The approaching end of October can only mean one thing —
HALLOWEEN!

Throughout the Monadnock region, people will revel in frights, from haunted tours to spooky readings. The following is a list of selected best bets of upcoming events celebrating the holiday of tricks and treats.

Trail of Terror

At Adams Playground in Peterborough, beginning at the pool, is the Peterborough Recreation Department’s Trail of Terror.

Recommended for school-aged children and above, the objective is to scare the pants off participants. Small children have been known to emerge in tears.
The Trail of Terror will feature a hike through the woods with scenes of blood and gore. It will take place on Saturday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Adults are $5 with children under 10 costing $3.

For more information, call 924-8080.

Dark Tales

In the darkest corner of the Stephenson Memorial Library in Greenfield, children’s librarian Christine Tarrio and three other readers will read dark tales for ages 10 and up.

The tales are scary, with unexpected twists and dark, haunted feelings.

The event will take place on Monday at 7 p.m. and is presented in combination with the Greenfield Historical Society.

Tarrio will read the folk tales Clinkity-Clink and Cemetery Soup. Other readers will be Jane Winslow, Putnam Ercoline and Katherine Morrocco.

Haunted Inn

At the historic (and haunted) Fitzwilliam Inn, the ghosts and ghouls invite all who dare to a Halloween Party on Oct. 31.

The event will feature live music, dancing fiends and munchies.

Festivities will begin from 4 to 6 p.m. with a haunted house and games for children. Children come free to this.

From 8 p.m. into the night, there will be frightfully electric dancing for $10.
The Fitzwilliam Inn is located on Route 119. For more information, call 585-9000.

Haunted Hayride

With this year’s theme of “An Old Fashioned Haunting,” this year’s Haunted Hayride in Jaffrey will include a graveyard scene, a dungeon scene, witches, a mad scientist’s laboratory and a jungle.

The Hayride is sponsored by the Jaffrey Parks and Recreation Department and it will be located at Silver Ranch in Jaffrey, and will consist of a mile-long 15-minute hayride. The ride is suitable for all ages, but adult supervision is required.

In its 12th year, the Haunted Hayride will be Tuesday and Wednesday. Tickets are available for $3, beginning at 6 p.m. and the rides will begin at 6:30. Refreshments will be available.
For more information, call 532-7863.

Halloween Hurrah

At Camp Starfish in Rindge this Saturday, the camp will hold its annual family-friendly fall Halloween Hurrah.

Admission is $12 per vehicle, and includes trick-or-treating for children. Other activities include face painting, an art pavilion with crafts, pumpkin decorating, carnival games, candy apple making, a cookie and cupcake decorating contest and a costume parade.

Refreshments will be available for purchase. Activity and food tickets are $1 each.
All are welcome to this event. For more information, visit www.campstarfish.org/Halloween.html.

Celebrate Samhain

Or, perhaps Halloween is not your fancy. The Gaelic holiday, Samhain, pronounced sa-win, is a celebration of the final harvest and of ancestors past.

The celebration will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Peterborough on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Activities will include musical performances, educational workshops and intuitive readings.

The musicians will be The Gypsy Nomads. Christopher Penczak, the keynote speaker for the event, is a witch, teacher, writer and healing practitioner, whose presentation is titled “The Witche’s Shield: Protection Magick and Psychic Self-Defense.”

Admission is $4 or $2 and a non-perishable food item or an item of new winter clothing. For more information, visit www.celebratesamhain.com.