friday, Oct. 25
A freaky Franken-Friday
The last Friday in October will be “Frankenstein Friday” at the Signal Hill Library, 1770 E Hill St. The Tim Burton-directed Disney film Frankenweenie will be screened at 6pm. This movie is rated PG and is 87 minutes long. Register for the event by calling (562) 989-7323 to reserve a space and be entered into the drawing for the Frankenweenie book, DVD and stuffed animal. Popcorn, candy, drinks and a take-home craft will be provided. Admission is free, and the event is open to all ages.
The Skating Dead
Who are undead, gorgeous, and roll on eight wheels? The Long Beach Derby Gals— that’s who! Long Beach’s own all-female roller derby league is throwing a Zombie Prom, including a pop-up roller rink, at Crafted, 112 E. 22nd St. in San Pedro. Zombies and skaters alike are encouraged to bring their own skates, and rentals will also be available. A prom wouldn’t be complete without a king and queen, so wear your best blood-stained prom dress and worm-infested tuxedo to be voted Zombie Prom royalty. The whole family is welcome to join in on the fun, on and off skates, through shopping from local vendors, and gorging on brains— er, tasty snacks— Halloween treats, plus beverages for zombies who made it to 21 years of age. Long Beach Derby Gals will be on site for pictures and skating lessons. Pose for scary snapshots in the Zombie Prom photo booth, and win raffle prizes all fright-night long. The event will be open for all ages from 4pm to 6:30pm and for those 18 and older from 7pm to 10pm. Contact Natalie at (562) 999-2876 or longbeachrollersport@gmail.com if you dare!
Face your fears…
Or just scream “lollipop!” The Youth Center dares you to come and face your very worst fears at its 4th annual Haunted House sponsored by Joe’s Premium Painting. Prepare to see your “Fears Come Alive” this October, on Friday the 25th, Saturday the 26th, and Sunday the 27th from 6pm to 9pm at The Youth Center, located at 10909 Oak St. in Los Alamitos. You can fully expect to feel your blood pressure rise in realistic, life-or-death situations while navigating two disturbingly haunted mazes and rooms featuring snakes, monsters, clowns, the morgue, a cemetery, a haunted hospital with a blood-thirsty doctor and more. This year’s Haunted House is so terrifying that the Youth Center developed a “code word” system. Simply scream “lollipop,” and the dreadful actors will become friendly. From that point on, there is nothing to fear because the volunteers will only wave or offer a high-five. Tickets are on sale for $5 for one maze or $6 for two. Thanks to Blockbuster, the first 50 people through the mazes each night receive a free movie rental. Items will be up for raffle, and everyone will have the chance to win a prize. Purchase tickets online at TheYouthCenter.org to avoid waiting in line for the Haunted House. For more information about this horrific event, contact Community Relations Director Lisa Lee at (562) 493-4043 or online at lisa@theyouthcenter.org .
Saturday, Oct. 26
Stories to be told
Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site, in conjunction with the South Coast Storytellers Guild, will present “A Harvest of Stories,” a family festival, from 1pm to 4pm. Admission is $3 per person or $10 per family, payable at the gate. The historic Rancho Los Cerritos adobe home will be open throughout the afternoon for tours. The following storytellers and themes will be presented: Cynthia Callard, Stories of Africa and California history: Ron Chick, Multicultural folktales and tales of heroes and adventures; David Chittenden, Personal tales with a slice of life; Bob and Linda King Pruitt, American folk stories, tall tales and Native-American stories; Ranger Jack, Interactive children’s songs; Diana SpiritHawk, California Native-American stories; Debra Weller and Patti Christensen, Interactive folktales, Native-American stories and personal stories with guitar accompaniment and family sing-a-longs; and David Whiting, Animated multicultural tales. Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site is located at 4600 Virginia Rd. For more information, call (562) 570-1755 or visit rancholoscerritos.org .
Frights in the Fifth
Councilmember Gerrie Schipske and the Parks, Recreation & Marine Department will host a 5th District Halloween Kiddie Karnival from 1pm to 5pm at El Dorado Park Community Center, 2800 Studebaker Rd. The free event will offer a Halloween laser show, games, crafts, face painting, a bounce house and a costume contest (for kids up to 10 years old). Kids can dress as their favorite Aquarium creature for a chance to win a family four-pack to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific. Attendees may bring their own already carved and decorated jack-o’-lanterns to enter the pumpkin contest. The film Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein will be shown at 2pm, and, for older folks, the movie Young Frankenstein will be screened at 6pm. For more information, contact Schipske’s office at (562) 570-6932 or district5@longbeach.gov
Walk with the dead
Long Beach’s largest annual Halloween event, the Long Beach Zombie Walk Festival, will make its return to the streets of downtown Long Beach for a full day of music, film and ghoulish fun starting at 2pm. The event will feature more than a dozen rock bands, screenings of two classic horror films, a zombie wrestling match and a meet-and-greet with a collective of zombie-apocalypse authors. Tickets are $15 each. For more information, visit zombiewalklb.com .
