Halloween Weekends: Parties, Trick or Treat on TV and More

This is Halloween! 'Tis the season when happy haunts begin to materialize and grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize. Of course there's plenty to do in Salem, the Halloween Capital of the World, but there's plenty of local events happening, too.

Here's a roundup of local Halloween and autumnal events taking place in and around Reading and North Reading on Thursday, Oct. 25, Friday, Oct. 26, Saturday, Oct. 27 and Sunday, Oct. 28.

SALEM

Fangtasm: A True Blood Bash: This Halloween, Bon Temps is coming to Salem! Join Go Out Loud in dressing up as your favorite True Blood folklore character: vampires, werewolves, fairies, witches, shapeshifters, zombies, annoying white girl or obligatory shirtless male in celebration of Salem’s biggest gay Halloween experience since Bette Midler put a spell on us. Spun by DJ Mark Barry, this exclusive dance party will have limited admittance and feature specialty drinks, passed appetizers, munchies, sexy macabre decor, music and costume contests for great prizes to die for including $500 cash. Saturday, Oct. 27, 8 p.m. $55.

READING

Trick or Treat on TV: Head to RCTV's Halloween Party in costume and be Live on TV. Visit the Haunted Studio, play some games, enjoy snacks and more.Saturday, Oct. 27, 5-9 p.m. Free.

PEABODY

Halloween Jump: Join Pump It Up for their "Not So Scary Jump." Play in huge inflatables followed by pizza, beverage and a special goodie bag. Suggested ages 2-10.  Don't forget to bring your costume. Advance tickets available by phone.  Please no makeup, swords, or sharp objects. Friday, Oct. 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $12 per child and $6 per adult.

WOBURN

Halloween Fundraiser for Breast Cancer: It's the 11th annual Halloween Fundraiser to raise money for Breast Cancer at the Woburn Moose Lodge. This year's donations will go directly to Tanner Ta Ta's. There will be a DJ, food and prizes for best costumes. Saturday, Oct. 27, 7-11:30 p.m. $10 donation at the door.

WESTFORD

Greg Hill at Witches Woods: Greg Hill, host of WAAF’s Hill-Man Morning Show, will be at Witches Woods in the Nashoba Valley Ski Area. Join WAAF for Trick or Treat night and your chance to win basketball tickets and great sports memorabilia. Thursday, Oct. 25, 7-9 p.m. Free.

CONCORD

Halloween Fun at Barefoot Books: Get your money's worth from those Halloween costumes when your little ones come (dressed in their spooky best) to this fun story time with Halloween craft time. Craft best for ages 2 and up.Saturday, Oct. 27, 10:30 a.m. Free.

NATICK

Creepy Crawlies at Mass Audubon's Broadmoore Wildlife Sanctuary: How do you hiss without using your mouth? Breathe without lungs or gills? Move if you don't have legs? This program features some of the strange and creepy critters from our wild and wacky world of animals. You'll meet tarantulas, amphibians, snakes and even some cool cockroaches. Pre-registration required. Online registration available. Sunday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. Adults: $13 for non-members, $11 or members. Children: $8 for non-members, $6 for members.

WALTHAM

Poultry 'n Pumpkin Day: Celebrate the harvest season and our feathered friends at the Gore Place Society. Take a wagon ride to the farm, meet the chickens and enjoy fun activities on a fall afternoon. Live music. Refreshments for sale. Free parking. Sunday, Oct. 28, 1-4 p.m. $5.

MALDEN

7th Annual FOOGI 5K Haunt Jaunt: 5K Fun Run/Walk starting at 10 a.m. and ending at Oak Grove Community Building. 1-mile walk for kids. Wear your costumes and win the best costume award. Medals awarded to top three overall and top three finishers in each age category, male and female categories. Portion of proceeds to benefit the new METC (Malden Teen Enrichment Center). Sunday, Oct. 28, registration starts at 8:30 a.m. $20 in advance, $25 on race day.

BOSTON, NORTH END

The Slater Foundation Presents Halloween for Hope: Stir up some mischief and join the Ellie Fund in celebrating Halloween with a costume party at The Living Room. Enjoy two complimentary drink tickets for beer or wine, delicious appetizers, free airbrush tattoos, DJ and dancing, a costume contest and giveaways. Thanks to the generosity of The Living Room and The Slater Foundation, 100 percent of the event proceeds will benefit the Ellie Fund and help local families fight breast cancer. Friday, Oct. 26, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Tickets: $30 before Oct. 19, $40 thereafter, if available.

BOSTON, BACK BAY

Pru Boo Trick-or-Treat for Charity: Bring your children to trick-or-treat from store to store throughout the Prudential Center, and enjoy face painting, magic tricks, pumpkin decorating, a kids concert with Vannessa Trien and other spooky fun along the way. This year's non-profit partner this year is Room to Grow: Bring any new and gently used baby items appropriate for newborns to age three. For a $4 donation to Room to Grow, your child gets a trick-or-treat bag to use for collecting candy at participating stores. You can purchase a bag in advance at the Customer Service Desk and beat the crowd, or buy the day of the event starting at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $4.

BROOKLINE

The Which Who Wasn't: Wayne Martin Puppets presents a delightful tale about a little witch who can't do anything the least bit scary. Based on a story by author Jane Yolen and brought to life by a bewitching cast of hand and rod puppets our little witch dreads attending her first Halloween witches convention where she is expected to cast terrible spells. To the surprise of all, not only does she brew up a hilarious surprise but wins the blue ribbon in the process. This short piece is followed by a selection of Martin's award winning marionettes with Punky Punkin (The Happy "Juggling" Pumpkin) and a compliment of scarecrows, witches, ghosts and monsters all performing unique tricks for your treat in this hilarious Halloween theme variety revue. Friday, Oct. 26 at 10:30 a.m.; Saturday, Oct. 27 at 1 and 3 p.m.; Sunday at 1 and 3  p.m. $12 per person, $8 for members.