Cape Cod Halloween events offer hayrides, trunk-or-treats, ghost tours

Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31, but the fun begins on Cape Cod this weekend ― a full week ahead of schedule ― and continues through the big day.

So if you want to take a bite out of Halloween, here are some of the celebrations you can join.

Looking to show off the kids' or family costumes while trick-or-treating at an hour friendly to the little ones? Visit one of the trunk-or-treat events. Looking for a non-scary hayride? Are you an adult who dreams of a costume ball? Find it all here.

Haunted Hayrides, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through the end of October, Coonamessett Farm, 277 Hatchville Road, East Falmouth. Designed to be family-friendly with no jump scares, no gore and no animatronics. $10 per person, free for farm members and kids 2 and younger. Farmstand, food, and doughnut purchases are open to the general public without needing a day pass. Haunted Hallows, Village Green at Mashpee Commons, 4 Job's Fishing Road, Mashpee, 6:15-8:45 p.m., Oct. 23, 24, 30 and 31. Tickets start at $25 and you choose your own level of fright in this outdoor spooky walk-through. Proceeds benefit Mashpee Improvement Fund. Tickets and details at the Haunted Hallows website. Mashpee Halloween Market, 5 to 9 p.m., Oct. 23, 24, 30 and 31, featuring local makers, vendors, pumpkins, lights and foods for sale. No ticket required.Pilgrims, pirates and people of the past are said to fill the sights and sounds of Provincetown Ghost Tours'historical 90-minute walking tour of downtown Provincetown, where the tour guide will take you by many of the town's historical buildings, homes, inns and cemeteries, sharing stories about reported ghost sightings and strange happenings. These family-friendly Halloween tours depart at 7 and 9 p.m. Oct. 24 and 25 and fill fast. Reservations are recommended, $20 each. Saturday, Oct. 24

Hyannis Elks Lodge #1549, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 852 Bearses Way, Hyannis, trunk or treat.

Dennis Union Church, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, trunk or treat on the church lawn at 713 Main St. (Route 6A), Dennis.

Sandy Neck lower parking lot, West Barnstable Trunk or Treat and Touch-a-Truck event, 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, cohosted by the Barnstable fire departments and Sandy Neck Beach staff.

Orleans Halloween Stroll, 3 to 4: 30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, Main Street and beyond, hosted by the Orleans Elementary School Parent-Teacher Committee. "This year our small businesses have teamed up with Orleans Recreation, Culture, and Community Events to create a LIVE MAP of all candy stops in town."

West Falmouth Library, 575 W Falmouth Hwy, Falmouth, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Games, bubbles, music, apple cider doughnuts on the library lawn.

Osterville Halloween costume parade, 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24., meet at the Village Flagpole at Parker Road and Bay Street and finish at the Osterville Village Library for treats and Halloween surprises. Hosted by the Osterville Village Library and the Osterville and Mashpee Rotary clubs.

Hyannis Youth and Community Center, 141 Bassett Lane, Hyannis, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 24, admission $5 per person, sign up through Barnstable Recreation Department. Monster Mash Halloween Dance Party includes dancing, arts and crafts with Cotuit Arts Bus. Costumes are encouraged.

Sunday, Oct. 25

Pilgrim Congregational Church, 533 Route 28, Harwich Port, 3 to 5 p.m., trunk-or-treating in the parking lot (inside if it rains) and games, face painting and snacks in Monbleau Hall. Open to all children.

Third Annual Edward Gorey House Film Festival, Yarmouth Port Common, Route 6A and Strawberry Lane, 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, outdoor screening of the 1977 Japanese camp horror classic "House" ("Hausu") on the museum grounds. Features a concession stand with popcorn, snacks and merchandise.

