. Age 2 and younger are free. Ticket sales begin at 5 p.m.

The Spooktacular Hayride, for all ages, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Participants will visit Creepy Hollow and other scenes. Ghosts, goblins and all their spooky little cousins will greet guests along the way. Tickets will be sold from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday only. There will be no ticket sales after 9 p.m.

Both events will be held at Randall Oaks Park, at 1180 N. Randall Road, West Dundee. The fee is $5 per person or $4 per person with one can of food to be donated to the F.I.S.H. pantry in Carpentersville. Many other activities, including refreshments and entertainment, will amuse you while you wait to take the haunted ride. In case of inclement weather, call (847) 428-7131 after 3 p.m. for event status.

Oct. 27, 29-30: A special Halloween Storytime for preschoolers and their parents or caregivers, will be presented at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 29 and 30 by the Children's Department at the Dundee Township Public Library., 555 Barrington Ave., East Dundee. The program will feature Halloween stories, songs, puppets and a costume parade by the children through the library.

An additional Halloween Storytime will be held this year at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 27 at the West Dundee Public Safety Center II, 100 Carrington Drive. No registration is required for these free events and costumes are optional. For information, call (847) 428-3661, ext. 310.

Oct. 18: Sherman Health, in conjunction with the City of Elgin, will host its annual Halloween Family Fun Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 at The Center of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way. Along with a family book sale, the fair will feature free health screenings, including pediatric developmental, autism, pediatric dental, blood pressure, glucose and lung capacity screenings. From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., there will be a costume contest with prizes for Best Character Look Alike, Most Creative and Best Make-Up. The fair will include a Car Seat Safety Clinic provided by Kane County SafeKids. The event also will include refreshments, games, face painting and a fire truck, police car and ambulance for children to view. For details, call (800) 397-9000 or visit Web site shermanhealth.com.

Oct. 30-Nov. 1: Nothing Special Productions presents "Nightmare in Paradise," a Halloween Spooktacular. Performances are at 8 p.m. each evening. Tickets are $13 for adults; $10 for students. Contact Alissa Jones for reservations by emailing aajones@ilstu.edu, nothingspecialproductions@hotmail.com or call 630-709-8014.

Elgin Art Showcase, at 164 Division Street, is an intimate performance and gallery space in the heart of downtown Elgin.

Oct. 31: Join the Spring Hill Gymnastics Ghouls and Goblins in a special open gym on Halloween from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31 at 1016 N. McLean Blvd. Visitors can do lots of tricks and have some treats. This party is for toddler and preschool aged spooks with great fun and not scary. There will be games, a fun house maze and treats. Tots should wear costumes for the costume parade. Don't bother to bring a treat bag - you'll make your very own bag there. Cost is $8 for members and $10 for nonmembers. For more information, call (847) 488-WINS (9467)

• Oak Crest Residence and Atrium Apartments, 204 S. State St., Elgin is inviting all ghosts, goblins and little spooks age 10 and younger from the community to attend "Grandma's Porch" from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. The event will be held rain or shine. The members have been decorating the east porch and preparing their costumes for this event. There is no charge. For information, call (847) 742-2255; ask for Zoila.

• Trunk-Or-Treat will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 at Elgin Bible Church, 1580 E. Chicago St. Children can "trick or treat" by visiting many decorated car trunks filled with Halloween candy. There will also be a hayride, puppet show, doughnut holes and lots of games. There will be a $100 Toys-R-Us gift card as a door prize. The event is free. Wear costumes if you wish. In case of rain, activities will be held inside the church. For information, visit elginbiblechurch.org or call Bruce or Gayla at (847) 695-5733.

Through Nov. 1: Dare to enter the Elgin Turner's Haunted Hall, 112 Villa St., and experience the horrors that have taken up residence on the third floor. Wind your way up the secret staircase to the maze of ghouls, goblins and other surprises that will treat you to the scare of your life. Hours are 7 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays and 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $7. For details, visit elginturners.org/haunted.

Fox River Grove

Oct. 17-25: This year's theme at Mack Manor is "The Dead End - No Going Back!" It's the 10th and final year for the Fox River Grove Recreation Council Haunted House at Lions Park. Dates and times are as follows: Oct. 17, 18, 24, and 25: 6 to 7 p.m. non-scary; $3 for kids 10 and younger. Flashlights are allowed.

Oct 17, 18, 24, 25, 7 to10 p.m.: Scary. Cost is $9. It is extremely dark and claustrophobic.

The house has been doubled in size with outside rooms in addition to the 1,500 square feet of indoor dark halls, creepy clowns, non-exiting cages and spinning walls. For details, visit mackmanor.com.

