YMCA holds Halloween parties
Come in costume and enjoy games, treats, hauntings and more at the Merrimack Valley YMCA's Halloween celebrations happening this month:
Andover/North Andover, 165 Haverhill St., Andover: Saturday, Oct. 25, 1 to 4 p.m. Games, arts and crafts, a bounce house, an inflatable slide, pumpkin decorating and trick-or-treating. The cost per family is $8 for YMCA members, $12 for nonmembers. For more details, call Mary Ann Roman at 978-685-3541.
Methuen, 129 Haverhill St., Methuen: Saturday, Oct. 25, 3 to 6 p.m. Party with carnival games, crafts, a moon bounce, snacks and prizes. Each activity is one ticket, and the cost is $5 for 10 tickets. For more details, call Heidi Gebhardt at 978-683-5266.
Lawrence, 40 Lawrence St., Lawrence: Saturday, Oct. 25, 6 to 8 p.m. The party will have a haunted basement, carnival games, crafts, snacks and prizes. Each activity is one ticket, and the cost is $5 for 10 tickets. For more details, call Julissa Alfonzo at 978-686-6191.
Camp Otter, 66 Hooker Farm Road, Salem, N.H.: Oct. 17, 18, 24 and 25, 7 to 9 p.m. A haunted camp, featuring a one-way guided tour of the grounds and the cabins of the creepies. The cost is $4 for children and $5 for adults. For more details, call John Goudreau, Camp Otter associate director, at 978-975-1330.
Kids can win cameo in Wonka musical
NORTH ANDOVER — Five local children will score Golden Tickets when they unwrap their candy bars this fall in a contest hosted by the Ye Olde Candy Companie.
No, they don't get you a tour of a chocolate factory, but they will win a cameo in the Acting Out Theater Company's adaptation of Willie Wonka, a musical coming to Andover's Old Town Hall on Dec. 12 through Dec. 14.
Willie Wonka, Methuen's David Cook, will make appearances at the North Andover candy store on Oct. 18, Nov. 8 and Nov. 22, from 1 to 2 p.m.
The Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie has created the "Acting Out Scrumptious Chocolate Bar" in celebration of the performance.
The store is located at 59 Main St.
Pumpkin fundraiser at skate park
ANDOVER — Buy a pumpkin and support Andover Youth Services at the Great Pumpkin Sale, located in the skate park behind West Middle School on Shawsheen Road.
The Great Pumpkin Sale runs until Oct. 19. Along with free candy, pumpkins, Indian corn, hay bales and corn stalks will be on sale.
Hours of operation are weekdays, from 3 to 7 p.m. and weekends, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Equestrian tournament comes to Andover, Boxford
ANDOVER — More than 60 Special Olympics Massachusetts athletes will compete in the 2008 Fall Equestrian Tournament at Challenge Unlimited & Ironstone Farms in Andover and Windrush Farms in Boxford.
To compete, all riders must be dressed in proper riding attire.
The Boxford tournament is scheduled for Oct. 18 and will begin at 10 a.m. Registration will be at 9:30 a.m. Windrush Farms is located at 30 Brookview Road.
The Andover tournament is scheduled for Oct. 19 and will begin at 10 a.m. Registration will be at 9:30 a.m. Challenge Unlimited & Ironstone Farms is located at 450 Lowell St.
Both tournaments will conclude at 2:30 p.m.
Winnekenni Castle Halloween events
A Family-Style Haunted Matinee will take place today from noon to 3 p.m. at Winnekenni Castle, 347 Kenoza Ave.
The cost is $8 for children, $5 for adults.
This daylight haunted afternoon features elements of the haunted tour but it's during the daytime and geared for a gentler experience.
Included will be a day-lit hayride, outdoor daytime laser encounter, horribles parade, and pumpkin patch decorating (while they last). Guests are also permitted to partake of the entire haunted tour, however the castle itself and enclosed Toxic Tunnel will still be quite dark and scary, so visitors beware.
The Children's Halloween Castle Day will take place Oct 26, from noon to 3 p.m. The cost is $8 for children, $5 for adults.
This annual costume party for young children and families features kiddie-games, treats, a take-home prize, craft activities by Little Sprouts of Haverhill, photo-spot with a surprise costumed character, a giant bouncy castle, a family hayride, and fun and refreshments for all.
