List of 30-plus Halloween happenings, all levels of scariness: Fun for everyone

TRI-CITIES — Events this season are monstrously plentiful. I compiled an extensive list of Halloween-themed happenings in our readership area.

If you're wondering where your children can score free goodies and have a blast, I've got you covered. Businesses, churches, restaurants, amusement parks, nonprofit organizations and others love to create fun experiences for children, adults and families.

Youngsters and kids-at-heart adults get in the spirit and don costumes to brave spooky decorations, props and scary creatures for fun. They visit from trunk to trunk, biz to biz and/or home to home to collect candy, stickers, pencils, tattoos and other treasures.

Many trunk-or-treats are just one hairy arm of a beastly event. Some festivities include movies, carnival-type games, hayrides, haunted forests, bonfires, crafts, costume contests and pumpkin patches. The 30-plus Tri-Cities events listed below are trunk-or-treats unless otherwise indicated.

Halloween-themed happenings: Tri-Cities and beyond

Thursday, Oct. 26

5 - 8 p.m. Hopewell Harvest Market: Live music with Mark Calhoun, food, art and craft vendors, pumpkin painting, games, sidewalk crawl, dog costume contest, pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving contest and Ghost Busters of Virginia Ecto vehicle. Visit Hopewell Farmers Market on Facebook for more information.

Thursday, Oct. 26 and Friday, Oct. 27

7 - 8:30 p.m. — "Things That Go Bump in the Night" Haunted Halloween Tour in Henricus Historical Park in Chester. This event is not appropriate for children under age 9. Take a guided tour through Henricus in the dark as interpreters dramatically demonstrate and perform old English folklore stories of witches, ghosts, goblins and shucks. Purchase $12 tickets at henricus.org.

Thursday, Oct. 26 - Sunday, Oct. 29 and Tuesday, Oct. 31

6 - 11 p.m. — Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg. Visit buschgardens.com for more information and tickets.

7 - 11 p.m. — Creepy Hallow Scream Park in Richmond with live actors, monsters, incredible animatronics, amazing illusions and acres of screams. This event is not appropriate for small children or those faint at heart. Visit richmondscreams.com to purchase tickets to weave your way through Scream Forest, Phobia X, the Sanitarium and Axl's Dark Carnival. The on-site ticket booth accepts cash only.

Friday, Oct. 27

5 - 7 p.m. — Virginia Museum of History & Culture [VMHC] in Richmond is a free event. Visit virginiahistory.org to join VMHC and 20-plus organizations for some historic Halloween fun. Kids will enjoy crafts, games, free museum admission and treats.

5:30 - 8:30 p.m. — Squirrel-O-Ween hosted by the Flying Squirrels at The Diamond in Richmond. The free event includes music, treats, kids activities, costume contests and more. Visit Richmond Flying Squirrels on Facebook for more details.

6 and 7 p.m. — Twilight Ghost Tour at Historic Berkeley Plantation in Charles City: Listen to tales of Berkeley's paranormal activities during a guided tour through the 1726 mansion. Ticket holders also go on a lantern-led walk through the gardens, grounds, cemetery and corn maze. Visit berkeleyplantation.com to purchase tickets. Each ticket is $24.95.

7 p.m. — Cauldrons and Curses: A Halloween Movie Extravaganza with a costume contest at Perkinson Center for the Arts and Education in Chester. Indoor Trick or Treating with ticket purchase after the screening of PG-rated "Hocus Pocus." Visit perkinsoncenter.org to purchase tickets [Child $5, Adult $10].

8 p.m. Haunted Henricus: Halloween Paranormal Investigation in Chester. Fundraiser proceeds benefit Henricus Historical Park. Visit Transcend Paranormal on Facebook for more info and a link to purchase $20 tickets.

Friday, Oct. 27 - Sunday, Oct. 29

6 p.m. - 12 a.m. — Halloween Haunt and The Great Pumpkin Fest at Kings Dominion in Doswell. Visit kingsdominion.com for more information and tickets.

Friday, Oct. 27 - 28 and Friday, Nov. 4 - 5

7 - 11 p.m. — Haunted Hayride with live actors and high thrill at Shoofly Farm in Chester. Admission is $20 per person. Fundraiser proceeds go to the non-profit Ranshaw Ranch. Visit shooflyfarmvirginia.com for more info.

Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28

7 p.m. - 10 p.m. — Scream Time Haunted Forest at Tree Time Adventures in Prince George. Admission is $25. Visit treetimeadventures.com for more details.

Saturday, Oct. 28

9 a.m.- noon — Tractor Treat presented by River Street Market, Petersburg

10 - 11:30 a.m. — Witching Hour Jr. at Henricus Historical Park in Chester. Interact with Colonial interpreters as you trick-or-treat with your bucket or bag through the Park's recreated historic site, listen to a spook-tacular read-aloud story and decorate a mini-pumpkin. The festivities will wrap-up with a children’s costume parade complete with drums and flags. [ages 4 - 10, admission fees vary, registration required, visit henricus.org]

10 a.m. - 1 p.m. — Monster Trunk-or-Treat at Keystone Truck and Tractor Museum in Colonial Heights. There will be a costume contest at noon. Visit keystonetractorworks.com for more information.

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. — Shoofly Spookfest [geared towards young children] at Shoofly Farm in Chester. Ten dollar admission at the gate includes entry to the petting pasture and corn pits, trick-or-treating at independent vendors, a wagon train for riders 50 pounds or less in the Farm's pond pasture as well as fishing [catch and release only, must bring poles and bait] and a hayride through the Halloween Forest to see Ghost Riders. Children age two and under get free admission. Fundraiser proceeds go to the non-profit Ranshaw Ranch. Visit shooflyfarmvirginia.com for more info.

