Safari leaders, adventurers, treasure hunters and characters from the 1960s television series Perry Mason will join the cast of scary creatures of all types that haunt Old Town Temecula for HOWL-O-WEEN weekend, Saturday and Sunday, October 29 and 30.
The fun begins at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday with the sixth annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Pumpkins and decorating supplies for children ages 12 and younger are provided free. Pumpkin decorating is at the Imagination Workshop on Main Street. Pumpkins will be judged at 1 p.m. with prizes awarded at 2 p.m.
This year’s theme is adventurer/explorer with clowns, jugglers and face painters costumed in the safari Indiana Jones style. Dynamite Dave, the sometimes fire-eating, sometimes knife-juggling, character who makes crazy balloon hats, will be on hand Saturday and Sunday from 11 noon to 3 p.m. Freckles the clown will face paint both Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 3 p.m. and a swashbuckling adventurer will juggle both days from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
This year’s explorer theme was chosen in honor of Erle Stanley Gardner who explored and chronicled many parts of Baja California. Old Town Temecula honors the explorer and creator of the Perry Mason mystery series November 4-6 with a mystery weekend. Exhibits and the mystery contest will be tied to Gardner’s Baja expeditions.
Friendly Trick or Treating for children is free both Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at all participating merchants. Free trick or treat bags are also available at local merchants. Look for signs in participating merchant windows.
Old Town Temecula’s Children’s Museum – Imagination Workshop will have Halloween activities all weekend including a Haunted House during the evenings Friday through Monday. The Haunted House will be open 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday and Monday, Halloween night. Admission is $5 per person.
At 3 p.m. Sunday costumed characters of all ages are invited to participate in the 6th Annual Costume Walk and Costume Contest. The walk begins at 3 p.m. with winners announced at 3:30 p.m. at The Chocolate Florist on Old Town Front Street. Prizes will be awarded to the best individual, best family or group and best pet and owner, and the best Indiana Jones/Adventure theme. The City of Temecula and merchants of Old Town Temecula sponsor the Howl-O-Ween event. For more information call (951) 694-6412.
