Is there a holiday kids love more than Halloween? (Nice try, Arbor Day.) They dress up, run amok and shriek with excitement — and all that before the sugar kicks in. So, where can you take your young Frankensteins and Rosemary's babies for candy and spooky fun? On Saturday, Oct. 28, McKinleyville Safeway Shopping Plaza is the place to be for the annual Halloween Costume Parade and trick or treating starting at 11 a.m. (free). In Eureka, costumed children 12 and under (who are accompanied by an adult) can trick or treat in Henderson Center from noon to 2 p.m. and in Old Town from 2 to 4 p.m. (look for participating store signs). And on Tuesday, Oct. 31, take the kids to Trick-or-Treat Downtown Arcata from 4 to 6 p.m. on the Arcata Plaza (free).

How about old-fashioned Halloween carnivals? Redway Elementary has a PTSA Fun Fair - Hocus Pocus stirring up fun on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 2 to 6 p.m (free admission) with carnival-style games, face painting, dinner, a pumpkin carving contest, a sweet treats shop, monster truck slide, cake walk, raffle and more. Ahoy, mateys! The Adorni Recreation Center transforms into a fun pirate ship on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. for Haunted Humboldt Bay, a spooky carnival with games and activities for ages 17 and under with accompanying adult. And Faith Center's Kids Karnival at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds is back with good, clean fun on Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. (free). Kids in fifth grade and under can enjoy games, candy, glow prizes, food and more.