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Posted Oct 28, 2009; 3:57 AM

Our View: Enjoy local events this Halloween

Halloween safety

There are plenty of ways to get scared and spooked from now until Halloween.

You can find family friendly events to downright terrifying ones all within the Stevens Point area.

Halloween is this Saturday, and it's not just for kids anymore.

According to the National Retail Federation, 73 percent of adults plan to take part in a Halloween activity this year. That's up from 65 percent in 1998.

That proves you don't have to be a kid to enjoy Halloween.

But if you do have kids, there are less scary events you can take them too.

There's the Halloween Hoedown at the Central Wisconsin Children's Museum in CenterPoint MarketPlace.

It begins at 5 p.m. Friday and costs $5.Call 715-344-2003 for details.

On Saturday, little ones will also get a less scary version of The Haunted Hall sponsored by the Rosholt High School Athletic Booster Club at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the Rosholt Fair Park. There is a $6 fee for 12 and older and a $4 fee for children 11 and younger.

The Bill Cook Chapter of the Izaak Walter League is sponsoring Halloween Happenings at 6 p.m., on the clubhouse grounds, 5297 Highway 66. Call 715-341-3781 for details.

Those looking to get scared to tears also have plenty of options, here's a sampling of area haunted houses:

The Haunted Mill, Rising Star Mill, 3190 Highway Q, Nelsonville. 6:30-9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday. A less scary showing will be 5:30-6:30 p.m. There is a fee. Call 715-342-2980, ext. 308 or 715-341-4386.

Haunted House and Slightly Haunted House, CenterPoint MarketPlace, 6-9 p.m., Wednesday-Friday and 5-8 p.m., Saturday. Tame version will be from noon-4 p.m. Saturday. The $5 scary and $2.50 slightly scary admission fees go toward Stevens Point Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.

For details on these and more events, visit our Web site www.stevenspointjournal.com and click on "calendar of events."

No matter if you are a ghoul or a goblin on Halloween, you still must remeber to be safe when trick-or-treating Saturday.

Here are a few safety tips from the Red Cross to keep in mind:

Map out your route.

Bring a flashlight.

Don't go inside a stranger's home. Get your treat while standing outside the door.

Wear light colored clothing so you can be seen in the dark.

Look both ways when crossing the street. And watch for cars as you wander from house-to-house.

Use a glow stick instead of a candle inside your jack-o'-lantern.

Have an adult inspect your candy when you get home to remove any choking hazards or open packages.

Only visit homes with their porch lights on. Also remember to respect property by staying off lawns and on sidewalks.