Families need not wait until Saturday for a taste of Halloween fun -- and fright -- this season. Numerous activities take place throughout the week leading up to Saturday, when there are free trick-or-treat opportunities indoors, as well as in the crisp, fall air. Here is a summary of activities by day, as provided to the newspaper.

Today

First Christian Church, 520 CY Ave., hosts its Pumpkin Patch outdoors daily, 4 to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. In addition to pumpkins and gourds for decorating, there is a play area for children and a wonderful backdrop for taking your own photographs.

Poverty Resistance's 10th installment of Halloween fun and fear, Mayhem at the Mall, is open nightly through Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m., in the old Weinrich's restaurant building in the east parking lot of Eastridge Mall. New installments this year include high-level scares known as the vortex and the "suffocation room." Admission to the evening sessions is $10 per person.

Wednesday

On Wednesday, Highland Park Community Church hosts its annual Fall Festival from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., at the church, 411 S. Walsh. There will be games and treats for everyone who attends. Admission cost is one can of food to be donated to Joshua's Storehouse.

Is the Casper Elks Lodge, 108 E. 7th St., really haunted? Find out for yourself at its Haunted House in the basement, open to the public Wednesday through Saturday. Hours are 7 to 10 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, and 6 to 10 p.m., on Friday and Saturday. Admission is $5 per adult, $3 for ages 11 to 18, and free to those 10 and under.

Thursday

All ages are welcome at the Spooktacular Halloween Party with spooky fun for everyone at the Casper Senior Center, 1831 E. 4th St., from 5 to 7:30 p.m., on Thursday. The free event features a haunted house, spook walk with goodies, pumpkin toss, face painting, coloring booth, cookie decorating, a sucker/candy spin and more. Those who go in costume will receive a goodie bag.

The Casper Children's Theatre, 138 S. Kimball in the Commissary Mall, will hold its annual haunted theatre Thursday and Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. In conjunction with the Haunted Theatre, the teens will be holding a Fall Festival on Friday and Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. There will be a lights-on haunted theatre and Fall Festival on Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. Tickets for the Haunted Theatre are $5 and Fall Festival tickets are $2.50.

Stage III Community Theatre and the Casper Planetarium present "Leviathan 99," by Ray Bradbury, a science fiction adaptation of "Moby Dick," Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The show is about 90 minutes long and is suitable for all ages. All shows are held at the Planetarium, 904 N. Poplar, which is also the outlet for advance tickets. Admission is $6 per person.

Friday

The Casper Family Aquatic Center is offering a special pre-Halloween swim event on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. The fun-filled family activity will feature scary lifeguards, spooky decorations, and a howling good time. Admission is $3 per person. All children under age 8 must be accompanied by an adult in the water.

On Friday from 1 to 4 p.m., the residents at Maurice Griffith Manor, 77 Gardenia in Paradise Valley, will hand out candy to trick-or-treaters. Dress up a day early and go out for a visit, treats and fun. The residents love the visits and seeing all of the costumes.

Saturday

Anyone in costume will receive free admission and candy at the Nicolaysen Art Museum & Discovery Center on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The main exhibit, "I Want Candy: The Sweet Stuff in American Art," will be available for viewing, as well as play in the Discovery Center.

Trick or treat downtown in costume on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participating merchants and businesses will have a pumpkin posted in their front window or door.

Kids of all ages are invited in costumes for a Spooky Storytime at Natrona County Public Library on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., in the library's Crawford Room. Spooky and not-so-spooky stories will be told.

Trick or treat indoors at Sunrise Shopping Center on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m.

Students from various groups at CY Junior High are sponsoring a community Halloween Carnival from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday in the CY cafeteria.

The carnival is designed to provide a safe atmosphere for families indoors. Targeted to children up to sixth-grade (accompanied by a responsible adult), the carnival will include games, with most costing three to five playing tickets.

Buy game tickets in advance from CY students for the special price of 11 for $1. At the door, game tickets will be 10 for $1.

There will be a costume contest at 4 p.m., with divisions for 0- to 2-year-olds, 3- to 5-year-olds, 6- to 9-year-olds, and 10- to 12-year-olds. Each division winner will receive a prize. Door prizes also will be given out throughout the carnival.

College Heights Baptist Church invites the public to the annual Fall Festival at the Community Center (formerly Garfield School,1927 South Walnut), on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. The festival is an evening of family fun and includes supper (chili and nachos), games, special booths, fellowship, candy, awesome door prizes, and lots of fun for all ages. Admission is one canned good per person (that will be donated to the World Hunger Project). Costumes (no scary ones please).

"Hoot and Howl with Nature" at the Audubon Center at Garden Creek at 101 Garden Creek Road, from 6 -8 p.m. on Saturday. Go dressed for outdoor fun and learn about owls, coyotes, spiders and bones. Experience the life of night-time critters as you navigate a maze and even howl at the moon. Hot drinks will be provided. A spooky bake sale and suggested $2 donation will help support the educational programs of the center.

First Southern Baptist Church, 2555 E. 2nd St., hosts a Trunk of Treats outdoors in the parking lot from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., on Saturday.

The Casper College Health Science student associations will present a spooky night of X-rayed Halloween treats, a haunted hospital ward for children 8 and older, and for adults; carnival for ages 2 and up; prizes and treats for all those who visit the Saunders Health Science Center at Casper College on Saturday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Everyone attending is asked to bring a canned or nonperishable food item. All collected food items will then be given to a local food pantry.

Powder River Veterans Club, 420 W. 1st St., hosts its second annual Halloween Party on Saturday from 7 p.m. to midnight, open to all adults. Costume up and dance to Copasetic. Finger foods and prizes will be provided. Admission is $10 per person or $15 per couple. We are at 420 W. First Street or call for more info at 234-8833.

Elks members and their families are welcome at the Halloween Family Fun Night at the Elks Lodge from 7 p.m. to midnight on Saturday. Dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m., with hot dogs, hamburgers and French fries. Take a scary dessert dish for everyone to enjoy. Following dinner, there will be games and prizes for the kids and big kids and music by GTO.

Community News editor Sally Ann Shurmur can be reached at (307) 266-0520 or sallyann.shurmur@trib.com. Read Sal's blog at tribtown.trib.com/Sal/blog and follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WYOSAS