Check out Lubbock's fun fall, Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos events

Spooky season is picking up ahead of Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos, with numerous family friendly events already underway and coming this weekend.

From trick-or-treating events to wandering pumpkin patches and trails, check out this list of activities for kids and adults around the Hub City.

Lubbock pumpkin trail

Calling all pumpkins.

Lubbockites have until 4 p.m. Thursday to donate carved pumpkins as the City of Lubbock Parks and Recreation Department and Michael Postar’s Affordable Storage host the 15th Annual Pumpkin Trail, which runs from Thursday through Sunday at the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum. The goal this year is to collect 2,000 pumpkins. The more jack-o-lanterns received, the longer the trail will be. To make this happen, the City needs the citizens of Lubbock to donate their carved pumpkins to the Pumpkin Trail. In past years, there have been more than 1,800 pumpkins and more than 25,000 visitors at the trail, according to Avalanche-Journal archives.

Jack-o-lantern jaunt: Lubbockites invited to stroll through annual Pumpkin Trail

Carved pumpkin drop-off will continue from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Thursday outside the Lubbock Memorial Arboretum at 4111 University Avenue - on the east side of the parking lot. Look for the “DELIVER PUMPKINS HERE” signs. Groups bringing 10 or more pumpkins will have a sign posted on the trail with their name or logo on it. Parks and Recreation reminds donors that pumpkin carvings must be family friendly.

Cumberland church hosts pumpkin patch

The 21st Annual Pumpkin Patch at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 7702 Indiana Ave., will continue through Oct. 31, or until all of the pumpkins have found their home.

The pumpkins are grown on the Navajo Indian Reservation located in the Four Corners area of New Mexico. The monies raised are used for the ministries of the local church and in the education system of the Reservation. This is a major fundraiser for the Reservation and for the church, according to a news release from the church.

The church is receiving several semi-truck loads of pumpkins this year.

Not only will there be pumpkins for sale, there will also be Cumberland Presbyterian’s Ms. Virginia’s world-famous pumpkin bread, crocheted hats, crocheted pumpkins, and other craft items.

7702 Indiana Ave., Lubbock

• Monday through Friday: 3 to 7 p.m.

• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.,

• Sunday: 12:30 to 7 p.m.

Texas Tech provides safe Trick-or-Treat opportunities

Three opportunities for safe trick-or-treating are available at Texas Tech University this October.

Tech-or-Treat

Student Union & Activities will host Tech-or-Treat from 5:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, in the Student Union Building (SUB). Attendees are asked to park in lots R-3, R-11 or R-13. Overflow parking will be available in the parking garage at 18th Street and Flint Avenue. Please use this parking map for directions.

Tech-or-Treat is a Halloween carnival held in the SUB to provide a safe alternative to trick-or-treating. The event is staffed by Texas Tech student organizations, sororities, fraternities and campus departments. The event is open to the community, and families are invited to bring new or gently used children’s books to donate to The Parenting Cottage.

Some things to know:

• Parents should stay with their children at all times.

• Event staff can be identified by their volunteer badges.

• Maps will be available at the Information Desk, across from the Raider Depot Campus Store on the first floor.

• Students will have classes before and during the event and staff will be leaving campus at 5 p.m. when the event begins. Please be mindful of foot and vehicle traffic when driving and walking on campus.

• While costumes are encouraged, visitors over age 14 are asked to refrain from wearing masks or face paint. Costumes that include weapons or items that resemble weapons will not be allowed.

For more information, please visit the Tech-or-Treat website.

Safe Treat

The Residence Halls Association and Complex Councils invite the Lubbock community to their annual Safe Treat event Tuesday (Oct. 24) from 6-8 p.m. This year’s theme is “Monster Mash.” Each complex will be themed and decorated around a different Halloween movie storyline.

Activities will take place in the lobbies of Chitwood/Weymouth, Hulen/Clement, Wall/Gates, Talkington and Horn/Knapp. Guests can park in Z2, Z3, and Z4 parking lots along 18th Street from 5:30-8:30 p.m. A bus route will run along 18th Street between Horn/Knapp and Chitwood/Weymouth.

