The first in a series of local events to observe Halloween is coming up tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Escalon Covenant Church on Escalon Avenue. As it has for the past several years, the church will host its annual ‘Trunk or Treat’ event to provide some Halloween trick or treating in a safe environment. Kids are encouraged to come in costume and enjoy the ‘trunk or treating’ which will include games, prizes, candy, food, music and fun. Hours for the event are 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. and there will also be a free hot dog dinner provided. Trinity Church members are helping out with the special event as well.

Local schools Van Allen and Collegeville Elementary are both planning festivals on Friday night, Oct. 28.

At Van Allen, the fun begins at 5 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m., with children invited to come in costume. For $10, children will receive a wristband that allows them to play all games and participate in a variety of activities. There will also be food available for purchase from vendors and at the Creepy Café. Activities will include games like pumpkin bowling, a haunted house, a photo shoot area, ring toss, face painting and more. There will be a pumpkin patch on site to purchase pumpkins to take home and decorate.

Collegeville’s Harvest Festival is also scheduled from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a wristband purchase allowing kids access to all the activities except the haunted house, which is offered at an additional slight fee. All teachers at the school are preparing games and activities for the kids and there is also the opportunity for parents to pay to play Bingo. A bounce house will be available, a disc jockey will provide the music, there will be food and drinks and a pumpkin patch.

“We will also be having a lot of raffle prizes and baskets,” said administrative assistant Maira Rodriguez. “Escalon has been a great help with donating. We are extremely grateful that we will be able to make this year’s Harvest Festival memorable for all the students.”

Donations have come in for the baskets from MarVal, Oak Valley Community Bank, Vineyard Pharmacy, D’Boni’s, Gnekow Winery, Escalon Feed Store, Napa Auto Parts, Donut Shack, Rosa’s Bakery, A.L. Powell, Lagorio Farms and Growers Choice, said Rodriguez.

Dent Elementary School will have a carnival specifically for first graders on Monday, Oct. 31 and a Harvest Program put on by kindergarten students for their parents and families at 9:15 a.m. Monday. All classes will have their harvest parties on Monday afternoon. Meanwhile, Dent is also planning for its annual Edible Expo, set for Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Escalon Community Center at 6 p.m., the largest fundraiser for the Dent Parent Teacher Organization featuring a variety of local food and beverages.

Farmington Elementary will have its traditional Halloween costume parade on Monday, Oct. 31 at 12:45 p.m., followed by classroom parties.

At the new Escalon Youth Center, teens are invited to attend a Harvest Party Bash on Saturday, Oct. 29 starting at 6 p.m., featuring games, snacks and a costume contest.