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. — Fall-oween Festival hosted by Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks Department at Fort Clifton offers free admission, arts and craft vendors, farmer's market vendors, moon bounces, pumpkin carving, costume contests, scarecrow stuffing, family fun and yard games. Visit colonialheightsva.gov for more information.

11 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Visit The 3RD Annual Chester Small Business Trunk-or-Treat event on Facebook for a list of 30-plus participating businesses. Some businesses may begin at noon.

Noon - 7 p.m. — Halloween on the Farm at The Red Barn Farm in Dinwiddie. Activities include live entertainment, 17-passenger train, 20-foot rock climbing wall/slide, radar baseball pitch contest, costume contests [all ages], prizes, candy, hayrides, raffles, a silent auction to benefit Toys for Tots and a pie eating contest at 3:00 [sign up at admissions]. Food trucks and vendors will have a variety of food items to purchase. Admission is $13 which includes unlimited games and rides. Donate a new, unwrapped Christmas toy for Toys for Tots to receive a free cup of animal food to feed the animals. Visit theredbarnfarmva.com for more information.

1 - 7 p.m. — Harvest Festival at Riverside Vines in Sutherland. Enjoy live music, food, wine and specialty fall drinks, hayrides, crafts, Halloween costume competition and more. Each ticket purchased at eventbrite.com [Wine Club members $15, public $20] includes a complimentary specialty fall drink and hayride. Kids are welcome to attend for free.

1:30 - 4 p.m. — St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Petersburg [free event, register at eventbrite.com]

2 - 4 p.m. — Old Towne Trick-or-Treat, Petersburg. Visit Old Towne Trick or Treat event on Facebook for a list of participants.

4 - 7 p.m. — Petersburg Sports Complex hosted by Petersburg's Office of Recreation and Special Events in partnership with the Petersburg Family YMCA. Enjoy the pumpkin patch, hayrides, a game truck and popcorn.

5 - 7 p.m. — Daffodil Boutique, Colonial Heights

5 - 8 p.m. — Crystal Lake Park, Hopewell hosted by Exotic Pressure Dance Company

5 - 8 p.m. — Pumpkin Festival [event targeted for kids up to age 13] presented by Prince George Ruritan Club. A free pumpkin and hot dog will be given to the first 500 kids. Activities include bouncy houses and hay rides. Visit PG Ruritan Club on Facebook for more info.

6 p.m. Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Matoaca. There will be music, games and candy for attendees.

6 - 7:20 p.m. —  All Hallows Eve at Blandford Church Cemetery: Tour of historic figures of Petersburg [ages 11 and above, not suitable for wheelchairs/walkers, take flashlight] presented by Petersburg's Museums Shuttle leaves every 20 minutes from Trapezium Brewing Co. Purchase $15 tickets at eventbrite.com.

6 - 8 p.m. — Hopewell Methodist Church, Chesterfield. There will be games, a cake walk, crafts, face painting and more at the free event.

7 p.m. Halloween costume contest at The Taphouse at River's Bend in Chester. Enjoy karaoke and Halloween-themed drinks and food. Costume Prizes include $250 gift card for first place, $100 for second and $50 for third.

Sunday, Oct. 29

4 - 6 p.m. — Bridgefest fall festival presented by Ironbridge Church in Chester. Activities include a Trunk-or-Treat, S'mores Galore, bounce houses, face painting and a pumpkin patch.

Halloween — Tuesday, Oct. 31

5:30 - 8:30 p.m. — The Heights Baptist Church, Colonial Heights. Event includes: s'mores by campfire, candy galore at trunk or treat stations and food.

5:30 - 8:30 p.m. — Hopewell City Hall, Hopewell. Event includes: bouncy houses, live music, free hot dogs, Pops Kettle Treats food truck, mascot characters, outdoor games, a photo booth and candy.

6:30 - 9:30 p.m. — Fall Festival, North Dinwiddie Church. At the free event, attendees will receive candy, and participate in the following activities: carnival games in the gym as well as under the tent outside, inflatables, hayrides, food, cake walks, photo booths and more.

6 - 8 p.m. — VFW Post 637, Hopewell

6 - 9 p.m. — Halloween Movie Night hosted by Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks Department in the Community Room at Colonial Heights Community Center. All ages welcome. Munch on candy while you watch family-friendly, non-scary Disney movies [registration required, visit colonialheightsva.gov].

9 p.m. - 2 a.m. — Spooktacular Halloween Party at Maria’s After Hour in Petersburg. Enjoy a night of frightful fun with food and drink specials, a live DJ, costume contest and cash prizes. Visit Maria's Old Town 21 Ristorante Italiano on Facebook for more information.

Read this story online at progress-index.com for hyperlinks. Have fun and be safe.

Trick or treat at River Street Market Petersburg pumpkin thief tale: Tractor Treat, free candy, activities, produce for kids

Sunset Cove Country Club hosts event Hopewell / Prince George Chamber: Riley Ingram Sr. receives Lifetime Achievement Award

— Kristi K. Higgins aka The Social Butterfly, an award-winning columnist, is the trending topics and food Q&A reporter at The Progress-Index voted the 2022 Tri-Cities Best of the Best Social Media Personality. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Contact Kristi (she, her) at khiggins@progress-index.com, follow @KHiggins_PI on Twitter @socialbutterflykristi on Instagram.

Your support is vital to local journalism. Please subscribe.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Halloween events and activities near you: 30-plus for family fun