<lst>Here's a selection of spooky happenings taking place around the region.
<cal2>Slightly Scary Stories. Thursday, Oct. 17 at 10:30 a.m. at Fairfax City Regional Library, 3915 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. Call 703-246-2281 to register. Stories and activities. Ages 3-5 with adult.
Harpers Scary Haunted House, a scary family attraction at Lake Fairfax Park, is open Oct. 17-20, Oct. 23-27, Oct. 30-31, and Nov. 1-2. Special daytime hours for children under 10 will be available Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 1-6 p.m. The regular hours are weekdays and Sunday, 7:30-11 p.m. with extended hours on Friday and Saturday until midnight. Admission is $12 until Oct. 30, $13 for Oct. 31, $10 for Nov. 1-2, and $8 for daytime hours. Call 703-471-5414 or visit www.harpersscary.com for more information.
Leesburg Hauntings 2002: Historic Funerals and Burial Practices. The Loudoun Museum will present the history of "All Hallows Eve" in Loudoun, folklore, methods people used to cope with death throughout history, and a funeral procession complete with horse-drawn hearse at this year's Leesburg Hauntings. Costumed guides will lead the evening tours by lantern-light to sites in Leesburg's Historic District. The tours will be conducted on Friday, Oct. 18 from 6 to 11 p.m., leaving every 15 minutes from the Leesburg Town Hall. Tickets are $13 each and may be purchased at the Loudoun Museum, 16 Loudoun St. S.W., Leesburg, or by calling 703-777-7427. Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Early reservations are suggested as an early sellout is expected.
Batty about Bats, a self-directed program at Huntley Meadows Park, will interest bat lovers. Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 20, from 1-3 p.m. Free. Call 703-768-2525 for more information.
Scarecrow-making will take place at Colvin Run Mill Historic Site in Great Falls on Oct. 19 and 20 from 12-2 p.m. Bring a scarecrow outfit plus an old pair of pantyhose, and the leaders will supply the stuffing and a good head for his shoulders. $5/scarecrow.
Make a Halloween Mobile at the Hidden Pond Nature Center. Participants will make a creepy creature mobile in time for Halloween. Materials will be provided. Parents must occupy children. Program runs 2-3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20. and costs $5 per mobile. Reservations are required. Call 703-451-9588 for more information.
The 56th Annual Halloween Parade and Mixer, run by Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce, will occur on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at the Sun Trust Bank, 515 Maple Ave., East in Vienna. The Mixer is from 5-7 p.m. and the Parade from 7-9 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by the Vienna Inn and sponsorship opportunities are available. The cost is $5 per person. For more information call 703-281-1333.
Riverside Campfire--Halloween Howls, Friday, Oct. 25, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Riverbend Visitor Center in Great Falls. A spectacular campfire includes pumpkin games, animal sounds and ghoulish stories. Bring a toasting stick, blanket and flashlight; s'mores are provided. Come at 6 p.m. for picnic dinner and hot dog roasting. Reservations required, $3. Call 703-759-9018.
After Dark in the Park — Hidden Pond Night Talk and Walk, Oct. 25, 7-9 p.m. Hear about Hidden Pond's spooky past while sitting around a campfire and roasting s'mores, then search the forest for nocturnal animals. $3, will be canceled for rain. Call Hidden Pond Nature Center at 703-451-9588 to make a reservation.
The 11th Annual Halloween Spooktacular and Costume Parade will occur on Oct. 31 from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Great Falls Village Center. For more information, contact the Village Centre Condominium Association at 703-759-2485 or at www.greatfallsva.com.
Jolly Jack-O-Lanterns. Thursday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. at Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Call 703-451-8055 for more information. Songs, stories and pumpkin lighting. Ages 3-5 with adult.
Vienna's annual Halloween party for children ages 4-12 will take place Saturday, Oct. 26, 2- 3:30 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., S.E. Admission is free. There will be carnival games and prizes for everyone.
Boneyard Hunt for Dogs: Halloween fun for kids and their canines at Lake Accotink. On Saturday, Oct. 26 at 3 p.m., take a short walk to the "boneyard" where treats are hidden for the dogs and their companions. Enter the costume contest for special prizes and treats. All dogs must be leashed and friendly towards other dogs, kids and people. $4 per dog. To register, send the participant's name, address, telephone number, program title and a check payable to Fairfax County Park Authority to Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield, VA 22150. For more information or to pay by credit card, call Lake Accotink at 703-569-0285.
Halloween Goblin Golf on the Lucky Duck Miniature Golf Course. Play with glowing balls, ride the carousel and finish with a treasure hunt. Saturday, Oct. 26 from 6-9 p.m. $6 per child. To register, send the participant's name, address, telephone number, program title and a check payable to Fairfax County Park Authority to Lake Accotink Park, 7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield, VA 22150. Fore more information or to pay by credit card, call Lake Accotink at 703-569-0285.
The Ninth-Annual Goblin Gallop 5K race and 1K fun run will take place on Sunday, Oct. 27 at the Fair Lakes Shopping Center, off the Fair Lakes Parkway, in Fairfax. The fun run begins at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K starts at 9 a.m. Proceeds go to The John Quadrino Foundation to Benefit Children with Cancer. The event will take place, rain or shine, and will kick off in front of Jared's in the shopping center. The 5K entry fee is $20 if postmarked by Oct. 22; late and race-day registration is $25. Entry fee for the 1K is $15 if postmarked by Oct. 22; late and race-day registration is $20. It's a USATF-certified course, and the first three overall male and female finishers will win $150, $100 and $50, respectively. Top age-group finishers will also receive prizes. Register on-line at www.racepacket.com. For more information, call 703-536-2027, e-mail GoblinGallop@MWZB.com or see www.goblingallop.org.
Jolly Jack-O-Lanterns. Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 10:30 a.m. at the Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. For more information, call 703-978-5600. Stories and pumpkin lighting. Age 3-5 with adult.
Fright Night. Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Pohick Regional Library, 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke. Call 703-644-7333 to register. Stories for the brave of heart. All ages.
Harmon's Hayrides offers hayrides on Belgian Draft horses through the Virginia Fall countryside for groups of 20 to 140 people. The rides are offered at Meadow Acres Farm evenings at 7 and 8:30 p.m. On weekends, the times are 2, 3:30, 5, 7 and 8:30 p.m. Reservations are required. Cost is $4/child under 12 and $8/teens and adults. A campfire afterwards with cider and doughnuts is an additional $4/person. Meadow Acres Farm is located at 43120 Hollyspring Lane, Centreville. Call 703-327-6731. E-mail: belgins@erols.com.
Halloween Party at Rene's Supper Club, 3151 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, on Thursday, Oct. 31 beginning at 8 p.m. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres for all guests. Costumes are preferred, culminating in the election of the "Queen and King of Halloween, 2002." DJ Christian will play Latin and American rhythms. Admission is $8 in advance, $10 at the door.
Halloween Extravaganza hosted by students from Fairfax County Public School’s Springfield Classroom-on-the-Mall program. Students will manage seven stations throughout Springfield Mall on Thursday, Oct. 31. These stations will feature Halloween arts, crafts and games. This event will take place in conjunction with the mall’s “Spooktacular,” in which children may trick-or-treat in stores throughout the mall.