Halloween events around Santa Cruz County include trick-or-treating, parades, a haunted maze, a movie night and costume contests.
Here in Aptos, on Halloween, the Aptos Chamber of Commerce will hold a free celebration from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Aptos Village Green, with candy from local businesses, treats from CHP and Central Fire, and vendors.
In downtown Santa Cruz, businesses will hand out candy from 2 to 5 p.m.; a dog costume contest follows at Abbott Square from 5 to 6 p.m. The Santa Cruz Wharf’s free trick-or-treating runs from 3 to 6 p.m.
There’s a lot more fun planned before Halloween.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office will hold its free Trunk or Treat from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, with decorated vehicles, candy, games and food vendors. The event is planned at Sheriff’s headquarters, 5400 Soquel Ave. in Santa Cruz, and the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave. in Watsonville.
On Saturday, Oct. 24, Watsonville’s Downtown Candy Crawl runs from 2 to 6 p.m., with trick-or-treating at downtown businesses and a trunk-or-treat on Peck Street.
The Capitola Village Halloween Parade starts at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25. Lineup begins at 1:30 p.m. behind the Capitola Police Department, and trick-or-treating at participating village shops follows the parade.
On Friday, Oct. 30, Skypark in Scotts Valley will host a Halloween-themed food truck event starting at 4:30 p.m., with live music, costumes and a free outdoor showing of “Hocus Pocus” afterward.