Is candy corn your favorite food? Do cobwebs and spiders feature prominently in your decor? Is your best friend a black cat?  Do you REALLY love Halloween?

If the answer is yes to any of these, you just might be a “Halloweenie.” And like all people who relish the autumnal season you know, it’s frightfully fun but also pitifully short. There are less than two weeks to go until Halloween and still so many pumpkin patches, haunted houses, and fall festivals to explore before the clock strikes midnight on Oct. 31.

To help you plan your spooktacular adventures we’ve gathered up all the fun events and put them in our handy Fall and Halloween Happenings Theme.  From not-so-scary fun to creepy haunted houses, there’s something for everyone.  Here are just a few picks for you and your little ghouls to explore during this most BOOtiful time of the year!

Photo: shutterstock.com

The Oak Cliff Cultural Center is hosting a series of free workshops to honor the dearly departed. The Workshop de los Muertos: Catrinas is for all ages and explores La Calavera Catrina, or “The Elegant Skull” as she’s also known, that’s associated with the Dia De Los Muertos. This Saturday, Dallas artist Eva Azul will guide participants in how to paint a ceramic skull and the significance of the iconic Catrina.  Next Saturday, October 25 kids can paint their own image of a Catrina on canvas. Both workshops are free but are on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Photo: Sachse Parks and Recreation

The Pumpkin Prowl in Salmon Park in Sachse is scary good fun. The after-dark “pumpkin hunt” is sort of like an old fashioned Easter Egg hunt but it’s mini-pumpkins that are hidden and found instead of eggs. Besides the hunt, there will be a costume contest, a game zone, bounce houses, vendors, and a screening of the movie a”Goosebumps.” If you’re brave enough, take a ride on the  Haunted Hayride. It’s presented by the Sachse High School Theater Team.

Photo: Dallas Parks and Recreation

I’m not sure what his plans are, but I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see David S. Pumpkins at City Hall Plaza this Saturday afternoon for Pumpkins on the Plaza. This annual pumpkin-palooza includes a costume contest, pumpkin patch, hayrides, face painting, storytime, interactive games, music, entertainment, food trucks and oodles of floating pumpkins in the fountain at City Hall. After the sun goes down, stick around for the laser light show.

Photo: shutterstock.com

Looking for some old-fashioned Halloween fun? Well, look no further than the Pumpkin Patch at the Perry Homestead Museum in Carrollton. Kids can play games, listen to a story, and run through the pumpkin patch. But the absolute best thing about this event is it features a pie-baking contest! Come cheer on your favorite contestant (or pie)! If you’re not a baker but you REALLY love pie, come early for the pie-EATING contest. The fun happens on Saturday at 11 a.m.

Photo; Plano Symphony Orchestra

On Sunday, don’t miss the Plano Symphony Orchestra’s Spooky Symphony at the Eisemann Center. The interactive concert features movie favorites from “Star Wars,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “The Addams Family,” “Jurassic Park” and more. Be sure to get there early for pre-concert activities like an instrument petting zoo, the Conductor’s Station, and arts and crafts. Don’t forget to wear your costume!

If you’re looking for even more seasonal happenings check out our Halloween/Fall Festival Theme. And for a complete list of Pumpkin Patches in our neck of the woods look HERE.