Communities in St. Lawrence County are gearing up for Halloween with a variety of trunk-or-treats, scary movies, hauntings, costume parties, fall festivals and other activities.

Haunted Hideout, Haunted Hustle

This October, the Police Activities League (PAL) of Massena is taking Halloween to the next level with not one, but two back-to-back weekend fundraisers.

PAL is joining forces with local haunted house enthusiast Jon "Temple" Roder to host the 1st Inaugural Massena PAL "Haunted Hideout" on Oct. 18 and 19, followed by the spooktacular PAL Haunted Hustle 5K on Oct. 26. Both events will raise funds for Massena PAL's youth programs while bringing the community together for Halloween fun.

The Halloween season kicks off with a fright-filled weekend at the Massena PAL Haunted Hideout on Friday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 19. PAL has partnered with Jon "Temple" Roder, a local haunted house aficionado, to create an unforgettable spooky experience at the PAL Clubhouse, 30 Bayley Rd., Massena, NY 13662.

There will be a family & youth walk-through from 7-8 p.m., perfect for families with children looking for a light scare.

The haunted walk-through from 8-10 p.m. for those seeking the full scare experience.

The cost is just $5 per person, and all proceeds directly support PAL’s after-school programs.

Halloween Candyland dance

A Halloween Candyland dance, costume contest with prizes, treats and music will be offered at the Hepburn Library of Madrid on Friday, Oct. 18, from 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Music will be provided by Taco Beats.

Admission is free, and all are welcome.

Poke the Pumpkin

Norwood American Legion, 10 Maple St., will host Poke the Pumpkin on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. 

Poke it and win it. 

Snack foods provided. 

Adults only.

Witches, 5K, trunk or treat

Fall fun is coming to Ogdensburg Oct. 19 with bounce houses, live music, hay rides, pumpkin painting, a costume contest and more.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  and will also include a 5K run that’s set to kick off at 9 a.m. at the Dobisky Center to benefit the Ogdensburg Boys and Girls Club and a “Trunk or Treat” from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the State and Washington Streets.

From  7 p.m.- 11 p.m.  the  11th Annual Ogdensburg Area Zonta Club Witches Night Out  will be held at the Freight House.

On Sunday, Oct. 20, the  third Annual Ogdensburg Area Zonta Club Little Witches Ball will run from  1-3 p.m. at the Freight House Restaurant.

Maple City Fall Fest

Maple City Fall Fest will be held Saturday, Oct. 19 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Morrisette Park, 100 Riverside Ave., in Ogdensburg

There will be pumpkin painting, food trucks, games, live music, bounce houses by Adams Family Jumpers, and a costume parade.

The Backwater Duo takes the stage from 12-2:30 p.m.

Elev8 Entertainment (DJ Bunk) will provide music from 2:30-5 p.m.

Witches Night Out in ‘Burg

The 11th Annual Ogdensburg Area Zonta Club Witches Night Out will be held Saturday, Oct. 19 from 7-11 p.m. at Freight House Restaurant, 20 Market St., Ogdensburg. 

The event is for ages 21 and over and benefits Zonta Club.

Admission is $10 for witch’s attire, and $12 for mortal clothing.

Little Witches Ball in ‘Burg

The 3rd Annual Ogdensburg Area Zonta Club’s “Little Witches Ball” will be held Sunday, October. 20, from  1-3 p.m. at the Freight House Restaurant, 20 Market St., Ogdensburg.  

The event is for elementary school ages. There will be dancing, games, and raffles. Costumes are encouraged.

Admission is $5 per person. The event benefits Zonta Club.

Kids Halloween Party

A Kids Halloween Party will be held at Norwood American Legion, 10 Maple St., on Sunday, Oct. 20, 1-3 p.m.

Crafts, coloring, music, balloons and a buffet of "groolin" goodies.

Gift bags for the 1st 75 kids.

Costume judging at 2 p.m.

Spooky stories

Potsdam Public Library, 2 Park St., will host a Spooky Story Time Session for youngsters on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 4 p.m. 

Join Mrs. Morrison in the library’s children's section for a special spooky story time to help get in the spirit of Halloween. 

Info: https://potsdamlibrary.org/ .

