Haunted Happenings
By Chris Murphy
Halloween is a national holiday at our house. Our ViewCrew loves this time of year. Many of the ViewCrew are part of the team that presents the Summoning and the McHenry Haunted Museum and the art shows, the music, the words and songs. The connection of the Halloween season with the fun had by kids and families all over our community and wrapping up with the Day of the Dead is really exciting and very beautiful, both in spirit and art. Best of all, this year, Halloween is on a Friday night and that is spooktacular in so many ways and because it is on the 31st, we get to enjoy it all monthly long and may all of your tastes, treats, harvests and haunts be very special this year. Let’s take a tour of some of the harvest and haunted happenings in our area this month. For more information on these and other events that may pop up.
Check www.modestoview.com for 24/7 info about the great things happening.
Harvest Happenings
By Blia Vang
Riverbank Cheese and Wine Cheese, yes the Cheeeeese. So many different flavors and tasty combinations. You could say that the ViewCrew just about lives on cheese, we are very excited for the newly revamped Riverbank Cheese and Wine Festival. Downtown Riverbank streets will be lined with many different cheese manufactures, wine makers, bands and local crafts. There are tastings, events for kids and even a 5K & 10K run. http://www.riverbankcheeseandwine.org October 11th & 12th, 2014 Saturday: 10am – 7pm Sunday: 10am – 5pm
Harvest Festival Don’t miss this year’s Harvest Festival in Downtown Modesto on October 18th 10am-4pm.This family-fun event will keep your kids busy with so many activities to enjoy. There will be pumpkin patch, pumpkin art, craft fair, live music, classic cars, bounce house and much more. Admission is free and it is right there in 10th St Place. Oh yeah, there will be classic cars too ‘cause we live in ModestoUSA. Start your Halloween early and make it last all throughout the month.
We have the perfect Halloween events for you and your family. Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes Start your Halloween festivities by getting lost in the corn maze or by picking out your perfect pumpkin to carve your award winning jack-o-lantern at any of these fantastic farms. R.A.M Farms in Turlock, many of their events are free with a purchase of a pumpkin. Fantozzi Farm in Patterson, every Friday and Saturday night – The Haunted Maze. Dutch Hollow Farms in Modesto, find your pumpkin here! Oakdale and Claribel Dell’Osso Family Farm, get lost in the maze, visit the haunted castle or take the mystery tour ride. I – 5 at Lathop
Haunted House
Deathworkz Haunt has five nights of thrilling fun. This year is haunted St. Abby’s Asylum. On the 24th is BlackOut Night and Trivia Night is the 25th. For the 18 and over who are seeking some thrill, visit the asylum on 30th for Thrill Seek Night. October 31st, Halloween Night, will consist of candy passing for kids from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. They have one additional night for the 18 and over on November 1st. All scare nights starts at 7pm. For more information visit www.deathworkz.com. St Charles Place in Modesto, CA
The Higbee Haunt is back and scarier than ever. Teamed up with the Halloween Guys, this neighborhood haunted experience is good for the family. Higbee Horror Haunt will open its gates of terror in Modesto,CA. Dates for 2014 are October 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 29th, 30th, 31st, and November 1st. Hours of operation: 6PM-10PMThe kids walk through is open every Friday and Saturday, starting October 3rd to November 1st, and will have the characters inside from 2pm-5pm http://higbeehorrorhaunt.com/ 2936 Veneman,
Modesto McHenry Haunted Museum
These will be some spooky nights at the Museum. The Staislaus County Boys and Girls Club has teamed up with the Prospect Theatre to transform the McHenry Museum into something creepy (but not too scary) Mazes, a midway and lots of characters and thrills. http://www.hauntedhousemodesto.com/ 1402 I Street, Modesto, CA 95354 Friday, October 24th thru October 30th, 2014 Doors open at 5PM and the last little goblins are let in at 9:00PM Harvest Haunt Express Looking for some spooking fun?
Harvest Haunt Express happens every weekend in October at the Railtown 1897 State Historic Park. Bring your family out and enjoy a haunted train ride on the famous Sierra No. 3 train and on a vintage diesel locomotive. RSVP your train ride at www.railtown1897.org.
Zombie Train Ride Zombies are attacking the Central Valley and you are a passenger on the Oakdale Sierra Railroad Dinner Train, armed with a laser rifle ready to attack and save the Central Valley. This is a two hour train ride and show on October 18, 19 & November 1. Tickets can be purchased at www.sierrarailroad.com.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde A performance on behalf the MJC Theatre Department of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde will prepare you for Halloween. This classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson reveals Dr. Hyde as the victim with a split personality between good and bad. Show times are: October 24, 25, 30, 31 and Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. Tickets are: $10 General/$8 Students & Seniors. Tickets are for sale online at www.mjc.tix.com and at the Auditorium Box Office. Halloween Bash Fundraiser
Looking for a Halloween party? Want to help raise funds for community service projects? The Halloween Bash Fundraiser will have a costume contest, raffle, live music and dancing. No host bar, there will be appetizers. Proceeds benefit Modesto Sunset Lions. The fundraiser will be held at Durrer’s Barn on October 25at 7pm. Call 209-534-5163 for tickets.
Halloween Dance Party Happening at the Prospect Theatre Project on Halloween night will be an amazing performance by the Wrong Doers, featuring special guest performance Willie Hines of the Lights and Jet Red band. Willie Hines is a MAMA nominee for blue collar category this year. This is a benefit concert for the Center for Human Services. Come out and support a great cause and party all night to great local music. Visit www.prospecttheaterproject.org.
The Summoning: Zombie Prom On Halloween night, dress up in your best costume and party to the break of dawn at the biggest Halloween street party in the Central Valley. There will be over 5,000 people and live music all night long from 7pm-2am. Downtown Modesto gets transformed into a haunted city with many stages for your favorite bands playing haunted tunes including the 27 Club. There will be a haunted Prom King and Queen contest and a Pet Sematary, and even haunted wrestling. Don’t miss the Area 52 aliens and the Texas Chainsaw BBQ. For the mature 21+ only. To purchase your tickets in advance call 209-204-3801 and get ore info at http://halloweenmodesto.com/
Mad Scientist Ball CSU Stanislaus American Chemical Society is hosting their annual Mad Scientist Ball that will be open to the public. Celebrate with crafts, games, treats, and music. The cost is $1 per person. The event will be held in at the Event Center on October 24th from 3pm-9pm. Contact 209-667-3468 for more information.
Library Kid Events
The Stanislaus Library has many Halloween events throughout the month of October, for kids of all ages: decorate cake pops to look like pumpkin, make a masquerade mask, and make Halloween crafts. On October 30, celebrate Halloween with the library. Keyes Library will have Halloween at Hogwarts with a Harry Potter theme crafts. Waterford Library welcomes kids in costumes for craft fun, and treats. Modesto Library celebrates Halloween with Superhero theme. For all Stanislaus Library event details visit www.stanislauslibrary.com.