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CLEARLAKE — It”s All Hallow”s Eve and there”s plenty to do in Clearlake. A variety of festive activities take place in the area this evening.

Trick-or-treaters can get an early start today with a visit to Clearlake City Hall. Mayor Judy Thein and her fellow council members along with planning commissioners, city staff and police personnel invite all the children of the community to join them for Halloween festivities and goodies, 1 to 5:30 p.m.

In effort to promote a safe and enjoyable evening, youngsters will receive a reflective candy collection bag with the following message printed on it: “Don”t Be Tricked ? Drugs Are No Treat!”

A haunted house for ages 1 through 12 years, takes place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at 5954 Spruce Avenue. This free event, sponsored by Camp Sunshine, includes fun games and activities, a talking doll, a clown and live birds. Take Old Highway 53 to Highland Avenue; then left on Highland to Spruce.

Calvary Chapel of Clearlake presents its annual Harvest Carnival, 5:30 to 9 p.m. at 14330 Memory Lane. This family-oriented event features a variety of carnival games, prizes, food and candy and an array of festive costumes. Admission and all activities are free and you do not have to be a member of the church to attend.

Lake County Fire Protection District Volunteer Firefighter”s Association presents its annual haunted house, 6 to 9 p.m. at the district station on Olympic Drive. This year”s event will not include the fun house for the really little ones; however, for those brave enough, the haunted house is sure stir a scare. Parents, be advised: The volunteers of the fire department conjure up a frightful house that may be too scary for some children.

With the festivities of the night comes the need for motorists to be extra cautious in their travels this evening. Because the Village area gets a lot of trick-or-treaters, vehicle access will be limited. Roads into the Village will close at 5 p.m. and will re-open when witches and warlocks clear the area.

There are several ways parents can ensure the safety of their children. Costumes should be flame retardant, this includes wigs and bags, do not have high heels or long dangling pieces to trip on and costumes should be made of a bright highly-visible material, Lt. Mike Hermann of the Clearlake Police Department said. He also advised that parents explain to their children the difference between “tricks” and vandalism.

Halloween, also known as All Hallows” Eve, originated from the Pagan festival Samhain. Some cultures believe that it is the day when the boundary between the world of the living and that of the dead opens up, allowing spirits of the underworld entrance on Earth.

Traditionally, costumes were worn to disguise the living so that the dead could not find them to play their tricks and cause havoc upon. Treats were left on doorsteps in hopes of satisfying the wandering spirits so that they would continue on their journeys.

Jack O” Lanterns are a favorite Halloween symbol. The tradition originated in Ireland where Jack O” Lanterns were carved from turnips. When Irish and Scottish immigrants brought variations of the observance to the United States, pumpkins were found to be more plentiful and easier to carve.

According to www2.una.edu., the Jack O” Lantern traces back to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack. Legend has it that the greedy, gambling, hard-drinking old farmer tricked the devil into climbing a tree and then trapped him up there by carving a cross into the trunk of the tree. In revenge, it is said that the devil placed a curse on Jack, dooming him to forever wander the earth at night.

Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.

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