This Halloween season, Hollister will play host to plenty of fun
and spooky activities. Whether you’re looking to entertain a
2-year-old or want some wild Halloween entertainment for adults,
you can find what you’re looking for in the local area.
HOLLISTER
This Halloween season, Hollister will play host to plenty of fun and spooky activities. Whether you’re looking to entertain a 2-year-old or want some wild Halloween entertainment for adults, you can find what you’re looking for in the local area.
Coming up next weekend, families might want to head over to Sacred Heart’s annual Fun Night on Oct. 25. The celebration starts at 5 p.m. when children of all ages can show off their costumes in a Halloween parade. From there, everyone will go inside where there will be tickets sold for fun games at various booths, a cake walk, bingo and a haunted house.
“It’s a lot of fun and will be a safe, fun, family affair,” says Terri Picha, the registrar for Sacred Heart.
If cake walks aren’t your style, how about joining the Top Hatters on Oct. 25 for the club’s 12th annual Night Pack Run. The event features a poker tournament with prizes for low and high hands, a costume contest, a mystery stop, a live band at the last stop and “More fun than you can stand,” according to the Top Hatters’ Web site. Meet at the Whiskey Creek Saloon from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and bring $10 to sign up.
Also on Oct. 25, the local YMCA will hold its popular “No Tricks Just Treats” event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We do a healthy theme,” says Nicole Hartshorn, YMCA program director. “Local dentists donate toothbrushes, and the police and sheriffs donate items for safe trick or treating.”
Hartshorn says there will be a costume contest with “Downtown Dollars” as prizes. Other activities include miniature golf, a pumpkin walk, pumpkin bowling, arts and crafts, and many other healthy and entertaining activities.
“This is a safe and fun event that gets a lot of people to come downtown,” says the program director. “Registration starts at 11, and we hope to see lots of people there.”
Finding the right pumpkin
Those that want to find the perfect pumpkin can head up to Casa de Fruta Pumpkin Junction for the entire month. They have a huge pumpkin patch with creepy characters hiding amongst the pumpkins. The train, carousel and all the shops will be open as well.
Of course, the No. 1 Halloween destination in San Benito County could be Swank Farms. There are endless pumpkins and dozens of varieties, but that is just the start.
From 6 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturdays, those wishing to be scared half to death can walk through the returning Hanover Mystery Ranch where strange and terrifying sights and people will be found. Those wishing to be scared entirely to death can see the new Sinisterium put on by professional frighteners, ScreamWorks. According to the Swank Farms Web site, it is a place where, “All of your worst nightmares will come to life.”
There are also vast mazes of intricate design that will keep you wandering aimlessly for a long time before you find your way out. At night during the weekends, you can also walk through the “Nighttime Maniac Maze” where you can expect some strange folks to pop out at you.
And according to Bonnie Swank, there is plenty at Swank Farms that won’t scare children.
“Oh, we have something for everyone,” says Swank,” “The kiddy Corral has the lil’ squirt maze that tells the story of Spookley the Pumpkin, there is the chalkboard house, the corn grinder, goats, chickens, and other animal.”
Swank says there is also a cow train, a giant jumping pillow, and the non-scary version of the maniac maze during the day.
“There are 27 secret spots to find in the maze to solve a mystery,” said the farm owner, “Everyone loves it.”
On Halloween night itself, adults can head over to Johnny’s Bar and Grill for some libation, costumes and karaoke.
“We’ll have prizes for best costume and best costume and karaoke combination,” says Sylvia Combie, Johnny’s daytime manager. “It’s always a lot of fun, so folks should stop by starting at 8:30.”
