Welcome to Friday! It officially feels and looks like fall, but that’s ok… Halloween’s in a week! So this weekend we have quite a few Halloween festivities, some fun music events, a surprising amount of outdoor events (we’re Northern New Yorkers – the cold weather doesn’t scare us), craft sales and benefits. So dig in and get involved in the north country this weekend!
1) First up we have Halloween activities. Tonight, the Wead Library, 64 Elm St., Malone, is showing Halloween classic “Hocus Pocus” for free at 6 p.m. Bring your own snacks. For more information, call (518) 483-5251. If movies aren’t your thing, there’s also a Pumpkin Party happening in Malone tonight. All are welcome at the First Congregational Church, 2 Clay Street, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., to join in on the food, fun, games and prizes. The event is free for children ages 4 to 12. For more information, call (518) 483-3950. Also tonight, you can go on a Haunted Hayride in Remington Park, Fort Drum, from 6 to 10 p.m. There is a free shuttle to the park by the MaGrath Sports Complex, Bldg. P-10050, Fort Drum. The event invites people to walk through a haunted pavilion, creepy animal exhibit, presented by New York State Zoo at Thompson Park, bonfire and marshmallow roasting, hot chocolate, cookies, doughnuts; children 12 and younger must be accompanied by a parent. The event is free. For more information, call 772-8222 or 772-5169. If you’re in the mood for historical fright, head over to St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, 200 E. Main St., Sackets Harbor, tonight and tomorrow night for a Haunted Walk of Sackets Harbor. Guides leave the church every 15 minutes, rain or shine, from 6 to 9 p.m., on a walking tour of Sackets Harbor’s darker past with stories of bloody battles, ghosts, graves and hangings. Please be advised this event is not suitable for children 9 and younger. The cost is$5; students, 10 to 17, $3. The Paddock Arcade is also hosting a haunting tonight and tomorrow. From 6 to 9 p.m. today, asl well as 1 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. tomorrow, you can stop by the Classic Creepy Creatures Haunted House. The cost is $5. If you’re in Evans Mills and in need of some Halloween haunting, you can stop by the Terror at the Track Spooktacular tonight and tomorrow at Evans Mills Speedway, Route 11, from 7 to 11 p.m. The event includes haunted hayrides, zombie apocalypse and the aftermath of the nuclear holocaust. The cost is $12. Tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., the Lowville Business Association is sponsoring Halloween Towne. Events throughout the day and throughout the town include parades, games, food, a road race, stories and more. For more information, visit their Facebook page here. If you’re looking for something uniquely kid friendly, bring the little ones to the Boo at the Zoo, tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park, 1 Thompson Park. Feel free to come in costume. The day will hold games, activities, animals, demonstrations and music. The cost is $2 for a member child; member adult, free; nonmember child, $8; nonmember adult, $9. For more information, call 782-6180. Tomorrow, Ogdensburg Public Library, 312 Washington St., is holding their Halloween Party from 2 to 4 p.m. The library is inviting children to join in decorating pumpkins, showing off their costumes and collecting candy. For more information, call 393-4325. Lastly, the Nature Center at Robert Moses State Park, 19 Robinson Bay Road, Massena, is hosting a Halloween Woods Walk, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow. This is a guided moonlight hike, lasting about 35 minutes. There will be a party by the campfire to follow. Children are welcome to wear costumes, and the first 30 will receive goody bags. The event is free. For more information, call 705-5022 or email ncrebirth@yahoo.com.
2) This weekend brings many music events. Tonight at Jefferson Community College, 1220 Coffeen St., Watertown, you can see the Japanese drum ensemble Taikoza take the stage at 7 p.m. For more information, contact the JCC Student Activities Center at 786-2431. If you’d appreciate more of a bar atmosphere, head to the Savory Downtown, 300 Washington St., Watertown, tonight to see The Booty Brothers play. For more information, call 788-0272. Tomorrow, the Bluegrass Jam is happening at Olympic Center, 2624 Main St., Lake Placid, from 12:30 to 11 p.m. The musicians featured are: Sam Bush and The Del McCoury Band, Amy Helm, Sleepy Man Banjo Boys, Gibson Brothers, Big Leg Emma, Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, Hot Day at the Zoo, Eastbound Jesus and The 52 Pick-Up.General admission tickets are $55 in advance; $65, at the door. VIP admisssion is $80 in advance; $90, at the door; limited to 300. Call the box office at (518) 523-3330. Tomorrow, SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music is hosting the Single Reed Summit Concert at 7:30 p.m. at Helen M. Hosmer Hall, SUNY Potsdam, 44 Pierrepont Ave. Guest artists Otis Murphy and Michael Lowenstern will perform on the saxophone and bass clarinet, respectively, with the Crane Wind Ensemble. The event is free. Finally, on Sunday, SUNY Potsdam is hosting the 9th Annual Festival of Sacred Music and Text at 3 p.m. in the Dunn Theatre, SUNY Potsdam, Pirrepont Avenue. Donations of canned goods are being accepted for Potsdam Thanksgiving Meal. For more information, contact Paula Jensen-Moulton at 386-3570 or pjensenmoulton@yahoo.com.
