East County News Service

October 17, 2023 (Santee) - Every ghoul is welcome at Santee Lakes’ first-ever Spooktacular and Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  This will be a ghoulish day of games, a giant Halloween maze, face painting, creepy crafts, photo opportunities, and much more.  

The festival turns Independence from a City of 10,000 people into 30,000

By: Jonathan Goetz

October 31, 2022 (Independence, Kansas) - Most Cities in Kansas have a large annual parade to draw visitors from throughout their region. Typical Octobers here in Southeast Kansas, the last week of the month is commemoration of Neewollah, or, Halloween, spelled backwards, in )sasnak ,ecnednepedni).

The festivities date back to 1919, and were only cancelled during 1941. As more information became available in late 2020 regarding COVID's less chance of spread in outdoor settings, the pandemic never put an end to Halloween in Kansas. 

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

By Christianne McCormick

October 2, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- Many family-friendly Halloween events are popping up throughout East County and will be available all throughout the month of October. 

Festivities include a spooky campover, costume contests for people and pets, a haunted train ride, pumpkin patches and corn mazes, a haunted amusement park, a fall celebration, safe trick-or-treating for children at a local shopping mall, and Haunt Fest, a family-friendly Halloween festival. 

Join East County Magazine at our Haunted Mt. Helix Manor for our annual Halloween party!

Open to all subscribers (subscribe free at the top right side of our homepage):

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26  

4 p.m.- 8 p.m.

4438 Hideaway Place, La Mesa, CA 91941

--Bring a devilishly delicious dish to share

--Costume contest and parade

--Prizes and surprises! (Prize donations welcome)

Thanks to our prize donors! City Tacos, La Loteria del Jamul, La Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Scare Trail at Marshal Scotty's, SoCal Axe Throwing, Pearson Brothers Winery, Reanimated Records, and more. Prizes include gift certificates to local restaurants and shops, wine lovers gifts, coffee lovers' basket, chocolate truffles, Spring Fling and Summer Bash Business Expo tickets, accessories, holiday party passes and more.

Cost $16 in advance, $20 at the door.  GET TICKETS: 

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 27, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - Halloween is a holiday all about spooky, frightful and scary things, but there are a few important things you can do as parents to help make sure your child has a safe trick-or-treating adventure.

October 21, 2016 (La Mesa) -- East County Magazine invites you to our Halloween Eve Masquerade Party! 

On Sunday, October 30, 4-8 p.m. our party at a private home in La Mesa will be the “happening haunt” complete with Halloween Eve feast,  costume contest, live music with the "Bad Randies" string band & Paul Nichols' variety music (Monster Mash and more!) local ghost stories, a trove of prizes, spooky surprises, & a frightfully good time!

This party is open to our weekly newsletter subscribers, our wildfire alert subscribers, and invited guests age 21 and up.  Subscriptions are free!  Click here to subscribe. 

Cost: $12 and bring a dish to share  ($10 for Editor’s Club members/sustaining donors)

October 14, 2014 (San Diego)--Ghouls, goblins and zombies, oh my! Halloween is coming and County Parks has something planned every weekend as the days count down to the big event. From a haunted trail to a pumpkin patch, Parks has you covered.

October 28, 2013 (San Diego) -- Photographer Debbie Ekhaml sent this haunting image -- along with a description--and a follow-up shot.

"The fog (and flash) made for a spooky Halloween photo of a coyote out in the SD Wildlife Refuge," she wrote. "The flash did not seem to bother her, as I took more after the initial one."

Click "read more" and scroll down to see a second image of the coyote in brighter lighting.

October 28, 2012 (San Diego)--On the weekend prior to Halloween, Deputy Sheriffs and Police Officers from local agencies participatingin the San Diego County Avoid 15 Task Force conducted DUI saturation patrols near San Diego State University and Qualcomm stadium. Halloween weekend parties and the SDSU Aztec football game traditionally brings to the area an increase in DUI drivers.

November 1, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- Kids and the young at heart had some Halloween fun last night at parties and trick-or-treat events throughout East County. Photos by Trever Richardson and Miriam Raftery.

Mall-wide trick- or-treating, “Scare Away Hunger” with San Diego Food Bank, and a dance performance of “Thriller” by St. Madeleine Sophie Center students

October 21, 2010 (Alpine) – Viejas Outlet Center is once again offering a safe alternative to traditional trick-or-treating.  Stores will welcome little ghosts, goblins and parents to participate in this free family event, which runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, October 31.