All are welcome, but the event is geared toward children ages 2-12.

Trick or Treat on Greek Street

Fraternity and Sorority Life will host its annual “Trick or Treat on Greek Street” community event Oct. 29 from 2-4 p.m. at Greek Circle (15th Street & Quaker Avenue). This event is open to the public and offers the Lubbock community a safe way to go trick-or-treating this Halloween. There will be over 40 stops to enjoy.

Parking for this event is available in the Commuter Satellite parking lot, near the John Walker Soccer Complex. Parking is not available at Greek Circle.

A fun Fall and Halloween themed event just for children 18 months to 5 years of age. Games with guaranteed prizes, science crafts and demonstrations, spooky critters, and the ever popular costume parade make this a can’t-miss fall event! Included with standard museum admission. Children 2 and under are FREE. Please wear spooky, not scary costumes!

Lubbock Science Spectrum hosting fall-themed evet

The Science Spectrum will host this fall-themed mini carnival from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Oct. 27.

Here are just some of the fun activities planned:

● Carnival Games with Guaranteed Prizes

● Silly Science Crafts

● Silly Science Live Demos

● Story Time

● A Mini Bounce House

● Spooky Critters

● A Costume Parade

● Snacks and Sweet Trick-or-Treats

Silly Science Carnival will be located in the…

Silly Science Carnival activities will be available with standard museum admission. Tickets to the Silly Science Carnival also include full museum admission. Children 2 & under are FREE. Visit sciencespectrum.org for more information on admission.

The Silly Science Carnival is only recommended for families with children 18 months to 5 years old. No scary costumes please!

Trunk or Treat 2023 at Redeemer Lutheran Church

Redeemer Lutheran Church in the Heart of Lubbock Neighborhood will host a free Trunk or Treat event for the public from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29.

Volunteers will decorate their vehicles in the church parking lot and pass out candy. There will be a bouncy house, games & prizes, snacks and refreshments (while supplies last), printouts of selected Bible verses and a prayer-request table.

Trunk or Treat provides a safe alternative for kids to collect candy and families to enjoy time together.

The church is located at 2221 Avenue W. Redeemer is a congregation of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. For more information about the church visit https://rlcms.org/.

Lubbock Christian University trunk-or-treat

Lubbock Christian University’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will host its annual Trunk-or-Treat for the Lubbock community on Sunday, Oct. 29. The event will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday in the Rip Griffin parking lot.

LCU athletes, clubs, and various campus organizations will have family-friendly decorated trunks, games to play, and of course lots of candy to hand out to those who attend.

Children and families are invited to dress up in family-friendly costumes and come enjoy both of this fun, safe, free event on the LCU campus.

· Trunk or Treat – Rip Griffin Center parking lot, 5502 26th St. (26th and Chicago)

Covenant partners with Spirit Halloween in fundraiser

For the 14th year, Covenant Children’s is partnering with Spirit Halloween in the Spirit of Children fundraiser where donations and proceeds from sales made with a specific coupon at Spirit Halloween stores goes directly to Covenant Children’s.

Funds raised from this year’s event will support the Covenant Children’s Arts in Medicine program including supporting our Artists in Residence, purchasing art supplies, and bringing art experiences and events to our patients and families.

“The amazing support from the Spirit of Children campaign gives us the resources to help hospitalized kids and their families thrive through play, art, music, and child-centered fun,” said Dr. Christine Neugebauer, Covenant Children’s manager of Integrative Care.

Covenant Children’s has been awarded more than $260,000 total from this partnership with Spirit Halloween. With the proceeds from past events, Covenant Children’s has been able to hire a part-time child life specialist for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, expand our artists in residence program, and create Lindsay’s Playroom.

Spirit Halloween is opening three stores in Lubbock this year, all participating in Spirit of Children.

· 5025 50th St.

· 6002 Slide Road

· 2721 50th St.

Pumpkin salt painting at Godeke Branch LibraryFrom 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, join the library as they use salt, glue, and paint to make fun pumpkin shapes at Godeke Branch Library, 5034 Frankford Ave. This is a family event, but adult help is recommended for smaller children. For more information, call 806-775-3362.

