Residents of and visitors to the City of Action enjoyed some seasonal special events over the past couple of weeks, starting with the Haunted Hayride put on at Jacob Myers Park and then the Dia de los Muertos observance on Oct. 30.

For the seventh year in Riverbank, altars were decorated, dances performed and loved ones lost remembered and honored as part of the Dia de los Muertos celebration.

Coordinated through the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, there were multiple sites to visit, with the event running from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30.

The evening also featured live music and mariachi performances, a Catrin/Catrina contest, activities for kids, Ballet Folklorico dances and more.

Earlier in the month, it was again Parks and Rec that put on the Haunted Hayride, staged over two evenings, Oct. 23 and 24, at Jacob Myers Park.

Competition saw the Freddy Krueger site getting first place and $300, put together by Vicente Najera Sr. and his son, Vicente Jr., who portrayed the character called Springtrap and put together his own costume, which was a big hit with the guests.

Second place and $200 went to the RHS Drama scare site, led by John Thiel; with third place and $100 awarded to Arizona Rojas, better known on those two evenings as Chainsaw Massacre.

Organizers said they had to close the gates early both nights due to long lines, selling over 500 tickets each night. There were six scare sites along with floaters and volunteers throughout the grounds at Jacob Myers to add to the spooky ambiance. Central Valley Community Resources, CVCR, hosted a snack bar during the event as well.