October in the High Desert means cooler weather, pumpkin spice craze, and a flurry of Halloween carnivals, fall festivals, harvest parties, candy bars, car shows, and lots of candy.
This year, the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds will host The Great Fall Festival and Carnival October 27-30 at the fairgrounds at 14800 Seventh Street in Victorville.
The fall themed festival will include carnival rides, games, rides, a car show, a petting zoo, live music, entertainment, food, drinks and a craft vendor market.
“We are thrilled to partner with Event Inventor to bring this fall festival and carnival back to our community,” SBC Fair CEO Jennifer Morgan told the Daily Press. “We hope it will be a success and a mainstay for many years to come.”
Festival hours are from 5 to 11 p.m. on October 27 and 28. Also, from 2 to 11 p.m. on October 29 and finally from 2 to 9 p.m. on October 30.
For information on ticket offers and discounts and to purchase festival tickets and carnival tickets, visit thegreatfallfestival.com.
boo at the zoo
Beginning October 14th, the Hesperia Zoo will host its annual Boo at the Zoo and Haunted Animal House every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night through October 30th.
A tradition for more than 20 years, the zoo is transformed into an hour-long living storybook of “Myths, Legends and Spooky Tales,” featuring a petting zoo with pet food for sale.
Visitors are encouraged to wear costumes and bring flashlights and goodie bags. The Hesperia Zoo is located at 19038 Willow St. For ticket prices and to book a tour, visit thehesperiazoo.com.
Autumn festival of the Church of the Nazarene
Apple Valley Church of The Nazarene’s Fall Fest is scheduled for 2-6pm on October 15th at the church is at 12935 Central Road.
The festival will include game booths, prizes, a cake walk, face painters, a balloon artist, a cake walk and lots of giveaways. There will be $1 raffle tickets for two $200 Grocery Outlet gift cards, two new 20-inch bicycles and a 55-inch flat-screen smart TV.
“We’ll also have bounce houses, a petting zoo, pony rides and first responder vehicles,” said church board member Marianna Cole. “We’ll also have the Jitters Coffee truck and sell hot dogs and fries.”
An army of 150 toy ducks will be available for visitors to select from. Pick a lucky duck for a free frosted donut and a chance to win a special prize.
Proceeds from the fall party will help fight human trafficking in Southern California, Cole said.
For more information, search Apple Valley Church of the Nazarene on Facebook.
Spooky Trunk-or-Treat
The Rock’n Our Disabilities Foundation will host its Spooky Spooktacular Trunk-or-Treat from 1-3pm on October 15th at the Epicentre Recreation Center, 17508 Hercules Ave. in Hesperia.
Designed for families with special needs, the event will include dancing, games, costumes and a trunk or treat. For more information and registration, visit rocknourdisabilitiesfoundation.org.
Scary fair
The Barstow Community College Scare Fair is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 15 at BCC, 2700 Barstow Road. The fair will include a haunted house, a costume/scream contest, food vendors, spooky movies, a vaccination/flu shot clinic and college resources. For general and provider information, email welcome@barstow.edu or call 760-252-6796.
Halloween Harvest Festival – Mojave Narrows
Mojave Narrows Regional Park will welcome the Halloween Harvest Festival from 6-9pm on October 15th and 16th at the park at 18000 Yates Road in Victorville. The family-themed event will include games, vendors, a haunted walk and more. For more information, visit y102fm.com.
Keller Williams Fall Festival
Hosted by Keller Williams Victor Valley, the Fall Festival begins at noon on Oct. 15 at 6550 Caliente Road in Hesperia. Bring the whole family and enjoy delicious food, live music, shopping and more. For more information, call 760-951-5242
High Desert Second Chance – Trunk or Treat
High Desert Second Chance’s third annual Trunk or Treat event is set for 1-5pm on Oct. 22 at HDSC, 16666 Smoke Tree St., Building B4 in Hesperia.
The event will include free game booths, 20 Amazon Fire Stick giveaways, a classic car contest, a best dressed car contest, craft booths, food/dessert vendors, and other vendor booths.
For general information, including car entry, vendor donations and candy/monetary/items, visit highdesertsecondchance.pagecloud.com.
Halloween Trunk-or-Treat
Hosted by Elevated Youth Sports, a Halloween Trunk-or-Treat is scheduled from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 22 at 304 E. Main St. in Barstow. Visitors should enter the rear parking lot at Williams Street and Barstow Road. To donate and register, visit barstowtrunkortreat.com.