3) Despite the cold weather and impending winter, there are still a bunch of ways to get outside this weekend. Tomorrow, you can get your blood pumping with the Nuts’ Skeleton Skamper 5K Fun Run/Walk at the Dobisky Visitor Center, 100 Riverside Ave., Ogdensburg. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the run/walk at 9 a.m. The cost is $15 for ages 13 and older; $10, 12 and younger. Participants are asked to bring a nonperishable item for local food pantry. To register, contact Kelly Amo at 713-5163, or Vicki Gould at 713-5284. Tomorrow morning in Watertown, you can be part of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. The walk begins at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds, 970 Coffeen St., at 10 a.m. The event benefits the American Cancer Society. Also tomorrow, you are invited to participate in the 5th Annual Shawna’s Walk for Wishes at Newell Field House, St. Lawrence University, 23 Romoda Drive, Canton. Registration begins at 11 a.m., and the walk at noon. Refreshments, entertainment and family activities will follow the event. For more information, call 229-5095 or email cce@stlawu.edu. If you’re in Cape Vincent on Saturday, beware! The town will be invaded by zombies in the 1000 Islands Zombie Walk. The event starts at noon at Cape Vincent Village Green, Broadway Street, and will feature crafters, artists, a farmers market, door prizes, raffles, food and a guest appearance by Frank, Sheri and James, zombies from the movie “Annulment.” The walk begins at 2 p.m. Zombie costumes and make-up are encouraged. Bring canned food donation to trade for free zombie make-up by “Annulment” artists. The cost is $15; military, $10; children 12 and younger, free. For more information, call Stacie Luchini at 761-2379. Tomorrow night at the pavilion in Thompson Park, Watertown, you can help raise money to benefit scholarships for children with the Lucy’s House 1st Annual 5K Glow Run/Walk. The pre-party begins at 5:30 p.m., the race at 6:30 p.m. There will be an afterglow dance party after the race. DJ from Tunes 92.5 will provide music, and Xtreme Bounce and Slide will provide activities. The fee is $30, individual; $27, group, per person; military, $22, individual; $20 group per person. To register, click here, or here. On Sunday, you can be part of the Village Ecumenical Ministries CROP Hunger Walk at the Church of the Nazarene, 960 State St., Carthage. Check in begins at 1 p.m., the walk at 2 p.m. For more information, contact Liz Gamble at 408-3317 or gamble22@potsdam.edu.
4) Next up, we have a chance for you to get a leg up on your holiday shopping, while keeping it local – craft fairs. Tomorrow, Canton’s First Presbyterian Church, 17 Park St., is holding their Fall Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; there will be soups, sandwiches, desserts and beverages. For more information, call 386-4361. The Fr. Andrew Amyot Parish Center, 3 Morris St., Norfolk, is also holding a Fall Bazaar tomorrow, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is a Church of the Visitation benefit of the Altar Rosary Society. It will include a food sale with cabbage rolls, country store, candy sale, coffee and donuts, hand made crafts, Christmas crafts, attic table, religious articles. Luncheon will be served from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tomorrow also holds Laureate Iota of Beta Sigma Phi’s 30th annual craft show, at the Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington St., Watertown, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is$2; children 12 and younger, free. Refreshments will be available. Donations will benefit the Victims Assistance Center of Jefferson County and Beta Sigma Phi Award Fund. For more information, contact Sylvia at 782-6063, 783-7833 or sylvia-firlik@twcny.rr.com. Tomorrow, visit the Craft Fair at the Northpole Fire Department, 22334 Route 11, Watertown, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations of non-perishable food for food pantry will be taken. The event is free. Lunch will be available. On Sunday, you can visit the Community Vendor’s Expo at Harold W. Townsend Post 1757, 209 Ambrose St., Sackets Harbor, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will offer local vendors, crafters, farms and artisans. There will be food available at a concession stand. For more information, call the American Legion Post 1757 at 646-3530.
5) To finish off the Five Things this week, we’d like to end with benefits. First is the Children’s Miracle Network Bowl-a-Thon, sponsored this year by the Hilton Garden Inn. The event is scheduled for Saturday at Seaway Lanes, 22116 Route 11, Watertown, from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be food, games and prizes. For information, call 788-1234. Tomorrow also holds the Brinkerhoff Benefit at Boonville Elks Lodge, 13054 State Route 12, from 1 to 5 p.m. There will be food, music, a 50/50 raffle, door prizes and more. The cost is$15 per person; $25 per couple; $30 per family. Proceeds will go to help defray Bert Brinkerhoff’s medical expenses; he was involved in an accident in July. Donations are accepted. For more information, contact Karen Balash at 725-1971. Last up is the Cure For Karla Benefit. The event is on Sunday at Applebees Restaurant, 1283 Arsenal St., Watertown, from 8 to 10 a.m. It benefits Karla Benware, 14, who was diagnosed with “ALL” leukemia in January. Proceeds will cover medical expenses. For information, call 783-1749.