Hampshire

Oct. 31: The Hampshire Lions Club is hosting its annual Halloween Night Hot Dog Roast at 6 p.m. Oct. 31 at

Hampshire Elementary School, 321 Terwilliger Ave. Magician Steve Chezaday will entertain the public starting at 6:15 p.m. For details, call Chuck Smith at (847) 683-2659.

Lake in the Hills

Oct. 23: Halloween House Decorating Contest - who has the scariest or cheeriest house in Lake in the Hills? Call in your own creation, or elect your neighbor's, and parks and rec will come around between 5:30 and 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 to judge. All winners must keep their creations up through Halloween. Winners will receive a gift certificate to a Lake in the Hills restaurant. Free registration is accepted by calling (847) 960-7460. Only Lake in the Hills homes will be judged.

Oct. 27: Player's Choice Academy and Huntley Jazzercise will hold a free family halloween costume party at 7 p.m. Oct. 27 at 9210 Trinity Drive, Lake in the Hills. There will be a costume contest, prizes, silent auction, special performances, pizza, drinks and more. The event is a fundraiser for Rett Syndrome, and all proceeds will be donated to Rett Syndrome Association of Illinois. To RSVP, e-mail nola.jazz@sbcglobal.net.

Through Nov. 1: Haunt 31 at 340 S. Annandale Drive, Lake in the Hills, will run dusk to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and dusk to 10 p.m. Friday Saturday, through Nov. 1, weather permitting. Animation does not operate in the rain. The display is free but donations are always appreciated. Donations can be sent via paypal to tobmaster340@sbcglobal.net or dropped into one of the donation boxes located throughout the haunt. Visit haunt31.com for details on this haunted yard display.

Sleepy Hollow

Oct. 25: Halloween in the Hollow begins at 4 p.m. Oct. 25 with a costume parade for different age groups, complete with prizes. Bring your chili and pie for contests with prizes at 4 p.m. for judging. Food - chili, pie, hot dogs, chili dogs, cider, cotton candy and hot chocolate - will be available at 4:30 p.m. Pumpkin decorating and hayrides will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. There will be a bonfire at dusk with a visit from the Headles Horseman, followed by fireworks to celebrate Sleepy Hollow's 50 years. Rain date is Oct. 26. For details, e-mail info@shsc-il.org or call (847) 574-8116.

South Elgin

Oct. 19-26: The Haunted Trolley returns to the museum, on Route 31 in South Elgin, the weekend of Oct. 25-26, during regular museum hours. It's a spooky good time for children of all ages.

The Haunted Trolley is a specially-decorated vintage trolley car, and the ride is appropriate for all ages. Regular fares apply for this special event, which runs 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. both days.

For evening fun, guests can ride "Halloween Hiawatha," the Ghost Story Train, on Oct. 19. The reserved-seating, after-hours Ghost Story Trains entertain children and their parents. Those who dare can experience a campfire along the shores of the Fox River with ghoulishly delightful ghost stories. Reserve your seats now. Three other days have already sold out.

Tickets for the Halloween Hiawatha are $10, and seats can be reserved through the museum's Reservations page at foxtrolley.org/reservations.html. No tickets will be sold the night of Ghost Story Train events, and no reservations can be taken over the phone.

The museum, at 361 S. LaFox St., on Route 31 in South Elgin, is open 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on operating days, except as noted. Regular fares are $3.50 for adults, $2 both for senior citizens and for children ages 3-11. Children 3 and younger ride free. Call (847) 697-4676.

West Dundee

Oct. 27: Dress up your furry little friends and bring them to Center Court for Spring Hill Mall's Pet Costume Contest. Registration on begins at 5 p.m., contest at 6 p.m. Prizes will be awarded in five different categories: best character look-a-like, cutest, scariest, funniest, and most original costumes. For information call (847) 428-2200. The mall is at routes 31 and 72 in West Dundee.

Oct. 29: Kids can trick-or-treat from 4 to 6 p.m. throughout Spring Hill Mall. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

• Spring Hill Mall's popular free Halloween Costume Contest for kids will be held on stage beginning at 6:30 p.m. for children age 12 and younger. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. Judging will be based on five different categories: best character look-a-like; cutest; scariest; funniest; and most original costumes. A prize will be awarded for each category.

Woodstock

Oct. 31: A Halloween party open to the public will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Waverly Ballroom, 214 Main Street, Woodstock, to support the 54 soldiers and families of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment from the Woodstock Armory that is deploying to Afghanistan. The $20 cover per person includes the Geary Smith Blues Band, pizza from Domino's and Napoli's Pizza, and pastries from Swiss Maid Bakery and Tarts'n'Truffles. Costumes are optional, the bar is cash, and tickets will be sold at the door. Call (815) 354-3842.