Hot Rod Halloween and Bow Wow Event
Hesperia Recreation and Park District’s Hot Rod Halloween is set for 2-5pm on October 29 at Civic Plaza Park, 15833 Smoke Tree St.
The free event will include a car show, carnival games, food vendors, crafts, live music and lots of candy. High Desert Second Chance will provide additional candies.
Bring your spookiest hot rod for a chance to win the Halloween decorating contest. Car registration and check-in is from noon to 1:30 p.m., and registration is $30.00 per car. Pre-registration forms are available at HesperiaParks.com.
All proceeds from the car show will benefit the Hesperia Area Recreation District Foundation Rick Novack High School Scholarship.
General information, including applications from for-profit and non-profit providers, visit HesperiaParks.com.
Along with the Halloween Hot Rod event, Love on a Leash will host a Halloween Bow Wow, featuring dog contests, adoptions, vendors and more. For entry fees and general information, visit facebook.com/loveonaleashHD.
Halloween Cruise Night
The Over the Hill Gang Club and High Desert Fords & Mustangs will host a Halloween Cruise Night from 5-8pm on October 28th at Toms #16 at 16727 Bear Valley Road in Hesperia. There will be loads of decorated classic vehicles, live music from the Modd Rodds and candy.
Oktoberfest
Old Town Victorville will be transformed into an Oktoberfest from 2 to 8 pm on October 29 at the corner of B and Seventh streets. The festival will include a trunk or treat, kids’ zones, food, beer, live music, a smoke contest and craft vendors. The event is sponsored by Revive Our Old Town and collision and repair specialist CARS
Lone Wolf Colony Fall Festival
The Lone Wolf Colony will host its annual Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 29 and noon to 6 p.m. on Oct. 30 at the site at 23200 Bear Valley Road in Apple Valley.
The event will include food, drinks, live music, a haunted house, games, raffles and vendors. All proceeds will go to a local high school scholarship program.
Barstow Mardi Gras Parade
The Kiwanis Club of Barstow Crossroads presents the 88th Annual Mardi Gras Parade, starting at 6pm on October 29th. The superhero themed parade will travel down Main Street between Barstow Road and Coolwater Lane. There is no charge for float parade tickets. For float applications and more information, call 760-617-5765 or email kiwanisclubofbarstow@gmail.com.
Halloween Spook-tacular
The Town of Apple Valley and the Police Activities League will host a Halloween Spook-tacular from 5 to 8 pm on October 29 at Civic Center Park at 14955 Dale Evans Parkway.
The event will include candy, spooky tunes, a trunk or treat, carnival-style games and other spooky surprises. There will also be free candy and food vendors.
Anyone interested in participating in the trunk or treats should contact Apple’s recreation department at 760-240-7880.
Halloween Trunk-or-Treat – Sunland Ford
The Southern California Garrison Star War Group will host a Halloween Trunk-or-Treat at Sunland Ford from 4-6pm on October 29th at the dealership, 15330 Palmdale Road in Victorville.
Halloween Arts and Crafts Show
The Santa Fe Trading Company Halloween Arts and Crafts Show is scheduled from 10 am to 6 pm on October 29 at 15464 Seventh Street in Victorville. There will be live music, food and unique items for sale from local artisans. For more information, visit facebook.com/sftcvv.
Hinkley Bible Church Harvest Festival
The Hinkley Bible Church Harvest Festival is scheduled from noon to 3 pm on October 29 at 37313 Hinkley Road. There will be food, fun and games.
Harvest Festival – First Baptist Church
FBCH will host a Harvest Festival and Trunk-or-Treat from 5:30-8:00pm on October 31st at 9280 Maple Avenue in Hesperia. There will be food, inflatables, games and more. Visitors are encouraged to wear fun costumes.
Stu Miller’s Pumpkin Patch – Hesperia
Stu Miller’s Pumpkin Patch Seasonal Adventures is back at the corner of Mariposa Road and Avenal Street near Interstate 15 in Hesperia.
The pumpkin patch features hundreds of pumpkins for sale, a petting zoo, carnival rides, food vendors, bounce houses, playhouses and more.
The pumpkin patch is open from 3 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 3 to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. They close the season at 7 pm on October 31.
Tickets will be on sale at the pumpkin patch for rides, attractions and games. Entry is free. Pets are not allowed in the pumpkin patch.
For more information, visit SeasonalAdventures.com or Facebook.com/SeasonalAdventuresHesperia.
More events may be added as information becomes available.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz can be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.