Fright Night

Trick-or-treat trunks from businesses, clubs and civic groups will be set up in downtown Potsdam for ghouls, goblins, witches and other costumed youngsters for the Fright Night: Trunk or Treat event hosted by the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 24, from 5-8 p.m. on Market Street.

There will be costume contests for Couples Costume, Best Family Costume, Best Adult Costume, Best Teen Costume, and Best Children’s Costume .

Halloween karaoke

AMVETS Post 1997, 107 State St., in Heuvelton will host Halloween Friday Fun Night KC Karaoke on Oct. 25,  6-9 p.m. Prize for the best Halloween costume.

SUNY Canton trunk or treat

The SUNY Canton Early Childhood program invites the community to their Halloween "Trunk or Treat" event from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 on campus in Parking Lot 8. Rain location will be in Dana Hall.

The event is free and open to families of children aged 2-10. 

Vehicles will be decorated by SUNY Canton faculty, staff and students, who will be giving out candy and prizes to guests.

"We're excited to continue this fun tradition and Halloween celebration," said Maureen P. Maiocco, Ed.D., Early Childhood AS and BBA program coordinator. "The creativity of our employees and students always makes this a memorable event."

Ghost walk

The Ogdensburg History Museum is offering a Ghost Walk on October 25th at 8:30pm. This unique walking tour will take visitors through the city's most haunted locations and explore its dark past and notorious crimes. The tour will be led by City Historian, Julie Madlin, and will include stops at places like the Frederic Remington Art Museum, where visitors will learn about the city's haunted history and notorious criminals. The tour is not appropriate for children. Tickets are available for purchase on our website and space is limited to 25 people.

As an added bonus, the Frederic Remington Art Museum is offering a watch party with a cash bar featuring a program about ghosts in Northern New York. This event is appropriate for adults only and tickets can be purchased separately. For more information, please contact oburghistorymuseum@gmail.com.

Haunted infirmary

It's that time of year again. Skeletons are starting to gather in yards. Ghouls are being hung in neighborhood trees.

And, the Clarkson Physician Assistant students are getting ready to haunt the infirmary on Oct. 25 and 26 at Clarkson Hall at 59 Main St. in Potsdam.

The popular annual haunt promises to be scarier than ever this year, and it’s all for a good cause.

The P.A. students pull out all the stops, gore and screams for the annual event that raises money for the university’s Students Without Borders program.

The doors to the infirmary open at 6 p.m. Walk-thrus will be from 6:30-11 p.m.

Tickets are $15 and help support the SWOB program.

Nature center Halloween

Free Halloween crafts, games, and trick or treat will be offered at Nicandri Nature Center in Massena Saturday, Oct. 26, and Sunday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Also, attendees can learn about reptiles, bugs and more that "aren’t so creepy” at the nature center, located at 23 Robinson Bay Rd., Massena.

Ragamuffin Halloween

The Potsdam Fire Dept. Will sponsor the annual Ragamuffin Halloween Parade on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Line up will be in the Main Street parking lot across from the Roxy theater in Potsdam.  

The parade will start at 1 p.m.  

It will travel down Main to Market to Elm to Park streets, ending at the fire station.  

Following the parade there will be refreshments and fire truck rides.

Halloween Punk Show

Halloween Punk Show at Potsdam Public Library, 2 Park St., Saturday, Oct. 26. 

Doors open at 6 p.m. Show at 6:30. 

Celebrate Halloween in your best costume and dance to your favorite local raw teenage punk band, Young Mischief, with friends 3verbound (alt rock shoegaze) and Past Doubt (garage melodic punk). 

$10 door, no one turned away for lack of funds. 

Costumes not required but encouraged. 

Info: https://potsdamlibrary.org/ .

Ghost tours in Russell

SVC Explorers of the Unknown, an up-in-coming group of paranormal investigative documentarians, will lead ghost tours and paranormal exploration on Oct. 26, in Russell.

The event will be led by three of the most renowned names in the field, Evan B. Stone, a world-renowned cinematographer from Los Angeles, Jack Alan Vaisey, a native of Massena and a 23-year veteran in the paranormal field, and John Briggman, a spirit medium and ghost hunter from Syracuse.

The evening will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude with a gathering at the historic Russell Theatre, built in the early 1900s and said to be haunted.

