Compiled by SALLY ANN SHURMUR

Star-Tribune staff writer

Watch high school marching bands put on a big-time show as they perform at the State Marching Band Festival at 4 p.m. at the Casper Events Center. Doors open at 3 p.m. Tickets are $5 adults and K-12 students $4.

Schools participating include Star Valley, Torrington, Green River, Buffalo, Cheyenne East, Wheatland, Natrona, Lander, Riverton, Douglas, Campbell County (Gillette), Cody, Kelly Walsh, Worland, Evanston, Laramie and Cheyenne Central.

The UW Western Thunder Marching Band, with the largest membership in its history, will also perform at the Wyoming High School Activities Association event.

This is the equivalent of a state championship for bands, although festival scoring replaces place winners. Tickets are available at the door.

Boys in grades 3 to 6 and their male role models are welcome to carve pumpkins today at 2 p.m., at a "No Girls Allowed," event in the Crawford Room of the Natrona County Public Library. The program helps boys connect to adult role models in their lives.

All area youngsters are invited to attend the Casper College Thunderbirds Annual Pop and Picture Day today, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Erickson Thunderbird Gymnasium.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to bring kids to the free event where each child will be able to get their picture taken with the T-Bird mascot. In addition, "the kids will get a free Pepsi and game pass to an upcoming T-Bird basketball game and be presented with an autograph card that they can get signed by the T-Bird men and women players. It should be a fun morning," said Bill Landen, associate vice president for student services and athletic director at Casper College.

Kids will also be able to get photos with their favorite players, prizes will be given away, and drawings will be held for ball boys and ball girls for the 2008-2009 season.

Through Halloween, First Christian Church will host its huge Pumpkin Patch , open today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.

In addition to pumpkins, there are mini pumpkins, gourds and corn stalks and delicious baked goods, as well as a play area for children and a great area to take pictures.

In Your Nightmares, a Haunted House - two houses, one for 13 and older; one for under 13 - at 136 S. Wolcott, Odd Fellows Building, is open tonight from 6 to 10 p.m. Admission for 13 and older is $5 with nonperishable food item; under 13 is $3 with nonperishable food item. All proceeds will be donated to local nonprofit agencies. For more information, call 315-0247.

The Piece by Piece Quilt Club will have its annual quilt show today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Grace Lutheran Church, 315 CY Ave. Several quilts and quilted articles will be displayed. Some will be for sale. No admission and a free gift for all attending.

The 200 Club of Casper holds a members-only, singles/doubles bowling tournament at El Mark-O Lanes at 1:30 p.m. The cost per bowler is $36 plus membership dues. For more information, call Judi at 234-4930.

The Casper Windy City Striders hold a new cross-town half marathon to benefit the Platte River Parkway Trust. It begins at the east end of the Platte River Parkway Trail in Paradise Valley and follows the trail as it winds through Casper, around Three Crowns Golf Course and finish at the North Casper Soccer Complex off Bryan Stock Trail. This point-to-point race will include at least three water/aid stations, and refreshments at the finish line. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. at the start line in Paradise Valley and the race will begin at 9. Race day registration is $20 for Windy City Strider members and $25 for nonmembers.

There will also be a children's race beginning at 9:45 at the North Casper Soccer Complex. Registration for the children's race will begin at 9:30 and will cost $5.

The public is invited to come have a fun-filled afternoon with the Zilah Club members. Zilah Club will have their fall Luncheon & Card Party at the Casper Shrine Club, 1501 W. 39th St. The luncheon will be served at noon with the card or game playing beginning at 1 p.m. Reservations are required and may be made by calling Audrey Lockwood at 234-3431. The cost of the afternoon's "good eats & great cards" is a meager $6 per person or $24 per table of 4.

This weekend the public has two great opportunities to help animals at the Casper Humane Society. The organization will hold its fall garage sale and silent auction today and Sunday. Additionally, the monthly pet photo session with DeMaine Image will be held today.

The garage sale and silent auction will take place at the former American Pipe Building, located at 435 W. First St. Hours for the sale will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday; no admission will be charged for those days. A box sale to liquidate leftover items will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Patrons can fill a box for a $5 minimum charge during those hours.

Also this weekend, DeMaine Image will be at the Humane Society today from 1 to 3 p.m. to take pet photos. The theme for this month's photo session is Costumed Critters - pet owners are encouraged to dress their pets in a favorite costume for a fun photo. A sitting fee of $10 is charged, and a variety of photo packet options are available for an additional fee.

The Casper Senior Center, 1831 E. Fourth St., invites you to dance from 7 to 10 p.m. to music provided by Casper's five-piece band, "Swing Sounds." Admission is $4 per person.