A spook-tacular Halloween takeover throughout October

Ghosts, ghouls and skeletons won’t be the only things out and about the remainder of October.

Spook-tacular fall and Halloween events are gearing up to take over the Princeton and Milaca communities leading up to the holiday.

Starting on Friday, Oct. 18, all the way until Halloween night on Oct. 31 and beyond, local businesses and organizations are planning their last fall celebrations before the snow hits the ground.

On Friday, Oct. 18, the Rum River Community Foundation is hosting its annual OktoberFiesta at Stones Throw Golf Course in Milaca from 5 to 9 p.m.

Eat some tasty food, sample beer, seltzers and wine from local breweries and wineries or test your skills at stein-holding, fireball golf and the sombrero toss.

Tickets for the event are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. All proceeds go to the Rum River Community Foundation.

The following day, head over to the Princeton Airport for the Flight Expo Inc. Halloween Celebration from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Enjoy candy, a bouncy house, airplanes, food, face painting, pumpkin painting and more.

The Airport is located at 800 Airport Road.

Also taking place on Saturday, Oct. 19 is Alpha and Omega Farm’s Fall Festival from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is held every Saturday and Sunday in October.

A variety of fun activities will be available including hayrides, live music, yard games and more, along with the farm’s signature wood-fired pizza.

Alpha and Omega Farm is located at 6714 Alpha Road in Princeton.

On Friday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 19, Seven Shank Sha is bringing back its annual Halloween Bash with haunted hayrides, a bonfire, games and prizes and more.

The Halloween Bash is open to the public and runs from 4 to 11 p.m. It is free to attend, but free-will donations will be accepted.

Seven Shank Sha is located at 31348 172nd St. in Princeton.

Moving into the weekend prior to Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 26 has much to offer for Princeton and Milaca with multiple trunk-or-treat events.

Events start at noon until 3 p.m. in Milaca with a truck-or-treat event hosted by Sacred Moon, Minted Twine and More and Sacred Soul at 425 10th St. NE.

This free event features candy, coloring, games and many other activities for families to enjoy.

From 1 to 4p.m. in Princeton, the annual Pumpkin Chunkin’ event will take over the Mille Lacs County Fairgrounds.

Come see the trebuchet in action and chuck a pumpkin across the fairgrounds or visit for the trunk-or-treating, petting zoo, hay rides, face painting, bake sale, vendor fair and more.

This event is free to attend, but free-will donations will be accepted, with all proceeds going to Kinship Youth Mentoring of Princeton for future Kinskids scholarships.

Also at 1 p.m. in Princeton is a trunk-or treat event at The She Shed, which is located at 900 S. Rum River Drive.

The last event taking place on Oct. 26 is another trunk-or treat opportunity at Free Grace United Church in Princeton from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

A church service will take place at 5 p.m. and the trunk-or-treating will immediately follow.

Free Grace United Church is located at 2025 2nd St. N. in Princeton.

A second trunk-or-treat event hosted by the Free Grace United Church in Milaca will be held the following day on Sunday, Oct. 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 160 Central Ave. S.

Over at Milaca High School on Oct. 27, the school will be the home of a trunk-or-treating event through Milaca Alliance Church and Lighthouse Fellowship from 2 to 4 p.m. in the back parking lot.

Then comes Halloween and all the candy your heart could desire with annual trick-or-treating, including various destinations to get your fill of the sweet treats.

Milaca’s daytime business trick-or-treating will run from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31. All participating businesses will be identified and available for view on the Milaca Chamber of Commerce website.

Similarly, Princeton’s annual daytime trick-or-treating will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All of the participating businesses will be identified and available for view on the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism website.

A final trunk-or treat opportunity will be on Halloween night from 5 to 6:30 p.m. hosted by Milaca Free Church at 1100 Central Ave. N.

Halloween will also be the last night of Princeton’s Halloween house decorating contest.

The contest will begin on Saturday, Oct. 19, with viewing open from 6 to 9 p.m. Other viewing dates include Oct. 25, Oct. 26 and Halloween.

There is no voting for the contest this year, as no winner will be announced.

Below are the homes participating in the contest:

- 903 N. 3rd St.

- 1409 S. 3rd St.

- 31348 172nd St.

- 1978 Alpha Road

- 28338 97 ½ St. NW

- 6695 16th St.

- 403 4th Ave. S.

- 7488 7th St. N

- 105 8th Ave. S

The festivities don’t stop on Halloween. Foreston and Bock are celebrating the holiday the weekend after on Saturday, Nov. 2.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., visit the Howling Dog in Bock for its fall festival with vendors, fall-themed foods, homemade goods and fun activities for kids.

More adult-style fun will begin at the Foreston Bar at 9 p.m., with the bar’s Halloween Party with live music and prizes for costumes.