A holiday full of fun, candy and costumes is fast approaching with many Halloween themed events beginning to unfold this weekend.

There will be a pumpkin carving and scarecrow building contest at 11 a.m. today at the James City Ball Field pavilion. The event is being hosted by the Highland Township Recreation Association. One pumpkin per child and hay will be provided, while supplies last.

The Coudersport Rotary Club Annual Halloween Parade will be today with lineup starting at 2:15 p.m. on 3rd Street across from the gazebo with the parade starting at 3 p.m. There will be free ice cream and candy bars and prizes awarded for best singles, best doubles, funniest, scariest and family costumes.

Also today the Emporium Volunteer Fire Department will hold a Trunk or Treat event from 2:30 to 5 p.m. and Ridgway will host a trick-or-treating event from 5 to 7 p.m. by porch light invitation only.

The Elk Country Visitors Center will host a Halloween Activity Day from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday with a haunted trail, crafts and activities in the ECCO Building. The kids’ costume parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be followed by s’mores.

To begin the week of Halloween the Mount Jewett Halloween parade will be held at 5 p.m. on Monday, followed by costume contest at the Mount Jewett Fire Hall. Trick-or-treating will also be held Monday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Mount Jewett.

Now for Halloween night itself, the 12th annual Trunk or Treat event, organized by Grace Lutheran Church and Open Arms Church of Bradford, will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Grace Lutheran Church Community Life Center on Mechanic Street.

This year’s theme is movies, which can include everything from films from the 1960s to more recent ones, said Open Arms connections coordinator Alex Davis.

“We are excited to see the vehicles –– decked out in the movies theme –– parked in the lot of the Grace Lutheran Church with the trunks open, so children can grab loads of candy,” he said.

Trunks will be judged on how they show the theme. Prizes will be awarded.

“Inside the Community Life Center children and their families will find free hot dogs and water along with free games and face painting and of course more candy. There will also be a free Family Fun Gift Basket raffle,” said Selene Machuga, Grace’s Community Life Center coordinator.

Debuting this year will be local band, Chamber.

Trunk or Treat draws an estimated 4,000-plus children and their families, organizers said.

Donations of candy or cash may be dropped off at either church.

For more information, contact Machuga at (814) 362-1236 or Davis at Open Arms at (814) 368-8846.

At Bradford Manor at 50 Lang Maid Lane, administrators said the nursing home is open to young trick-or-treaters and their parents to visit residents for candy from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Also the Bradford Township Volunteer Fire Department will be having trick-or-treating on Wednesday at the West Branch, Interstate and Custer City Station houses.

Wednesday Trick-or-Treat times of the Area

Bradford City – 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Foster Township  – 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Bradford Township – 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Lewis Run – 6 to 7 p.m. with halloween party to follow at the Lewis Run Fire Hall

Lafayette Township – 6 to 8 p.m.

Otto Township – 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Eldred – 5:30 to 7 p.m

Hilltop and Cyclone – 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Smethport borough – 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Clermont – 6 to 7 p.m.

Norwich Township – 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Port Allegany – 6 to 8 p.m.

Kane – 6 to 8 p.m.

Wetmore Township – 6 to 8 p.m.

Mount Jewett – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Hamlin Township – 6 to 8 p.m.

Hamilton Township (Ludlow) – 5 to 6:30 p.m. with costume contest at 7 p.m. at Ludlow Volunteer Fire Department

———

St. Marys – 6 to 8 p.m.

Highland Township – 6 to 8 p.m.

———

Roulette – parade line up at 4:15 and trick or treating from 6 – 8 p.m.

Austin – 6 to 8 p.m.

Coudersport – 6 to 8 p.m.

Galeton – 6 to 8 p.m.

Shinglehouse – 6 to 8 p.m.

Ulysses – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

———

Emporium – 6 to 8 p.m.

The Port Allegany Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 3 in the Port Allegany Town Square. The event is being hosted by Open Arms Church of Port Allegany and there will be free games, crafts, bobbing for apples, hayrides and vendors.