Peek inside the Lions Club Haunted House and Saturday’s spellbinding Magic Market — photos now live! The Haunted House returns Thursday and on Halloween night for one last scare. Plus: acrobats land in Mendocino, and Rocky Horror rocks the midnight hour…
The Fort Bragg Lions Club Haunted House is pretty scary. The loveliest dolls may be the most dangerous!
Not even the rain could dampen one of Downtown Fort Bragg’s best costume parties — Saturday’s Magic Market was pure magic. We’ve got the photos to prove just how fun it was!
Picture Bob Ross with a bow and quiver. “Bob” stole the show — whoever she was..Proton packs charged — the Ghostbusters are primed for paranormal duty.
The Fort Bragg Lions Club wrapped up a thrilling first weekend of their Haunted Toy Shop Haunted House — two nights of spooky delight! The haunt returns this Thursday and finishes with a fright on Halloween night, Friday.
Want more eerie excitement? Check out the KOZT calendar for other spine-tingling happenings around the coast!
Rocky Horror Picture show at midnight at Coast Cinema and at noon too!
Coast Cinema gets deliciously weird with The Rocky Horror Picture Show — catch Tim Curry’s iconic Dr. Frank-N-Furter at noon and midnight screenings.
Survival kits will be available (please, no toast or rice), costumes are encouraged, and yes — it’s time to do the time warp again.
The Haunted Hall of Horrors — Haunted Toy Shop edition
— returns for just four nights of fright! Catch it Thursday and Friday, with thrills running 6–10 PM (starts at 7 on Friday). On Thursday, the doors open early for a less-scary hour from 6 to 7, perfect for younger visitors.
This haunted house is very scary and not recommended for kids under 10.
Advance tickets available at Harvest Market, Boatyard Center, and online via the Lions Club website.
Proceeds support Lions Club charities, including
*The Senior Christmas Dinner with home delivery
*CareBears – Free toys for kids in the Adventist Health Emergency Room
*Scholarships for local high school students
And much more!
The Fifth Annual Trunk or Treat is back
— free candy and a festive party for kids! This year, it’s on the move: we’re told it’s no longer at the CV Starr Center, but the new location is still under wraps.
Trunk or Treat celebrations are also popping up across the county, with kids going car to car collecting goodies from creatively decorated trunks.
The flying ladies, girls — and a few daring guys — will be spiraling through the air in more than 40 aerial acts on Halloween night in downtown Mendocino!
Frankie’s Pizza and Ice Cream Parlor is summoning spirits, sponsoring a devilishly fun Halloween Street Party hosted by Circus Mecca on Friday, October 31st. The aerial spectacle runs from 5–9 PM, with DJ DLT spinning tunes until 10. Frankie’s will be serving up hot slices and cool scoops throughout the show on Ukiah Street between Lansing and Howard.
👻 Pro tip: Start your evening at the Lions Club Haunted House in Fort Bragg, then head to Mendocino around 9 PM for the heart of the fun. The kids will thank you for the haunted thrills — and the grown-ups will love the circus vibes too!
Westport Halloween & PotluckThursday, October 31 • 5:15–7 PM • Westport Community Church
Ghouls, goblins, families, and friends — come celebrate Halloween in true Westport style! Meet at the Community Church at 5:15 PM for trick-or-treating through the village, escorted by the Westport Volunteer Fire Department. Afterward, gather back at the church for a cozy community potluck.
Bring a dish to share. 👻 All ages welcome. Free to attend. For more info, call (707) 489-2546.