The ghost tours, which will take participants through some of Russell's most haunted sites, will culminate at the Russell Theatre, where the team will share their decades of paranormal experiences from investigations around the world.

Guests will hear firsthand accounts of eerie encounters, unexplained phenomena, and the team’s most memorable moments from their careers as explorers of the unknown.

This event promises to be a thrilling experience for anyone fascinated by the paranormal or the rich history of Russell, said Vaisey.

Fall festival

Massena First United United Methodist Church, 189 Main St., will host its free Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 12-2 p.m. 

Schedule of events: 12 p.m. story time with Pastor Cori, 12:20 decorating cross, 12:30 free hot dogs & chips, 12:50 crafts, costume Parade at 1:20 p.m., costume judging to be held at 1:30, and 1:30 games.

All are welcome to attend.

Free to everyone.

Trunk or treat

A trunk or treat will be held at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 63 May Rd., Potsdam, on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. 

The event is free of charge. 

Youngsters can fill their bags with treats. 

Free popcorn. 

Bounce house. 

Info: 315-265-5340.

Science Spooktacular

The North Country Children's Museum, 10 Raymond St., Potsdam, has a Science Spooktacular on Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

This hands-on science program is held in partnership with Clarkson University's Institute for STEM Education and Clarkson Honors Program. 

Participating children will have the chance to engineer aluminum boat floats with candy, make magnetic spiders, engineer a haunted house, create Halloween slime, use chemicals to make fake blood, and more.

Come try out creepy science experiments and chemical concoctions at the Children's Museum.

The program cost is included with admission and membership.

Info: https://northcountrychildrensmuseum.org/events/ .

Trunk or treat

Edward C. Seymour Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1231 Auxiliary in Canton will host a Trunk or Treat on Sunday, Oct. 27 from 1-3 p.m. in the Post parking lot.

Trunk or treat

Canton United Methodist Church, 41 Court St., will host a trunk or treat on Sunday, Oct. 27 in their church parking lot from 1-3 p.m.  

Bring allergy friendly goodies for the little ghouls and goblins.  

Dress up and decorate a car if able.

Pumpkin Party

Nature Up North and SLC Arts will host a Pumpkin Party in Heritage Park in Canton Oct. 27, from 12-7 p.m.

There will be pumpkin carving, pumpkin painting, nature, and learning.

Bring a pumpkin to carve or paint, and organizers will take the guts away to compost.

Carved or painted pumpkins will be put along the trail in the park for the community to enjoy. Pick your pumpkins back up between 7 and 7:30. 

There will be judging by local artists and prizes for the winners. 

While in the park, stop by one of the tables set up to learn about sustainable farming at home, local composting services, alternatives to single-use plastic candy wrappers, or grab a bingo card and see if you can find everything in the park.

Nosferatu screening

Cinema 10 will screen Nosferatu (Germany, 1922, d. F. W. Murnau, with Alden Ensemble live accompaniment, 94 m NR) Oct. 28 at 7:15 p.m. at the Roxy Theater in Potsdam.

The Andrew Alden Ensemble returns to Potsdam after nearly a decade away, bringing an encore performance of their original score for F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu.

Alden directs a modern chamber group through music that perfectly accompanies and even reshapes how you watch classic films.

In Nosferatu, the original vampire tale, hapless Thomas Hutter attends the Transylvanian estate of Count Orlok to close a real-estate deal. But Orlok has more mysterious plans in store.

The film is a gothic tale of the occult and changed the vampire story on screen forever.

Tickets: $6.50 general / $55 season or $5.50 student/senior / $45 season. www.cinema10.org .

Halloween party

Ogdensburg Public Library is hosting a Halloween Party on Oct 30 from 5-6:30 p.m. Show off your costumes and collect candy at the library.

For ages birth to 13.

Halloween scavenger hunt

The Badenhausen Public Library, 897 Main St., Brasher Falls, will host a children’s Halloween scavenger hunt on Oc. 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. while supplies last.

Children are encouraged to wear their costumes.

Trunk or treat

There will be an annual Trunk or Treat hosted by Franks Pizzeria in Brasher Falls p.m. on Oct. 31.

Trick or treat at Riverside

The Canton Housing Authority is sponsoring a trick-or-treating event at the 37 Riverside Drive community room from 4-6 p.m. on Oct. 31, for kids 12 and younger.