GHOST AND GOBLINS, OH MY!!!
2009 RAP Halloween Celebrations

Los Angeles – Halloween is right around the corner! Do you know what you’re doing to celebrate the SPOOKTACULAR holiday? The Department of Recreation and Parks has a wide variety of spooky events happening throughout the City for everyone to enjoy.

Here’s a list of a few thrills that are sure to send chills your way:

Ride a Haunted Halloween Railroad at Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum in Griffith Park. The 11th annual Ghost Train Halloween attraction will be offered October 23-25 and October 29-31 from 7 pm to 10 pm each night. The miniature train will depart from “Scarewood” Station and travel through devilish displays of spooky spirits, creepy clowns, witches, vampire babies and other assorted frightful fiends. There is a suggested donation of $5 per person. For more information call (323) 661-8958 or visit http://www.lals.org/.

Walk if you dare or run if you’re scared through the Haunted House at Cabrillo Beach Bath House from 6 pm to 10 pm on October 23-24 and October 30-31. For more information call (310) 548-7554.

Candy, Music, Games, Prizes and a Mini-Haunted House will all be part of Cypress Park’s Halloween Festival on Friday, October 30 from 5 pm to 9 pm. The free event is open to all ages. For more information call (213) 485-5384.

The Monster Mash is sure to be a playing at Denker Recreation Center’s Halloween Teen Dance. The $1 Halloween boogie is open to teens 13-18 with a school ID. Teens can practice their THRILLER moves from 7 pm – 11 pm on Friday, October 30. For more information call (323) 733-8367.

CALLING ALL COSTUMED CANINES!! Yucca Community Center is hosting a Dog Costume Contest on Friday, October 30 from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm. Come and enter your furry Spiderman, Frankenstein, Bumble Bee or Hot Dog or just watch the fun. For more information call (323) 957-6339.

Pan Pacific Recreation Center is hosting a Halloween Carnival on October 31 from 12 pm – 4 pm. Games, a Reptile Show and Costume Contest are just some of the spooky treats that will be offered. For more information call (323) 939-8874.

For all the die hard skaters out there, Pedlow Skate Park in Encino is hosting a SCARY Skate Contest from 12 pm to 4 pm on Halloween Day. Show off your Frankenstein ollies, Vampire kick flips and goblin board slides at the “Tricks 4 Treats” Skate Contest. For more information call (818) 266-6991.

Visit Sylmar Recreation Center’s “Trick or Treat City” and Halloween Carnival on October 31 from 5 pm – 9 pm. Local businesses will come together to create “Trick or Treat City” and hand out candy to visitors. A costume contest and carnival rides are just a few of the festivities being offered. For more information call (818) 367-5665.

To find a Halloween event in your neighborhood or to see the full list of Department events visit http://www.laparks.org/pdf/halloweenevents.pdf.

Remember, safety is important to having a Happy Halloween! Here are a few safety tips for your ghostly agenda:

- Help your child pick out or make a costume that will be safe. Make sure it is fire proof and the eye holes should be large enough for good peripheral vision.

- Plan a safe route to know where your older kids will be at all times. Instruct them to stay on main streets and not to cut through alleyways or dark places.

- Younger children should always be accompanied by an adult when trick-or-treating.

- Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be checked.

- Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape to make them more visible to cars.

- Go only to well-lit houses and remain on porches rather than entering houses.

- Cross streets at the corner, use crosswalks (where they exist) and do NOT cross between parked cars.

The Department of Recreation and Parks wishes you a HAPPY, SAFE and SPOOKTACULAR Halloween!!!