It's almost time again for all those little ghosties and goblins to come out to play - and the City of New Westminster is getting in on the fun.
If you're looking for some spooky fun beyond trick-or-treating, the city has a host of Halloween activities for families.
Here are a few highlights from the city's recently posted Halloween brochure.
For tots:
* Monster Madness: For two- to four-year-olds, with parent participation, the city offers an afternoon of spooky crafts, games and a Halloween treasure hunt, plus stories and face painting. It's on Monday, Oct. 27 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Centennial Community Centre and cost $6. Call 604-777-5100 to sign up.
* Motoring Munchkins Halloween party: You're invited to dress up your munchkin and come along to the regular Motoring Munchkin drop-in on Friday, Oct. 31 at Queen's Park Arenex, running 9 to 11:30 a.m. Kids aged one to six can enjoy the usual games, toys and activities, plus treats and photo ops. It's $3.25 for one child with parent, and $1 for each additional sibling. Call 604-777-5121 for info.
For kids:
* Spooktacular Fun: Five- to eight-year-olds can make crafts, decroatiosn and treats in this session on Monay, Oct. 27 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Centennial Community Centre. Call 604-777-5100.
* Spooktacular Pro-D Day Fun: Five- to 11-year-olds can join in a morning of Halloween fun that includes cooking, crafting and games. It's at Queensborough Community Centre on Friday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon. Call 604-525-7388.
* Count Cholola's Creatures: Kids aged five to 13 can get hands-on making creepy chocolate moulds and tricky treats at the Centennial Community Centre. It's on Tuesday, Oct. 28 with a session from 3:15 to 4:45 for five- to eight-year-olds, and from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for nine- to 13-year-olds. It costs $9.50. Call 604-777-5100.
* Night at the Museum: Eight- to 12-year-olds can check out the museum by flashlight, hear spooky stories, make a craft and play some old-time Halloween games. It's in Room 311 at the Anvil Centre on Thursdya, Oct. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. Registration fee is $12.70. Call 604-527-4640.
* Freaky Facepainting: Nine- to 13-year-olds can learn how to create a Halloween face-painting masterpiece in a session at Centennial Community Centre on Friday, Oct. 24 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Call 604-777-5100.
For teens:
* Halloween bash: Twelve- to 16-year-olds are invited to the post-trick-or-treating fun at the Queensborough Community Centre, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Halloween night, Oct. 31. It's free.
* Pumpkin carving: Kids in grades 8 and up can join in for a carving session on Thursday, Oct. 23 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Call 604-515-3775 to sign up.
* Scary movie marathon: The youth centre hosts a scary movie marathon on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 3 to 11 p.m. Call 604-515-3775. It's free with a youth centre membership.
* Zombie Walk and After Dead Party: Kids in grades 6 and up are invited to roam the streets of New West as part of this fun mob of zombies. Get "zombified" from 3 to 5 p.m., then leave the youth centre at 5 p.m. Supplies and make-up artists will be provided. Drop in to the youth centre on Wednesday, Oct. 29. It runs from 5 to 8 p.m., and it's free. Call 604-515-3775 for details.
For the whole family:
There are a host of events for families in the city, including a Halloween party at the Centennial Community Centre on Sunday, Oct. 25; a Fraser River Frights afternoon on the Samson V on Sunday, Oct. 26; a Monster Mash Bash at the Queensborough Community Centre on Friday, Oct. 24; and the Canada Games Pool Monster Mash bash on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
There's also a Haunted Halloween family skate event at Moody Park Arena on Saturday, Oct. 25, and a grandparents Halloween Party at Century House on Saturday, Oct. 25.
For details of all of these programs, pick up the city's Halloween Happenings brochure or download it from www.newwestpcr.ca.
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Looking for a fun way to pass the hours on those rainy weekdays at home with the wee ones?
New West parks and rec is offering a Creation Playstation program for two- to four-year-olds (with parent participation), running from Nov. 6 to Dec. 4. Kids and caregivers enjoy art activities, stories, song, dance and creative play.
You can sign up to take it from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., or from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m., both at the Centennial Community Centre.
Call 604-777-5100 or see the city's Active Living Guide (you can pick it up at city facilities or see it online at www.newwestpcr.ca) for more details.
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Parents of teens will be interested in this one.
The New West Public Library is hosting a workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 4 called Raising Financially Responsible Teens.
Parents will learn ways to help their teenagers become financially responsible adults by planning for school, buying a car and even saving for a home.
The workshop is presented by the Credit Counselling Society, and it starts at 7 p.m.
Call 604-527-4667 or email [email protected] for more details.
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A reminder to all you bookworms out there who happen to also be new parents.
If you've had trouble finding time for yourself to read, the New West Public Library can help.
The library is offering a Bring Your Baby Book Club for new parents to enjoy adult books and adult conversation in a baby-friendly environment.
The club next meets on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. at the main branch, 716 Sixth Ave.
The suggested age for babies is up to 24 months. You can register at 604-527-4667 or email [email protected], or check out www.nwpl.ca for more details.
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Do you have an idea for Family Ties? Send suggestions of family- and parenting-related events and topics to Julie, [email protected]. You can also find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan
