Halloween haunts, hotspots, howls

With Halloween only two days away, the city is gearing up its spooky spirit with fun events for everyone. With movies, potlucks, skate contests and haunted mansions, there will be something for everyone.

Movies

The Michael E. Rodgers Seniors’ Center is showing “Ghost Town,” a movie about a man who is brought back from the dead, but can still see ghosts.

The movie is part of the center’s afternoon at the movies series. The event is sponsored by the Huntington Beach Council on Aging. The showing is free and complimentary popcorn will be available.

The movie starts at 12:30 p.m. at 1706 Orange Ave.

Trick-or-treat

Kids can get in two nights of trick-or-treating this year by going a night early to Bella Terra.

The shops will giving out candy to kids dressed up in costumes from 4 to 7 p.m.

Bella Terra is located at Beach Boulevard and Edinger Avenue. For more information, call (714) 897-2533.

Downtown

Halloween is taking over Huntington Beach will a huge celebration downtown. The Downtown Business Improvement District is closing off part of the downtown for its Halloween Fest.

There will be games, activities, face-painting, a bounce house, a family-friendly haunted house and a mobile video game theater with the latest games on Xbox 360 and Wii. Halloween music will get people into the spirit while they check out the businesses’ window displays as they compete for “Best Decorated Window.”

The stores will be handing out free candy to children and offering special discounts, sales and restaurant specials for the adults.

The city’s Community Services Department will have a special booth for kids to make HorrEdible Hands and Ghost Tootsie Pops and decorate Spookie Cookies.

There will be a costume contest for kids and pets, who can show off their Halloween spirit in a parade led by the Monster of Ceremonies.

The event is free and lasts from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (714) 536-8300.

Bella Terra

Get creative for a Halloween costume contest at Bella Terra.

The contest is sponsored by the city’s Community Services Department for kids up to 14 years old. Prizes will be awarded in each age group, and the first 200 children will get goodie bags.

Registration and judging will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Century 20 Theaters. Final judging will begin at 2 p.m.

The event is free.

Potluck

Whip up a Halloween treat to share at the fourth annual Halloween Parade at the Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center.

The center will have a costume contest, parade, candy, prizes and a potluck in the Red Horse Barn.

The event is free and starts at 2 p.m. at 18381 Goldenwest St. Call (714) 848-6565 for more information.

Party

Ditch the kids and head over to Fred’s Mexican Cafe for its Halloween Dead Man’s Party.

Fred’s will be serving $2 Spooky Shots and $3 Witch’s Brew, and there will be a deejay and dancing. There will also be a costume contest with $500 in cash and prizes to give away.

All Huntington Beach residents get to bypass the line and head right in.

The party is free and begins at 8 p.m. at Fred’s Mexican Cafe at 300 Pacific Coast Hwy.