Happy Halloween weekend, neighbors. For once the holiday gets a whole Saturday to itself, so there's no rushing home from work to hand out candy. Here's how to spread the spooky across three days.
📅 This weekend
Friday
SAMLARC Halloween Family Festival, RSM Central Park, 3:30–8 pm. Free. Inflatables, a petting zoo, pumpkin decorating, a climbing wall, face painting, trick-or-treating and a costume contest (family, kids and baby categories) from 3:30 to 6. Then at 6:30 it's The Nightmare Before Christmas on the amphitheater lawn, with popcorn and warm cider. Bring a blanket and low chairs.
Saturday (Halloween)
Mission Viejo Farmers Market, 9 am–1 pm, North Paseo at Los Osos (25282 Marguerite Pkwy). It's open on Halloween as usual, so grab your pumpkin-pie supplies.
Mall-O-Ween at The Shops at Mission Viejo, 1–5 pm, lower-level center court near CHAGEE. Costumes welcome, candy is free while it lasts, and no masks allowed. It's a good daytime option for little ones who'll be asleep before dark.
Sunday
Ladera Ranch Farmers Market, 9 am–1 pm, Daisy St & Avendale Blvd. Open to everyone, not just Ladera residents.
Clocks fall back at 2 am. Enjoy the extra hour.
Heads up: RSM's farmers market only runs on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays, so it's off this weekend. It's back Nov. 14.
🍴 Open & shut
Now open: EōS Fitness, 30501 Avenida de las Flores, RSM. This 28,000-square-foot gym in the Santa Margarita Marketplace opened Tuesday. It's open 24/7 and has a sauna and a recovery room.
Still coming: Sal's Pizzeria, the second Mission Viejo location, at 27680 Marguerite Pkwy. There's no opening date yet, and we'll tell you when there is.
💬 Around town: the after-dark Halloween list
Once the trick-or-treating is done, here are two local spots worth the drive:
Ladera's "Area 51" on Sutherland Drive. A neighbor has turned their yard into a full alien crash site. Look for the green glow any night from 6:30 to 9. It's free and it's a private home, so stay on the sidewalk and be a good guest.
Haunted Mansion Haunt, 28322 Millwood Rd, Trabuco Canyon. It's the 20th year for this home-built haunt, and these are the last three nights: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 7–9 pm. Friday and Halloween night have the full scare crew (best for teens and adults), Sunday is tamer for most ages, and there's candy at the exit on Halloween. Standby entry is free, but you have to reserve a spot even for that. Priority entry is a $10 donation.
💎 One good thing
The Mission Viejo Library (100 Civic Center). This fall it's showing abstract "pour" paintings by Dana Point artist Nevine Erian: ocean colors, no brushes, and it's up through Dec. 6. Pair it with next Friday's community quilt unveiling (Nov. 6, 6–7 pm, with light refreshments), where the quilt neighbors stitched for the country's 250th goes on display.
🗒️ Good to know
Tuesday is Election Day. Vote centers are open 7 am–8 pm. Find yours at ocvote.gov.
Also next week: Kerry & The Surftones play a free concert at MV's Murray Center Tues. Nov. 3, 4:30–6:30 (seats from 3:30). There's also a free Concert at the Courts Fri. Nov. 6, 6–8 at the Marguerite Tennis Pavilion, but you need to pre-register.
Your turn: Which house on your street wins Halloween this year? Reply with the street, and we'll put together a drive-by list for next October.
Know someone who'd like this? Forward it along. They can subscribe free at osoweekly.com.