Pumpkin- and face-painting are just some of the free family fun to be had at the New York Power Authority’s annual “Spooktacular” Halloween Party. This year’s admission-free event will be held Sat., Oct. 27, from 1- 3 p.m. at the Frank S. McCullough, Jr. Hawkins Point Visitors Center and Boat Launch. Photo Credit: NYPA or New York Power Authority

St. Lawrence County families will have a whole host of choices for Halloween fun this Saturday, Oct. 27 in Massena, Norwood, Canton, Waddington, and Colton.

Massena area events include a Halloween program at the Massena Public Library at 10 a.m. where Linda Besio from the Robert Moses Nature Center will teach the children about bats and then assist them in a bat mask craft project. Children of all ages are invited, but children younger than 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Also in Massena will be the New York Power Authority’s Spooktacular Halloween Party at the Hawkins Point Visitors Center and Boat Launch from 1 to 3 p.m. Spooktacular will feature pumpkin- and face-painting, games, movies and more. All children in costume will be able to Trick-or-Treat for goodie bags.

The St. Lawrence Centre Mall in Massena will also participate in Halloween festitivies with a Monster Mash Halloween Party from 1 to 3 p.m. for Kids Club members. Refreshments, games, pumpkin decorating, and a costume contest will be featured. Contest winners will earn a $20 St. Lawrence Center Gift Card, with categories for funniest, scariest, cutest, and most original costumes.

A Halloween party will also be hosted in Norwood by the American Legion from 1 to 3 p.m. The party will include pumpkin painting, coloring, crafts, gift bags, balloons, cookies and a costume judging at 2 p.m.

In addition to the “Phantoms in the Park” event at 1 p.m., Canton residents can attend a Halloween concert at St. Lawrence University at 12:15 p.m. Sondra Goldsmith Proctor will perform at Gunnison Memorial Chapel, and attendees are invited to bring a lunch.

A haunted house will also be showcased in Canton from 6 to 11 p.m. at 53 Court St., courtesy of the SUNY Canton Greek Council. Partial proceeds will benefit Zachary Hamilton, who is receiving treatment for cancer. Admission is $3 for those under the age of 13 and $5 for those over the age of 13. The house will also run from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 28 and 31.

Also in Canton, St. Lawrence University's The Hub, 1 Lincoln Street, will hold a "haunted house" for all area children ages 6 and up from 3 to 5 p.m.

Also to benefit Zachary Hamilton, a Halloween festival will be held in the Canton Pavilion from 4 to 8 p.m. The event will include horse drawn wagon rides, face painting, a pie throwing contest, a haunted trail, a bouncy house, pumpkin painting, food, ice skating, and raffles. All proceeds will be used to help offset the Hamilton family expenses. For information contact Kristy Thornton at 262-6617.

For those in the Waddington area, the Waddington Fire Department Auxiliary will hold a Halloween dance from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the old Town Hall. The Fulton Road band will play. Admission is $5 per person, and you must be 21 to enter. Bring your own beverages. Costume prizes will be awarded at midnight. Raffles will also be held.

Waddington will also host the “great lighted pumpkin contest and display” from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. As the pumpkins arrive for the contest, they are arranged into one of the largest lighted pumpkin displays in the North Country. Over the years, snowmen, spiders, ghosts, dogs, deer, fish, and many more creations have been showcased. For more information contact Nancy Putney at 388-5576.

A Halloween dance will also be held in Colton by the Racquette Valley Fish and Game Club, 233 Cold Brook Dr., from 8 p.m. to midnight. The Senior Moment Group will play country, rock, and jazz. Admission is $3. Prizes will be awarded for costumes and refreshments will be sold.