BOO it's Halloween!

Oh poor neglected LongmontMom blog. Anyone know where I can find a few more hours in the day? :)

Anyway...

Halloween is Saturday! Looking for fun stuff to do in and around Longmont? Great! Here's what I know:

Longmont Halloween Parade - Line up at 9:30 at Roosevelt Park and then parade your adorable costumes down Main Street. Follow that up with Trick or Treating at the shops along Main and it's a perfect way to spend Halloween morning! Here's a link to the parade route in case you feel like watching instead of walking!

Dia de los Muertos - The Longmont Museum and Cultural Center hosts it's annual Day of the Dead Celebration on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. From their website: "Music, dancing, singing, sugar skull decorating, traditional food, community altars, paper flower making, Día de los Muertos tattoos, and more. Free Admission.

Courtyard Entertainment
11:30 am –12:30 pm......Kalpulli Mitotilitztli Aztec Dance Group
1 – 1:45 pm....................Canciones de Mi Tierra and Coro San Juan
2 – 2:45 pm....................Alternatives for Youth Folklorico Dancers"

Halloween Events at Twin Peaks Mall - We've Trick or Treated in the mall in the past, but that was back when there were stores there! Ok, there are still a few left but I'm not sure how well attended this one will be! There will be a kiddie carnival for kids under 12 in the North Court by Pretzelmaker from 4 to 6 pm including games, music and activities. Then there's mall wide Trick or Treating from 6 to 8 pm. Also a costume contest near Pretzelmaker at 7 pm (registration for this starts at 5, full face masks not permitted). For the bigger kids (over 10), there's also an "Edgar Allan Poe Haunted House" from 5 to 11 pm on both Friday and Saturday nights. It's located next to the movie theater!

Safe Halloween Night at the Longmont Recreation Center - Visit the Rec Center from 6 to 8:30 pm Saturday for carnival games and boat rides in the pool. This one is best for kids 10 and under.

And an outside of Longmont event? The Munchkin Masquerade, Trick or Treating down Pearl Street in Boulder, has been postponed to Sunday, November 1st, from 1 to 4 pm. More than 60 stores will have candy and activities! Get a map at the Daily Camera parking lot (10th and Pearl) before heading out.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Trunk or Treat in Erie

I know I usually concentrate on Longmont events but this one sounds like fun and isn't too far away! The Erie Community Center is hosting its 3rd annual Trunk or Treat and Spooky Fest event on Saturday, October 25th, from 4:30 to 6 pm! Here's the blurb from their website:

"Trunk or Treat and Spooky Fest!
You have heard of going door to door, why not consider going trunk to trunk? Vehicles decorated by volunteers and area businesses will line the parking lot of the Erie Community Center for this year's 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat and Spooky Fest. This spooktacular event should prove to be plenty of fun with and indoor haunted house, spooky games, treats, and of course trunk or treating. Prizes will be awareded for Best Trunk!
Trunks Wanted - We need volunteers and area businesses to decorate their vehicle trunks or tailgaites and provide candy or small treats to our trunk or treaters - if interested by call Katie at 303-926-2793 or email krummel@erieco.gov. For more information please click on the following link to print off a Trunk or Treat Flyer."

Longmont Ghost Tours

From the Longmont Downtown Development Authority's website:

"Historical Ghost Tours in Downtown Longmont A chance to meet up close and personal, notable and notorious Historical figures. Some gone, but not forgotten!!!! ----- Others forgotten, but not gone?????

Tours start at 6:30 PM. Tour 1 primarily covers the Eastside of Downtown Longmont and starts on Main Street. Tour 2 primarily covers the Westside of Downtown Longmont and starts on Coffman Street. The exact locations of the tours are given at the time of reservation.

Friday, October 10 - Tour 2
Friday, October 17 - Tour 1
Saturday, October 25 - Tour 1
Thursday, October 30 - Tour 1
Friday, October 31 - Tour 2

Sponsored by Spooks Inc. (501c3)
Spooks = Society for the Prevention of the Obliteration or Ostraczation of Kindered Spirits

Reservations Required - Space is limited - 303-775-7137 or 970-669-1249
Adults $12.50, Seniors (65 and over) and Students 16 and under $10.00. Under 5 FREE.

This is a (leisurely) walking tour, so participants should dress accordingly. Inclement weather? Call ahead to confirm the tour will take place."

YMCA Halloween Event

On Friday, October 31st, the YMCA will host their annual Tailgate "Trunk or Treat" event from 5:30 to 6:15 pm. Children and parents will gather in the YMCA parking lot at 5 pm. You'll park, open your trunk and pass out treats to children as they trick or treat from car to car. Don't forget to wear your costumes and be creative in decorating your trunk! Fun!

Anderson Farms opens tomorrow!

You know it's almost Halloween when fall festivals start at area farms!

Anderson Farms opens tomorrow, Saturday, September 20th. They have a bunch of great activities - wagon rides out to the pumpkin patch, corn maze, petting zoo, barrel train rides, hay bale maze and much more! Their hours vary depending on the day so be sure to check the calendar on their website! Ticket prices also vary so check out their online ticket ordering page. They even have an online coupon!

