Oct. 31 is the traditional day for trick-or-treat but there’s no need to wait until then to celebrate Halloween.
Several museums, numerous churches and other organizations have scheduled Halloween or harvest celebrations this weekend. Many of them encourage costumes and plan to offer lots of candy, a fitting enticement at this time of the year.
The Mississippi Children’s Museum and the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science are partners for Park After Dark, a family-friendly event scheduled Oct. 25 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
The event will feature creepy-crawly arts and crafts, a hunt for tricks and treats and exploration of LeFleur’s Bluff playground after hours. Visitors can travel safely between museums via Spotter’s Adventure Trail and wrap up the evening with a costume parade/glow party and special entertainment at The Den.
Park After Dark tickets are $12 per person for both members and non-members; general admission tickets are not valid for Park After Dark, a special event. Tickets are available at the door. Drivers are encouraged to drop off passengers at the entrance of either museum and park in the northbound lane of Museum Boulevard. Shuttle vans and golf carts will be available to take drivers to their preferred museum destination. Overflow parking will not be available at Smith Wills Stadium.
St, Andrew’s Episcopal School in Ridgeland is offering “Spooktacular” on Oct. 25 and 26 from 5-9 p.m. Participants should wear a Halloween costume and join the St. Andrew’s science department at the McRae Science Center on the Ridgeland campus. Admission is $10 per child; adults and children under three will be admitted for free.
Teens are invited to the Mississippi Museum of Art in downtown Jackson to participate in the HallowTEEN event from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 25, which is free. Costumes are encouraged for the event, which is sponsored by the museum’s teen council. Activities will include making art, trivia, a “spooky” gallery talk, trick-or-treating and door prizes.
The Two Mississippi Museums will have trick-or-treat from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Oct. 26. Admission is free with a costume. Check out the display of creepy dolls from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Collection that is on exhibit through October; the display features six dolls from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century and provides an eerie glimpse into children’s playthings from the past.
The Fondren North Neighborhood Association has scheduled its second Fondren Fright on Oct. 26 on Brook Drive, Northbrook Drive and Gardner Street. The fun includes trick-or-treat from 5-7 p.m., a movie at 7 p.m. and food trucks from 5-8 p.m. Satellite parking will be
available at Smilow Prep Charter School on Northside Drive.
The Jackson Zoo’s annual Boo at the Zoo will be on Oct. 26 from 4-7 p.m. Children and adults can enjoy a fun-filled evening of trick-or-treating, children’s costume parade, DJ, food trucks, spooky carousel rides, haunted train rides and more at the zoo at 2918 W. Capitol St. Admission is $2 for ages two and up; the haunted train ride is $3 per person (cash payment only).
Northpark in Ridgeland will offer Mall-o-Ween on Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. in center court of the mall, featuring an afternoon of spooky play.
Treat Street, a family-friendly event, will be offered from 4-6 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the Township at Colony Park in Ridgeland.
The Great Pumpkin Hunt is planned at Renaissance at Colony Park in Ridgeland on Oct. 27 from 4-6 p.m. The event will include pumpkins galore, fairy tale photos, candy and more.
St, Luke’s Methodist Church at 621 Duling Ave. has scheduled a Fall Festival and Trunk-or-Treat from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 27 in the Fondren Building parking lot, which is next to the church, and the church’s front lawn. All ages are welcome.
Fall fun for the whole family is planned at Colonial Heights Baptist Church, 444 Northpark Drive in Ridgeland, on Oct. 27 from 4-7 p.m. A hayride adventure, games galore, costume parade and food trucks will be part of the event.
A hayride, a cake walk and a chili cook-off will be part of the Fall Fest from 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 27 at Highland Colony Baptist at 1200 Highland Colony Parkway in Ridgeland. The fun will include bounce houses, games and Treat Street, which will have a superhero theme and be filled with sweet surprises.
The Mississippi Chorus will offer “Another Hallowed Evening” on Oct. 29 at Ridgeland High School, 586 Sunnybrook Road. Trunk-or-treat is planned at 6 p.m. and the concert featuring spooky tunes will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for college students; students from kindergarten through senior high will be admitted for free. Adult tickets can be purchased in advance online at https://www.mschorus.org/events-1 and will also be available at the door.
Fall Jam is scheduled on Oct. 30 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Christ United Church at 6000 Old Canton Road in the parking lot. It’s a free event that will include jumpies, a petting zoo and trick-or-treat.
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church at 5400 Old Canton Road has scheduled BOO-charist on Oct. 30 at 5:30 p.m. followed by trunk-or-treat. The pumpkin sale outside the church will continue through Nov. 1.
Fondren Church at 3327 Old Canton Road has planned a Fall Fest with candy, costumes, games and fun on Oct. 30 at 5:30 p.m. Costumes are encouraged.
An evening of food, carnival games and inflatables is planned as part of the First Baptist Church Madison FallFest on Oct. 30 from 5:30-8 p.m. in the church parking lot. Family-friendly costumes are welcomed.
In the city of Jackson and the surrounding metro area, trick-or-treat will be observed on the actual day, Oct. 31. Motorists are urged to exercise caution throughout the evening as more pedestrians than usual may be out in neighborhoods.