Día de los Muertos Corona workshop at Mahon LibraryLa Catrina, an iconic figure in Mexican folk art, has become a cultural symbol traditionally used during Day of the Dead (Día de Los Muertos) celebrations. Come honor the legend of La Catrina at Mahon Library, 1306 9th Street, by creating a Día de los Muertos Corona, otherwise known as flower crowns, with local artist, Leticia Barron. The event is from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Space is limited, call 806-775-2835, to reserve your spot. Registration begins October 1st. For Teens.

Dia de los Muertos workshop

Lubbock's Patterson Branch Library, 1836 Parkway Drive, will host a sugar skulls decorating workshop Nov. 2 to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. The event will run from 4 to 5 p.m. and is open to all ages. Attendees are invited to decorate sugar skulls and hear a brief overview of the history of Dia de los Muertos.

Haunted Lubbock: A History at Mahon LibraryDo you believe in ghost stories? In this lecture, storytellers will share true stories of paranormal sighting and hotspots of paranormal activity that have been reported throughout Lubbock from the past 100 years. Stories will include unsolved murders or paranormal sightings at spots like Lubbock Cemetery, Hell’s Gate, Pioneer Hotel, Cliffhouse Restaurant, and Lubbock High School. Due to the dark content, this lecture is intended for adults only from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at Mahon Library, 1306 9th St., and viewer discretion is advised. For more information, call 806-775-2835.

Science Spectrum spooky, not scary Halloween carnival

The Lubbock Science Spectrum's annual spooky, not scary, family Halloween carnival is back for another year of “spooky, not scary”, safe family fun. Science meets carnival games with guaranteed prizes, robotics from local high school students, creepy critters, hands-on science experiments, and Spooky Science Shows round out a frightfully fun night of spooky, not scary, entertainment! The Spooky Science Carnival is recommended for families with children up to age 12. This event is included with your museum admission. Please wear spooky, not scary costumes!

This “spooky, not scary event” is from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30 throughout the museum on South Loop 289. This event is perfect for those looking for a safe Halloween alternative and a fun, educational party all rolled into one.

This year’s Spooky Science Carnival will include:

• Free trick-or-treating in the Lobby

• Carnival Style Games with guaranteed prizes

• Creepy Critters live animal display

• Various Spooky Scientist Shows

• Family and Kids Costume Contests

• Hands-on Spooky Science Experiments

• Spooky Science Crafts

• Spooky Robotics displays by Monterey High School Engineering Students

• Visitors can tour the entire Science Spectrum Museum

Schedule for Spooky Science Carnival:

5 p.m. - Carnival and Games inside Museum begins

5:30 p.m. – Spooky Scientist Show

6:15 p.m. – Spooky Scientist Show (repeat)

7 p.m. – Family & Kids Costume Contests

7:45 p.m. – Spooky Scientist Show (repeat)

8:30 p.m. – Spooky Scientist Show (repeat)

9 p.m. – Carnival ends

Spooky Science Carnival activities will be available with standard museum admission. Tickets to the Spooky Science Carnival also include full museum admission. Children 2 & under are FREE. Visit sciencespectrum.org for more information on admission.

The Spooky Science Carnival is recommended for families with children up to age 12. No scary costumes, please.

At'l Do Farms Maze

For the second consecutive year, At'l Do Farms in Lubbock County has replaced its traditional fall corn maze with a sorghum maze due to ongoing drought conditions, which have loomed over the region for nearly two years.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Services, approximately 24% of corn in Texas is in poor or very poor condition, while approximately 33% of the state's sorghum is of the same quality.

The farm's owners have said they chose to stick with sorghum primarily because it is more water-efficient compared to corn, which requires a substantial amount of water. This year's maze opened on Sept. 16 and continue through Nov. 4 at their location at 6323 FM 1294.

Along with the maze and fairy tale trail, At'l Do Farms also features a cow train, food concessions, a hay ride, petting zoo and numerous photo opportunities among other attractions.

More information about the farm is available on their website, https://atldofarms.com/ or by calling them at 806.787.4241.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Celebrate Halloween, Dia De Los Muertos Lubbock pumpkin trails, events