Harrowing Halloween Fun!

October is filled with festivals and fun for the entire family

This year Halloween lands on a Tuesday, but the hijinks are getting an early October start with haunted houses, pumpkin farms and even a month-long art festival.

Throughout October

Cambria Scarecrow Festival takes place in downtown Cambria, San Simeon and Harmony takes place all through October with an incredible array of scarecrow creations made from an incredible array of artistic mediums. See everything from scarecrows bowling, bathing and fishing to scarecrows pedaling a bike and even taking flight! Call (805) 395-2399. Visit cambriascarecrows.com.
Chesebrough Farm at 790 Moss Lane in Templeton. Thru October, see the many colors and sizes of pumpkins for all your Halloween and fall decorating needs. Bring the kids to beautiful Templeton to take photos among the colorful harvest displays, too! This season, check out both afternoon tours and carriage rides on weekends. On October 28, head to the Tractor Pull hosted by Chesebrough Farm, who will donate all proceeds to Templeton FFA. For tickets, contact Templeton High School FFA or purchase at the event. Call (805) 434-0843 or Donna at (661)-510-3165. Visit chesebroughfarm.com.
Nightmare on Main Street – Templeton Haunted House at 99 South Main Street, Templeton, takes place in an historic 120-year-old house with chilling new features! Days and times: October 13, 14, 20, 21 and Nov. 3, 4, from 7 to 10 p.m. and October 27, 28, 30, 31 from 7 to 11 p.m. Lights-On Tours (no scare): October 21 and 28 from 5 to 6 p.m. Nightmare on Main Street is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit event created to help support local agencies and nonprofits, including SLO Sheriff K-9 Unit, senior scholarships, sports teams, Templeton Concerts in the Park, Templeton Fire and Emergency Services. Tickets: $10/person at the door or online. $17/VIP-front-of-the-line. $5/Lights-On Tour. Visit nightmareonmain.com.
River K Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze see article on website.
Saturday, October 7
Pumpkin Palooza at Jack Creek Farms, 5000 Hwy. 46 West, Templeton, offers free activities for the kids from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There’s the Fort York Mountain Maze, tractor tire garden, farm animals, hay stack, wooden train, straw bale ponies, sawhorses, dummy steer roping, egg gathering at the henhouse and Li’l Buckaroo Café. There’s a Pumpkin Painting Corral, too, for $8 per person. Inside the corral, choose your pumpkin from the Jack Creek selection to create a masterpiece with paint, brushes, glitter, glue, straw hats, pomp oms, ribbon, wiggle eyes and more. Aprons for kids to wear are provided. Call (805) 239-1915. Visit jackcreekfarms.com.
Saturday, October 28
Candlelight Tour of the Old Adobe at Rios-Caledonia Adobe, 700 South Mission Street, San Miguel, takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. Ghost stories by Paul Burkle and ghosts, courtesy of Paso Robles High School Drama Department. Tarot readings by Mystical Ray-Anne. Free admission and refreshments for all ages. Hosted by Friends of the Adobes. Call (805) 467-3357. Visit rios-caledoniaadobe.org.
Boo at the Zoo at Charles Paddock Zoo, 9305 Pismo Avenue in Atascadero, offers a fun and not-too-scary and wild evening event for the kids from 5 to 8:30 p.m. The whole family is invited to dress in costume and participate in a variety of activities, too. Admission is $10 ($9 Members). Children age 2 and under get in free. Call (805) 461-5080. Visit charlespaddockzoo.org.
Tuesday, October 31
Safe & Fun Halloween by Paso Robles Main Street invites children to dress for trick-or-treating to visit welcoming Downtown merchants. From 4 to 7 p.m. Ghouls, ghosts and Main Street witches will be on hand for this annual event that is perfect for kids of all ages and provides lots of opportunities for cute photos, too. Call (805) 238-4103. Visit pasoroblesdowntown.org.
Downtown Trick-or-Treating for the kids on Entrada Avenue and surrounding areas in Atascadero. Bring the kiddos in their scariest costumes to trick-or-treating from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Hosted by Atascadero Downtown Colony District. Call 466-2044. Visit atascaderochamber.org.
Halloween Carnival at Atascadero United Methodist Church, 116 05 El Camino Real, just north of Santa Barbara Road, across the entrance for Dove Creek housing development. From 4:30 to 7 p.m., everyone can enjoy a safe place for trick-or-treating, snacks, food, games, arts and crafts, a puppet show and a costume contest. Free and open to the public, this annual event is especially geared toward families in fifth grade and younger. Call (805) 466-2566. Visit atascaderoumc.org.
Morro Bay Trick or Treat in Downtown Morro Bay, takes place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Kids ages K-8 and younger are invited to dress in spooky costumes. Pick up a map at Grandma’s Frozen Yogurt at the corner of Morro Bay Blvd. and Main Street, at 3:15 p.m. for trick-or-treating at Morro Bay businesses. At 5 p.m., enjoy a parade and a costume contest with prizes to follow. Hosted by Morro Bay merchants and Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce. This family-friendly event is free for everyone to attend. Call (805) 225-7411. Visit morrobay.org.