It’s the spookiest fun season of the year, a time to carve pumpkins, load up on sweets, and wear wild and wacky costumes. Malibu has plenty of activities to entertain little witches and ghosts, so grab some treat bags and take your family to these haunted festivities for lots of treats and maybe a few tricks, and don’t forget your costumes.
By Andrea Park / Special to The Malibu Times
Halloween at the Malibu Country Mart
Sunday, Oct. 30, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The Malibu Country Mart promises to put the “boo” in Malibu this year with costume contests and trick-or-treating on Sunday. Many stores at the Mart will give away candy to trick or treaters from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.-orange balloons indicate participating stores. Don’t forget to come back to the courtyard at 3 p.m. for costume contests for children and pets. First and second prize winners of the children’s costume contest will receive $100 and $50 gift cards to Toy Crazy-it certainly beats a fun size Crunch bar. Meanwhile, the most creative furry friend will win pet treats.
Tiny Tots Halloween Carnival
Friday, Oct. 28, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Head over to Malibu Bluffs Park for an afternoon of carnival games, arts and crafts, a bounce house and a glow-in-the-dark house, food and trick or treating. Don’t miss the chance to see the city’s cutest costumes at the parade at 3:30 p.m. The Los Angeles Food Bank will be collecting donations of canned food at the event and a donation of three cans of food gets you a free ticket to the bounce house.
YMCA Pumpkin Patch
Monday to Friday, 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Searching for the Great Pumpkin? Look no further than the Palisades-Malibu YMCA’s pumpkin patch at the corner of Temescal Canyon and Sunset Boulevard. The pumpkin patch has been around for more than 25 years; keep up with Malibu tradition by spending some time among the tangled vines picking bright orange pumpkins. Take one home and carve a jack-o’-lantern before Halloween is over. Proceeds from pumpkin sales go to youth and family programs at the YMCA.
Fall Family Festival at Our Lady of Malibu School
Saturday, October 29, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This year, there’s something for everyone in the family at Our Lady of Malibu School’s Fall Family Festival. Get active on the rock-climbing wall, bounce house and mechanical bull-don’t forget to try your arm at the dunk tank. Those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground can enjoy food, face painting and trick or treating. Thrill-seeking Halloween enthusiasts of all ages should stop by the haunted house for a good scream.