Thursday, Oct. 29

Bourne Veteran's Memorial Community Buildingparking lot, 239 Main St, Buzzards Bay, 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, trunk or treat, sponsored by the Bourne Recreation Department, free to Bourne residents, registration required for one member of the household. Parking is not allowed in the community center lot. The rain date is Oct. 30. Friday, Oct. 30

Falmouth Museums on the Green, 55 and 65 Palmer Ave., Falmouth, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, hosts "Wicked at Wicks," a kid-friendly Halloween event " which includes trick-or-treating at several historic properties on the campus, pumpkin painting, storytelling and a costume parade." First Congregational Church of Yarmouth, upper lot, 329 Main St. (Route 6A) in Yarmouth Port, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Trunk or treat includes DJ music on car radios tuned to 87.9. Open to all. Participants are asked to bring canned goods to donate. Hyannis Honda trunk or treat, 4 to 6 p.m Oct. 30, 830 W Main St., Hyannis, free parking at Barnstable High School, costumes are encouraged for kids. Treats will be given. Adults will have a chance to meet and chat with local business owners and community groups.

Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Route 28, Cotuit, hosts Art & Souls Masquerade Ball Monster Mash for adults, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Adult costume party with DJ Ian Lee, costume contest, dance floor. Admission is $10.

Chatham Bars Inn, 297 Shore Road, 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Adult Boo Bash with The Cape Connection, ages 21 and older, live music by The Cape Connection band, costume contest and dancing. Cost: $40 per person with one drink included. Saturday, Oct. 31

Haunted Halloween on the Common, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, Yarmouth Port Common, Route 6A and Strawberry Lane. Home to Edward Gorey House, Historical Society of Old Yarmouth, Thacher Hall, Captain Bangs Hallet House Museum, Yarmouth Port Library, and Chapter House. Free annual family event featuring candy and historic stops around the common, as well as trick-or-treating, Gorey caricatures, film portraits and more. Costumes encouraged. Johnny Kelley Park, 180 Old Bass River Road, South Dennis, noon to 4 p.m. Halloweenpalooza, hosted by Dennis Recreation, Friends of Dennis Recreation and Dennis Beaches, the all-ages event includes live music, egg "haunt" for kids, face painting, beer garden and annual cornhole competition with cash prizes. Costumes are encouraged for children and adults.

Gus Canty Community Center, 790 Main St., Falmouth, noon to 2 p.m., trunk or treat. Costumes are welcome. Through Oct. 31, during regular business hours, families can visit the Gus Canty Halloween Costume Closet for a free costume swap.

Cotuit Library, 871 Main St., Cotuit, noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, touch-a-truck, trunk or treat, craft sponsored by Cotuit Center for the Arts.

Barnstable Historical Societyat Old Jail, 3353 Main St. (Route 6A), Barnstable Village, 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, free guided historical and spooky tours of America's oldest wooden jail, circa 1690. Trick-or-treating and candy for visitors.

Cape Cod Church, 1205 Nathan Ellis Hwy (Route 151), East Falmouth, 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, trunk or treat, bounce houses, food trucks and plenty of candy. Free to all; register at Cape Cod Church events page if you want to help. Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre, 51 State Hwy (Route 6), South Wellfleet, behind the movie theater, 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31, 17th Annual Trunk or Treat Festival, free admission includes free hot dogs and cider and candy, hosted by Wellfleet Fire Department, open to all. Costumes encouraged.

Cape Cod Mall, 769 Iyannough Road (Route 132), Hyannis, starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, Mall-o-ween, indoor mall-wide trick-or-treating, crafts and games. Free admission. Hyannis Main Street Safe Trick-or-Treat,4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, Main Street closes to traffic so children in costumes can safely collect treats from merchants at local storefronts. Mashpee Commons, 22 Steeple St., Mashpee, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Halloween Fun, Parade & Trick-or-Treating (party on Village Green, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., costume parade for children, costume parade for dogs and trick-or-treating, Central Square in Mashpee Commons.

Falmouth Village Halloween Stroll, Main Street, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct 31, hosted by Falmouth Village Association. Costumed children trick-or-treat at stores that have decorated windows for the occasion. Cape Cod Photobus captures the scene.

Cape Cod Winery, East Falmouth, Mermaids & Monsters Halloween Party for 21+, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31, themed wine and Halloween celebration.

Gwenn Friss is the editor of CapeWeek and covers entertainment, restaurants and the arts on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Contact her at gfriss@capecodonline.com .

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod Halloween events offer hayrides, trunk-or-treats, ghost tours