A young Han Solo learns the galaxy holds wonders worth chasing — even with a smelly old Wookiee riding shotgun across the galaxy.I realized this was Luke and CP30 not Han when I saw this photo. At first I thought Chewbacca was dad in the suit. But since Chewie could look out for the kids all directions at once, it had to be momLuke!!! Back to the ship!!! Use the force Luke!! (it will only work for a few more years dude)Hey bro, maybe we don’t threaten that giant Rancor with the blaster?? Where is your light saber???” — little brother as CP30, always the, voice of reason.Finally got to geek out over a childhood obsession — Egyptian history — with this queen (no, not that one!). Her booth is a blast, and she channels a fierce woman who, like Cleopatra before her, tried to restore the glory of ancient Egypt.I know this character… it’s right there on the tip of my brain! Great costume, mystery man.Costume contest winner right here — and clearly loving every minute of it.This young man was regaling many with his fine stories, but his sister wasn’t as impressed. NOTE TO THE LIONS CLUB— WE NEED mom and grandma here in the club!!! Look at those costumes!!!A foxy lady, yes, but is she Tigger or a fox? Never really considered what happens when a ghost needs glasses — until now.Sharks are cool, but I think the young gal on the right wins the fightCity Hall turned crime scene — and the suspects were dressed to impress.Fabulous Fort Bragg folks! For aerating your pond, this is about the most fun device you can get. Brutus has owned and supervised MANY ducks and this one didnt smell right . He protected their lives many times but also gave them spankings when needed.Father and son are having fun, but Im exactly sure what the costumes are?Big crowd, big spirit! Despite a handful of vendor cancellations, folks showed up in force — rain or shine — ready to celebrate and keep the Halloween magic alive.The Lions Club promises very scary toys and dolls — not for the faint of heart! Come brave the Haunted Toy Shop on Thursday or Friday and see what’s lurking in the shadows…There was wandmaking and other Harry Potter funOur friends from down the road are the best!City Hall, the cops, a ghost, a musician and a nurse, what more does Fort Bragg need?The Hermit might not be smiling for the camera, but the vittles earned a silent nod of approval.Now that’s a vendor with a smile that could sell anything.The Schnaubelt family dog was only slightly more terrifying with the spider costume.Caesar bows to the Great Dane, Brutus plays coolCaesar and Brutus got to see not ONE but TWO dogs bigger than them. A great dane and a St. Bernard. Caesar bows and submits to every dog. Brutus submits to no dog ever. But he doesnt argue, he ignores them if they become testy and they usually then submit! Our friend Matt here is a community beacon and to the greater world as well on how to confront cancer and life with EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCEYou’ll meet her if you dare to enter the Haunted House next Thursday or Friday… 👀 Beware — she’s not just part of the decor.I think this lady was Bob Ross’s canvas.The smile champion!!!!. Now to find a Newt, or at least its eye, for the soup! Bubble, toil and trouble. Must also find that toe of a frog, wool of a bat and tongue of a…(sorry Shakespeare I cant go there)Fort Bragg innovation, Candy apples DO work in the rain!That is one cool hat!!! And tie for smile champ!Cool Crafts, cool do’, cool hat, cool scarf!! Phone? (well you cant win them all)Ok, she did all this, you could have at least worn some flowers in your hair!
A wizard, a witch and a dude in a ballcap. Of course I was dressed in an inside out security outfit, but I am a cartoon character at all times, so I don’t have to dress up.Looking good! IN a happier 20th century, the spider web went on top of her head and well, that would have been it! LOL, Can anybody tellme where I can get one for LInda and Harbin?
Frank Hartzell has spent his lifetime as a curious anthropologist in a reporter's fedora. His first news job was chasing news on the streets of Houston with high school buddy and photographer James Mason, back in 1986. Then Frank graduated from Humboldt State and went to Great Gridley as a reporter, where he bonded with 1000 people and told about 3000 of their stories. In Marysville at the Appeal Democrat, the sheltered Frank got to see both the chilling depths and amazing heights of humanity. From there, he worked at the Sacramento Bee covering Yuba-Sutter and then owned the Business Journal in Yuba City, which sold 5000 subscriptions to a free newspaper. Frank then got a prestigious Kiplinger Investigative Reporting fellowship and was city editor of the Newark Ohio, Advocate and then came back to California for 4 years as managing editor of the Napa Valley Register before working as a Dominican University professor, then coming to Fort Bragg to be with his aging mom, Betty Lou Hartzell, and working for the Fort Bragg Advocate News. Frank paid the bills during that decade + with a successful book business. He has worked for over 50 publications as a freelance writer, including the Mendocino Voice and Anderson Valley Advertiser, along with construction and engineering publications. He has had the thrill of learning every day while writing. Frank is now living his dream running MendocinoCoast.News with wife, Linda Hartzell, and web developer, Marty McGee, reporting from Fort Bragg, California.