Face your fears again…
Or just scream “lollipop!” The Youth Center dares you to come and face your very worst fears at its 4th annual Haunted House sponsored by Joe’s Premium Painting. Prepare to see your “Fears Come Alive” from 6pm to 9pm at The Youth Center, 10909 Oak St. in Los Alamitos. You can fully expect to feel your blood pressure rise in realistic, life-or-death situations while navigating two disturbingly haunted mazes and rooms featuring snakes, monsters, clowns, the morgue, a cemetery, a haunted hospital with a blood-thirsty doctor and more. This year’s Haunted House is so terrifying that the Youth Center developed a “code word” system. Simply scream “lollipop,” and the dreadful actors will become friendly. From that point on, there is nothing to fear because the volunteers will only wave or offer a high-five. Tickets are on sale for $5 for one maze or $6 for two. Thanks to Blockbuster, the first 50 people through the mazes each night receive a free movie rental. Items will be up for raffle, and everyone will have the chance to win a prize. Purchase tickets online at TheYouthCenter.org to avoid waiting in line for the Haunted House. For more information about this horrific event, contact Community Relations Director Lisa Lee at (562) 493-4043 or online at lisa@theyouthcenter.org .
Sunday, Oct. 27
Calling all calaveras
The Museum of Latin-American Art (MOLAA), 628 Alamitos Ave., will host a free Day of the Dead festival from noon to 4pm honoring José Guadalupe Posada, the “father of Mexican printmaking.” The event will include art workshops, live performances, gallery tours, food, face painting, unique craft vendors, an altar contest display, a community altar, and a display of José Guadalupe Posada’s prints. Festivities will begin with a procession by the tamborazo ensemble El Quelite and continue with Aztec dancers Los Danzantes del Sol, traditional Oaxacan dance and music with Ballet Folklorico la Antequera and Banda Filarmonica Maqueos, concluding with the Ska/Latin sounds of Roncovacoco. DÃa de Los Muertos attire is strongly encouraged. The Aquarium on Wheels hosted by the Aquarium of the Pacific will be at the event, and food and drink will be available for purchase. The festival takes place in the Robert Gumbiner Sculpture Garden and Balboa Events Center and is sponsored by Target. Free parking will be available in the MOLAA parking lot; additional parking will be at Franklin Middle School. Call (562) 437-1689 or visit molaa.org .
Harvesting some fun for the kiddies
Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens will present a Children’s Fall Harvest Festival entitled “Spirit of the Harvest: Growing Grounds— The Roots of Our Community” from noon to 4:30pm. Admission is free. Only a few generations ago, families farmed the grounds that have become our communities. Throughout the Rancho’s gardens and grounds, participants will find clues to the area’s historic past from dairy farming and sheep-herding of the late 1800s through the tenant farming days of 1900-1930. The event will include games, crafts, a sheep-shearing demonstration, displays of local produce and antique farming equipment, the annual Children’s Fall Harvest costume parade at 2pm and more. Foot-tapping music of the California Cowboy Band will enliven the Rancho while experts demonstrate trick roping and storytellers recite cowboy poetry and legends. The Rancho’s magnificent Shire horses Bristol, Valentina, and Preston the colt will be on hand as will the other livestock, including goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits and ducks. Pony rides will be available for a fee. Free parking will be available at CSULB Lot 11A at Palo Verde Avenue and Rendina Street with continuous handicap-accessible shuttle service to the Rancho.
Face your fears at last
Or just scream “lollipop!” The Youth Center dares you to come and face your very worst fears at its 4th annual Haunted House sponsored by Joe’s Premium Painting. Prepare to see your “Fears Come Alive” this October, on Friday the 25th, Saturday the 26th, and Sunday the 27th from 6pm to 9pm at The Youth Center, located at 10909 Oak St. in Los Alamitos. You can fully expect to feel your blood pressure rise in realistic, life-or-death situations while navigating two disturbingly haunted mazes and rooms featuring snakes, monsters, clowns, the morgue, a cemetery, a haunted hospital with a blood-thirsty doctor and more. This year’s Haunted House is so terrifying that the Youth Center developed a “code word” system. Simply scream “lollipop,” and the dreadful actors will become friendly. From that point on, there is nothing to fear because the volunteers will only wave or offer a high-five. Tickets are on sale for $5 for one maze or $6 for two. Thanks to Blockbuster, the first 50 people through the mazes each night receive a free movie rental. Items will be up for raffle, and everyone will have the chance to win a prize. Purchase tickets online at TheYouthCenter.org to avoid waiting in line for the Haunted House. For more information about this horrific event, contact Community Relations Director Lisa Lee at (562) 493-4043 or online at lisa@theyouthcenter.org .
A ton of candy?
Grace Brethren Church of Long Beach will host its 19th annual community carnival on Halloween night from 6pm to 9pm in the church’s back parking lot at Linden Avenue and 36th Street. The church expects to give away more than a ton of candy. The event will include carnival games, a large slide, a bungee run, an obstacle course, a skate park and a live deejay. For younger attendees, the church will offer free balloon animals, bounce houses, face painting and a pumpkin-patch area. Hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy and other treats will be available for purchase, along with chili and cornbread from Bake ‘n’ Broil and Mexican food from Baja Sonora.
thursday, oct. 31
Magician and candy and popcorn… oh, my!
Calvary Chapel Signal Hill will host its annual community outreach, the Let Him Shine Celebration, from 6pm to 10pm. This event will take place on the campus of Signal Hill Elementary School, 2285 Walnut Ave. The church is offering the event as a safe and fun environment for families. Free carnival games, jumpers, hot dogs, popcorn and cotton candy will be provided. There will also be lots of free candy distributed. In addition to these goodies, there will be a magician for children, a live drama presentation and live music. For more information, contact Assistant Pastor Amaury Rosario at (562) 804-5509.