I'll be posting more about area pumpkin patches soon!

Halloween!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and it's just around the corner! Have you or your children already decided what they should wear this year? We've been talking about it but really need to get busy since we like to make costumes! Last year was so easy as there was only one thing our oldest asked to be over and over and over again but this year he's gone through 4 or 5 things in just the last week! :)

The City of Longmont sponsors three great Halloween events:

Halloween Costume Parade
Saturday, October 25th, 10 am
Line up in front of the St Vrain Memorial Building at 9:30.
This is probably my favorite event in Longmont (I know, I say that for a lot of things...). But what's cuter than a zillion kids dressed up in their favorite costumes all walking down the middle of Main Street? There are babies in strollers (some with creative parents who incorporate the into the costume!), kids in wagons, and toddlers on up to adults with adorable, creative, scary, and/or funny costumes! The parade route goes down Main Street to 3rd and then turns back up Main and breaks up as kids trick-or-treat at many of the businesses on Main. It's a really fun morning! For additional information contact 303-651-8404.

Pumpkin Dunk
Saturday, October 25th, 5-7 pm
Centennial Pool, 1201 Alpine
We've never been to this but it sounds so fun! All ages are welcome to swim and somehow retrieve candy in the pool. There will also be crafts and apple bobbing! Cost is $3 per person, or $10 per family. For additional information contact 303-651-8406.

Safe Halloween Night
Friday, October 31st, 6-8:30 pm
Longmont Recreation Center, 310 Quail Road
Free admission!
A fun-filled evening with carnival games, cake walk, petting zoo, glow in the dark boat rides in the pool, and much more! For additional information contact 303-774-4800.

Haunted Houses

It doesn't seem like there are any haunted houses in Longmont but The Yellow Scene has a list of some others around the area that might be worth the drive! Check out the list here: http://www.theyellowscene.com/oct07_archive/halloweenlistings.html. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Dunk

The City has added more info about the Pumpkin Dunk to its webpage! It says:

Pumpkin Dunk
1201 Alpine St
303-651-8406

Saturday, October 13
5:00-7:00pm

Ages 3-12 years
Fee: $3.00 per person
Fee: $10.00 per family

Get a head start on your Halloween with our non scary Halloween themed swim for all ages. We have dimmed the lights but just won't hand out the candy, you have to earn it!. We will have many activities such as ship wreck, where you can guild a raft and float to safety, bob for apples, and much more. Join us at Centennial Pool and be prepared to get wet at this Halloween celebrations. Costumes are welcome.

Sounds fun. Has anyone ever been to this before? Leave a comment and tell us about it!

Halloween fun

Fall is my favorite time of year - the leaves changing and falling, the crisp air, jeans and t-shirt weather :) Here are some fun family activities for you!

Saturday, October 20th from 5 to 7 pm - Pumpkin Dunk at Centennial Pool
$3 per person or $10 per family. No other details but it sounds interesting!

Saturday, October 27th at 10 am - Annual Halloween Costume Parade down Main Street
This free event is for children and parents. No motorized vehicles will be participating in this foot parade. Registration is not necessary. Line-up begins at 9:45am at 700 Longs Peak Avenue in front of the St. Vrain Memorial Building. Parade participants will line up behind the appropriate age division signs on the Longs Peak. The parade route will travel east on Longs Peak to Main Street and South on Main Street to the 300 block of Main and head back north to 6th Ave. Trick or Treat Street will take place on Main Street at participating merchants.
For more information, please call 303-651-8404. There's a bit more info here.

Tuesday, October 30th and Wednesday the 31st - special Halloween storytimes and Costume Parade at the Library. Listen to special Halloween stories and then trick or treat through the Civic Center! View the October calendar with times here.

Wednesday, October 31st from 5:30 to 8 pm - Safe Halloween Night at the Longmont Rec Center
Come enjoy a fun filled evening at the Recreation Center on Halloween night. Wear your costume and enjoy carnival games, cake walk, monster mash dance, inflatable bouncers, petting zoo and many more safe fun activities for all ages.

Pumpkin Patches!

What would Fall be without a trip to every pumpkin patch within 50 miles to take pictures of your little one trying to pick up pumpkins that weigh more than they do? Haha - maybe that's just our family! I think I have more pictures of my kids at pumpkin patches than any other location - maybe even including our home! :) Here are some great farms to choose from...

Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch - our favorite! They have delicious pumpkin bread, carnival rides on the weekends and perfect spots for taking pictures of your little pumpkins :)

Burch Maze - three tough mazes, petting zoo, etc.

Pumpkins n More Farms - I know, not in Longmont but worth the drive! Great maze, lots of pumpkins and activities

Anderson Farms - again, not in Longmont but worth the drive for the maze, wagon rides, farm animals and pumpkins galore!

Those are some of our local favorites. If you want more options around Colorado, check out this site for a great list!