Scare up a good time at Fox Valley Halloween programs

Cary

• Dress up for a "spook-tacular" afternoon of games, crafts, treats, and more at the annual Cary Park District Halloween Extravaganza. The event will be held from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Community Center, 255 Briargate Road. The event, designed for children ages 2-7 and their parents, will provide a safe, family-friendly and festive place to celebrate the Halloween season. All children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. Space is limited. Registration fee is $6 for residents, $9 for nonresidents of the park district and free for adults. Preregistration is required. Registration forms are available at the Community Center or online at www.carypark.com. For information, visit www.carypark.com or call (847) 639-6100.

Dundee Township

• The Dundee Township Park District will celebrate Halloween this year with two hayrides. Spooky Trail, for ages 3 and older, will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29. 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 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30. Participants will visit Creepy Hollow and other scenes. Ghosts, goblins and all their spooky little cousins will greet guests along the way. Both events will be held at Randall Oaks Park, 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 FISH Food 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.

Elgin

• The 19th annual hike, "Trail of Terror, will be held at Camp Big Timber, 37W955 Big Timber Road, Elgin. The hikes will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 16 and 23; and 6:30 to 11 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 17 and 24. A Kiddie Hike will be offered from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Oct. 24. Admission is $10; $7 for Scouts in uniform; $6 for Kiddie Hike. Groups can call for reservation at (630) 584-9250, ext. 69. Visit www.tfchauntedhike.org.

• 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. 17 at The Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way. From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Sherman will host a costume contest with prizes for best character look-alike, most creative and best makeup. Along games and face painting, kids will have the opportunity to get an inside peek of a police car and ambulance. The fair also will feature photo IDs for kids, a family book sale and free health screenings including pediatric developmental, pediatric dental and autism screenings. Of special interest to parents, the fair will include a car seat safety clinic provided by Kane County SafeKids. Parents can have car seats checked in their own vehicles and receive hands-on instruction from a certified child passenger safety technician. For details, call (800) 397-9000 or visit Web site shermanhealth.com.

• What better way to spend Halloween than at a museum sleepover with your friends. On Friday, Oct. 30, children, age 7 to 12, should come dressed in their spooky best and be prepared for a night of fun. Discover animals of the night such as bats and owls. Carve pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns and listen to scary stories. Take a flashlight tour of the Museum. Try your hand at trick-or-treating from T-rex, if you dare. The Halloween Sleepover begins at 7 p.m. Oct. 30 and runs until 9 a.m. on Oct. 31 at the museum, 225 Grand Blvd. The fee is $20 per child. Registration is required and should be completed by Oct. 25. To register, call (847) 741-6655 or visit www.elginpublicmuseum.org.

• A "Haunted House Spooktacular" will be held from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 at O'Connor-Leetz Funeral Home, 364 Division St., Elgin. Y 103.9 FM will be broadcasting live. There will be raffles and treats. Admission is $5 per person. All proceeds will be donated to the Little Angels Center in Elgin. The haunted house is not for children under age 8. Visit www.spectacularhauntedhouse.com.

• 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. Saturday, Oct. 31. The event will be held rain or shine. For information, call (847) 742-2255; ask for Zoila.

• Trunk-or-Treat will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, 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, a maze, food 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 Gayla at (847) 695-5733.

• 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 through Oct. 31. Admission is $9. For details, visit elginturners.org/haunted.

• Evil Intention is hosting a Haunted House in Elgin. It is open select days through Nov. 1 at the old Elgin Casket Co. building, at 900 Grace St., Elgin. Admission is $15. It is not recommended for children. For schedule of dates, visit www.evilscarecrew.com.

Lake in the Hills

• Who has the scariest or cheeriest house in Lake in the Hills? Call in your own creation, or elect your neighbor's. 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. From 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, judges will be touring homes looking for the scariest and the cheeriest. Registration is free and can be taken over the phone at (847) 960-7460.

• Stop by Haunt 31 through Nov. 1 at 340 S. Annandale Drive, Lake in the Hills. It will run dusk to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and dusk to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, through Nov. 1, weather permitting. The 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.

Sleepy Hollow

• The Sleepy Hollow Service Club will host its annual "Halloween in the Hallow" at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. There will be a costume parade for different age groups, complete with prizes. Bring your chili and pie for contests with prizes. Judging will be at 3:30 p.m. Chili, pie, hot dogs, chili dogs, cider, cotton candy and hot chocolate available at 4:30 p.m. Enjoy Pumpkin decorating or hayrides from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. There will be a bonfire at dusk with a visit from the Headless Horseman. The rain date will be Oct. 25. For details, visit www.shsc-il.org or call (847) 574-8116.

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.

Union

• Join in the fun at the McHenry County Historical Society's annual Historic Halloween Performance on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at the society's museum, 6422 Main St., Union. There will be two performance seatings, one at 6:45 p.m. and another at 8 p.m. After the Civil War, Union soldiers formed Grand Army of the Republic Associations. These G.A.R. "camps" worked to secure benefits for former soldiers and/or their dependents. Through the power of Halloween magic, one such G.A.R. gathering of 8th Illinois cavalrymen will be spotlighted. The performances will appeal to fifth graders up through adults. Halloween refreshments will follow in the society's West Harmony one-room school. Weather permitting there will be an outdoor campfire and marshmallows for roasting. Admission is charged for nonmembers of the society. For information, call (815) 923-2267 or info@mchsonline.org.

West Dundee

• Dress up your furry little friends and bring them to Center Court for Spring Hill Mall's Pet Costume Contest on Wednesday, Oct. 28. 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. On Thursday, Oct. 29, kids can trick-or-treat from 4 to 6 p.m. throughout Spring Hill Mall. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The 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.