Looking to get into the Halloween spirit? Here’s what’s going on in the Merced area
From monster runs to pumpkin patches and movie screenings, area residents can find ways to celebrate the spooky season as Halloween fast approaches.
Here are some of the events scheduled to take place in and around the Merced area leading up to the Halloween holiday.
Atwater’s Hunter Farms Pumpkin Patch located at 2985 N. Southern Pacific Ave, is open and celebrating Halloween activities through Oct. 31. At the farm, visitors can purchase pumpkins, gourds or chrysanthemums. Some of the farm’s rides and attractions including a Corn Maze, Hay Ride, Barnyard Bounce, The Corn Chute, Billykens’ Blasters, Time Travel Tractor, Zip-Bee and a Pig Derby. Admission price varies and can be purchased on location. Additional information can be found at the Hunter Farms website.
The Merced Police Department’s fourth annual Cops For Critters car show and trick or treat will take place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 outside the Merced Police Department at 611 West 22nd Street.
Registration fee for the car show is $30 and can be paid upon entrance. The event is free and open to the community. According to Merced Police Department Community Liaison Rosa Alcaraz, attendees are encouraged to dress in Halloween costumes and candy will be handed out. The event will feature local vendors and there will even be awards given out regarding costumes and vehicles. All proceeds benefit Applegate Park and the Applegate Park Zoo.
The Mainzer located at 655 W. Main Street in Merced, will be screening Halloween themed movies as well as hosting a party leading up to the spooky holiday.
Mainzer’s Halloween Party with DJ Anthony S. and DJ Beto, will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 and is open to all ages. The event will feature a costume contest with prizes awarded to the most creative outfits. The event will be held in the main stage area and entry is free. Reservations can be made through Open Table.
The Mainzer will hold a screening of the movie Hocus Pocus in the location’s upstairs cinema on Tuesday, Oct. 29. The screening is open to all ages and general admission tickets are $7. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the screening at 6 p.m.
A screening of the 1978 movie “Halloween” will be held at the Mainzer on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. for the R-rated film, with the screening beginning at 6 p.m. General admission tickets are $7. Attendees under the age of 18 will be allowed with a parent or guardian. Additional information can be found on the Mainzer website.
For the over 21-year-old crowd looking to get into the Halloween spirit, the Downtown Merced Halloween Creepy Crawl is scheduled for Saturday Oct. 26. The crawl will feature a costume contest with a $200 cash prize going to the winner with the creepiest costume. Participating venues include The Mainzer, O’Ryleighs Tavern, Joystiq, Tioga Brewery and an after party at the High Dive Bar and Lounge. Information and tickets can be found at Eventbrite and the mercedeventcrawls Instagram page.
From Oct. 25-27 and Oct. 29-30, Merced College will host its production of ‘”he Temple of Gloom” at the Merced College Theater located at 3600 M Street in Merced. According to the college, the narrative centers around sibling archaeologists and their excavation of the temple of the sun set in the late 1960s. The immersive haunted house experience will take participants through a maze of hallways and rooms featuring an ancient crypt, bugs and a human sacrifice.
The production includes students and alumni with doors opening at 6 p.m. each night and shows running until about 9:30 p.m.. According to the event website, general admission tickets are $10. Additional information can be found on the Merced College website.
A 1K Zombie Zoom and 5K Monster Dash is scheduled to be held at Rahilly Park, 3400 Parsons Ave., Merced on Saturday, Oct. 26. According to the event information page on the website runsignup.com, The 1K Zombie Zoom kids race starts at 9 a.m. allowing children to showcase their most creative Halloween costume. The 5K Monster Dash starts at 9:30 a.m. and is an untimed event open to all ages and fitness levels. Those wanting to attend can sign up through the events runsignup.com webpage and proceeds will go toward supporting Merced resident Lindsey Diele and her challenge of running in the Tahoe 200 endurance run.