Or, if you’re looking for safe and fun alternatives to the bewitching activities, be sure to check out Lifestyle on Monday, Oct. 25, for a special Halloween alternatives feature that will include important safety tips.

Halloween Funfest

Join Salisbury Parks and Recreation and Downtown Salisbury Inc., and treat your family to a fun-filled time in Downtown Salisbury. The third annual Halloween Funfest will be Saturday, Oct. 30, 5-7 p.m., in the First Union Bank parking lot.

Activities brewing include the popular costume contest (6:15); trick-or-treating with downtown merchants (5-5:30), moonwalk, hayrides, paint-a-pumpkin, carnival games and lots more. Game tickets will cost 10 cents.

An early bonus attraction will be Spooky Story Time at the Rowan Public Library, 4:15-4:45 p.m.

Come by and visit the Salisbury Fire Department Safety House or “go fishing for prizes” with the Salisbury Police Department.

You’ll also scare up lots of fun with “Bo” Weevil, Rowan Regional Medical Center Health Nut and McGruff, the Crime Dog.

It’s a treat for the entire family — food, fun and fellowship. For more information, contact Rodney Harrison at 638-5298 or Randy Hemann at 637-7814.

Trick or Train

SPENCER — Trick or Train returns to the N.C. Transportation Museum Oct. 29-31 for an extended weekend of spooky train rides, pumpkin painting and hayrides.

For the first time, Trick or Train, the museum’s Halloween train ride, will make scheduled runs during the evening. The train will run Friday, Oct. 29, from 5-9 p.m., in addition to its normal trips on Saturday, Oct. 30 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.), and Sunday, Oct. 31 (1-5 p.m.).

Trick or Train rides cost $3 per person. Children 12 and under who wear a Halloween costume can ride Trick or Train free with a paying adult. Trick or Train is suitable for all ages.

Also new this year at the museum’s annual Halloween celebration are hayrides around the museum site and pumpkin painting. Hayride tickets and pumpkin painting each cost $1 per person.

For more information about Trick or Train or other events at the N.C. Transportation Museum, call 636-2889 or (877)NCTM FUN. You can also check them out on the Internet at www.nctrans.org.

The museum is located at 411 S. Salisbury Ave. in Spencer. From Interstate 85, take exit 79 and follow the brown museum signs.

Brian Center

Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation Center is sponsoring a Halloween party for community, staff and residents on Saturday, Oct. 30, 1-3 p.m.

Refreshments, cotton candy and snow cones will be available.

The first 500 children will receive goody bags from residents, so come in your best costume for a good time.

Stallings Memorial

On Saturday, Oct. 30, 4-6 p.m., Stallings Memorial Baptist Church is sponsoring trick or treating in the church parking lot.

If you have questions or need more information, call Kim Sells at 636-4569.

Boogerwoods

Boogerwoods, in its 23rd year, will be open Oct. 28-31. It is located at Highway 152 and Faith Road.

Get there early, as last year’s events were sold out every night.

Check them out on their Web site at www.boogerwoods.com.

The Mad Miner

STANFIELD — Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site will hold its annual Halloween event, “The Bloody Reign of the Mad Miner” on Oct. 30-31, 7-11 p.m.

Last year, over 12,000 ventured into the cool, damp underground tunnels. Visitors can tour the “haunted” mine and witness bloody victims of the mad miner’s rampage, or the less daring can enjoy a hayride in the moonlight.

A $2 donation will be requested for each event.

Chaz the magician will also be on hand to perform; ghostly tales will be told around a campfire; and a rock-climbing wall will be on site, provided and staffed by the Charlotte Climbing Center.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Gold History Corporation.

Reed Gold Mine is located 12 miles south of Concord, 20 miles east of Charlotte and 18 miles west of Albemarle. From Charlotte, follow N.C. 24/27 east to Reed Mine Road.

Heart to Heart Singles

CONCORD — Heart to Heart Singles is sponsoring a Halloween Costume Dance for married couples and singles on Saturday, Oct. 30, 8 p.m.-12 a.m. at the DAV Building, 2400 Rockhill Church Road.

Only persons 21 and older will be admitted, with a cover charge of $7. BYOB, set ups free.

Music will be provided by Mobile Beat. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes and door prizes will be given.

For more information, call Jewel, 704-782-4852, Jimmy, 704-982-2442, or Ruth, 704-933-2053.

Fright Night

Fright Night at Kiwanis Camp on Bringle Ferry Road will be held Oct. 28, 7-10 p.m., and Oct. 29-30, 7-11 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Salisbury YMCA.

Enjoy a hayride, trail of terror and more. Not recommended for ages 8 and under.

The cost is $5. For more information call 636-0111.

Jack o’ lantern contest

Bring your jack o’ lantern to Bloomer’s Greenhouse, 3115 S. Main St., between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Oct. 30.

Judging will take place at 2 p.m.

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: best carved, best painted, spookiest, smallest and largest.