Louis Boehle of Encompass Antiques passes out candy during Crestline’s Trick or Treat the Merchants last year. (File photo by Rhea-Frances Tetley)

By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer

Halloween is just around the corner and the towns are getting ready for the themed holiday in many ways. Decorations are popping up at homes and in businesses and events are beginning to occur.
The play Dracula will be produced in Twin Peaks the weekend of Oct. 27 through 31. Tickets are $20 for adults at www.heislertheater.com with Halloween-themed movies playing each afternoon before it and other movies are being shown in the meadow at Lake Gregory at sunset on Saturday, Oct 29.
But, along with the costumes and community trick or treating or the trunk or treat at the churches and schools, one of the most important holiday accessories is a pumpkin or carved jack-o-lantern. There are several pumpkin patches that have popped up this season in the various communities and pumpkins can be found in the local markets, as it is their harvest season. At a pumpkin patch, the kids can select their choice from a wide variety of colors, sizes and styles of pumpkins.
Running Springs area
In Running Springs at Havenwood, the pumpkin patch is in the garden in front of the Pages in the Pines book store. The parking lot to get to this hidden treasure is accessed by driveways on either side of the Rustic Arts store on Highway 18 at 32088 Highway 18 in Running Springs. There are several retail stores, including Havenwood gifts, Pages in the Pines Books, Moonshine Lamps and more.
Havenwood is open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. See their website at www.shophavenwood.com. This is the first year for this pumpkin patch, located next to where the movie nights have been presented this summer. It will be open until Oct. 31, unless they sell out first.
Running Springs will host a trunk or treat on Oct. 31 from 2 to 5 p.m. There will be prizes for the best trunk or treat décor. The participating merchants are Kid’s Corner, The Rusty Hammer, Golden Oaks Thrift Shop, Hilltop Pet Supply, Napa, Hilltop Haus, Jensen’s, Sugar Mountain and more.
Crestline area
In Crestline, a pumpkin patch is repeating for the third year at the Treasure Box at Castle Grayson, as seen from Lake Drive, between the white former church at Old Mill Road and Manzanita and the Shell Station, but accessed from Manzanita Drive at 23621 Manzanita. It is open weekdays from 5 to 8 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Also at Castle Grayson are a variety of ducks, chickens, pigs and other animals for children to see.
The Crestline community Trick or Treat the Merchant will take place on Saturday, Oct. 29 in Lake Gregory Village on Lake Drive and Top Town from 2 to 5 p.m.; look for the poster in the store window for participating merchants.
Lake Arrowhead area
At SkyPark in Skyforest, their annual Pumpkins in the Pines weekends will be taking place Saturdays and Sundays only through Oct. 30. They have a park-wide pumpkin patch, trick or treating, seasonal entertainment, such as the Fantom Forest hike, Legend of Sleepy Hollow puppet show and the Monster Mash Light Show, along with their regular family-friendly attractions like roller skating, rock climbing, archery, pedal cars, balance bikes, train rides and more. Some scheduled activities include a costume contest by Santa’s house on Oct. 22, 23, 29 and 30. On Oct. 29 and 30 Arrow’s Spooky Balance Bike Race will take place at 10 a.m. at the Silver Bells Arena for riders ages 2 to 9. On Oct. 28 is the costume party concert with Sixty Grit and on Oct. 29 is the Halloween Monster Mash Skate Night with a live DJ at the Silver Bells Arena from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Oct. 30 is the Mountain Biker Costume Parade and contest, behind the Pedal Pub at 1 p.m.
At Lake Arrowhead Village on Oct. 31 there will be trick or treating from 2 to 4 p.m. While at the Village on Halloween Day, take a picture in your costume, post it on social media and tag the Village to win prizes in the virtual costume contest with the categories: cutest, funniest, scariest and most creative, as chosen by the Halloween committee. There will also be a ghost hunt contest, with 13 hidden ghosts. Find them and turn in the filled-out clue sheet at Center Stage to be entered into a prize drawing. From Oct. 20 through Oct. 31, see the scarecrows put up by the various stores all around the Village and vote for your favorite one online.
Other Events
The Wicked House in Twin Peaks will be Oct. 29, 30 and 31, with a free haunted house and movie at 5 p.m. at the Twin Peaks Community Center at 675 Grandview Road with a wine and craft beer garden and food trucks. Oct. 29 is the movie Nightmare Before Christmas (PG); Oct. 30 is The Addams Family (PG 13); and on Oct. 31 is Halloween II (R).
The Spooky Museum is operating the last two weekends of October, Oct. 22, 23, 29 and 30 at the Mountain History Museum, 27176 Peninsula Drive in Lake Arrowhead, where they will be having crafts from noon to three each day related to bats, since it is national bat week with the U.S. Forest Service. Their regular displays will be spooky-ized and accessorized with seasonal decorations.
The Rim of the World Recreation and Park District is having Halloween in the Park at the Lake Gregory Education Center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 27. There will be vendors, a haunted hayride, haunted house, music, games, candy.
On Sunday, Oct. 30, there will be a traditional Day of the Dead celebration at Castle Grayson, 23621 Manzanita Drive in Crestline. Call (909) 589-2248 for more details. This celebration of ancestors will have Mexican music with food and drink trucks and flowers. The Altares de Muertos or ofrendas, aka Day of the Dead altars, are made as a way of remembering and honoring deceased friends and family. Bring your own family photos to add and honor.