By DENNIS WYATT
209 Living
Two longstanding Manteca Halloween traditions — Downtown Safe Halloween and the Boys & Girls Club carnival and haunted house — are Saturday, Oct. 22.
The Manteca Unified School District Interact Club with the support of the Manteca Rotary is hosting the 18th annual Safe Halloween in downtown Manteca from 10:30 a.m. until noon.
Young children 10 and under are encouraged to don their costumes and trick or treat at participating merchants. The Interacters will have free face painting with several games and booths in the Manteca Bedquarters parking lot at Yosemite and Main. For more information contact Interact Advisor Tevani Liotard at 858.0876.
The traditional Halloween carnival and haunted house is from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Boys & Girls Club in partnership with Manteca Parks & Recreation. It is designed for preschool through sixth graders. It will feature games for all ages, face painting, arts and crafts, costume contests, and treats. The costume contest takes place at 2:30 p.m. The cost is $5 at the door. Boys & Girls Club members with ID are $2. There is no charge for parents.
Manteca Rec is expanding its Halloween offerings by offering Lunch with Dracula and His Friends at the Manteca Boys & Girls Club, 545 W. Alameda St., on Saturday, Oct. 22, from noon to 1:30 p.m. A lunch of hot dogs and chips will feature plenty of opportunities to have photos taken with Count Dracula and his friends. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own cameras. Tickets are $4 each and are only on a presale basis. They can be purchased at the Parks & Rec office. If you combine with the admission to the carnival that follows, you can get a discounted ticket of $8 for both events if purchased in advance. Call 456.8600 for details
Also on Saturday, Oct.22, the Manteca Library presents Halloween craft time for families on at 2 p.m. at the library at 320 W. Center St. Attendees will make decorations such as tissue paper pumpkins and monster signs. It is designed for children of all ages. Materials will be provided. The free program is made possible through the generosity of the Friends of the Manteca Library.
FRIDAY, OCT. 28
MANTECA SENIOR CENTER HALLOWEEN DINNER & DANCE: The Manteca Senior Center is staging a Halloween Dinner & Dance on Friday, Oct. 28, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the center, 295 Cherry Lane. Tickets are $7 per person. You must be 40 or older. There will be costume contests (though not required to wear a costume, candy, games, dancing, and more. The menu consists of a two-piece chicken dinner, rice, beans, cheese enchilada, corn tortillas, and salsa along with dessert and beverages. Tickets are available at the senior center, 209.456.8650. The deadline to buy tickets is Oct. 25.
MONDAY, OCT. 31
ST. PAUL’S SAFE HALLOWEEN: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church is hosting is Safe Halloween from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31, in the fellowship hall, 910 E. North St., Manteca. For more information call 209.823.7154.
