Published: Friday, Oct. 30, 2009 / Updated: Friday, Oct. 30, 2009 05:45 PM

The weekend's full of Halloween fun

Kids and adults can enjoy a full day and night of Halloween fun this weekend during several area celebrations packed with pumpkins, treats, hayrides and other festivities.

Rock Hill Galleria expects some 3,000 people from York, Chester and Lancaster counties at its free community fall festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The event will be co-presented by Piedmont Medical Center, Clinton Family Ford and The Herald.

Then, as darkness begins to fall, the city of Rock Hill will hosts its annual Boo-Ha-Ha Halloween bash from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday along downtown's Main Street. The event will include a costume contest, trick-or-treating, food, face painting and more.

During the Galleria event, to be held inside the mall and in the parking lot in front of the food court, children younger than 13 are invited to pick up treat bags and free pumpkins while supplies last. Games, magic shows, crafts and more will be featured during the event.

“We've collected just about everything kids and adults will want to do and put it at one site to help the Galleria provide area residents an action-packed fall festival,” said Mike Martoccia, director of marketing and business development for The Herald Media Group.

Free hayrides and train rides will be offered throughout the afternoon and Hocus Pocus magic shows are scheduled for 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in the center court of the mall.

“With this event we are providing a full day of family fun, rather then just the night activities like we did last Halloween,” said Allison Cleveland, the mall's marketing manager. “It should be a good time for all, and best of all it's free.”

In the Fall Passport to Prizes game, contestants will be eligible to win more than 20 prizes from mall merchants. Anyone can play by visiting The Herald's event information tent. Pick up a Passport to Prizes sheet, go to each of the participating merchants in the mall, obtain their signatures or stamps, and then return the passport by the end of the event. More than $1,000 will be given out in gift cards and merchandise.

Show up at the Galleria in your favorite costume, and enter the Halloween costume contest. Registration runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the judging begins at 1:30 p.m. in the center court of the Galleria. There will be categories for children and adults.

Keystone Substance Abuse Services will provide educational information and games, and the Charlotte Checkers and the Winthrop University Police will offer activities, too.

Other Halloween events

These other Halloween and fall events are planned:

A community fall festival will be at the Emmett Scott Recreation Center in Rock Hill from 6 to 8 p.m. today. It will include music, games and refreshments. The admission cost is $1 per person, which includes five tickets. Extra tickets will be sold during the event.

Agape Senior Assisted Living, 1785 Lexington Commons Drive, Rock Hill, behind the Outback Steakhouse off Celanese Road, will have a safe house for Halloween trick or treaters from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. The event is open to all children in the Rock Hill community.

The Highland Ruritan Community Fall Carnival will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today at the Lowry's Schoolhouse. Dinner will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The menu includes hamburgers, hot dogs, desserts and drinks. Children's activities such as kiss the pumpkin, go fishing, plinko, moon sand, pony rides and bingo will be available. For an extra $1, guests can walk through the haunted trail. Proceeds will benefit the medical expenses of Ervin Connor and Rube Guy, both cancer patients. For details, call Jane Ellen Cameron at 803-377-3787 or Nancy Stewart at 803-581-5941.

The 2009 MonsterBall: Victims of Vaudeville will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Byrnes Auditorium at Winthrop University. Performances will include the flute and clarinet choir, dance and movement, a short play and magicians. Costume contests and an after party are planned. The arts ball is free and open to the public. For details, call Jill O'Neill at 803-323-3797 or e-mail Brett Wilson at wilsonb6@winthrop.edu.

White Oak Manor will present Oktoberfest from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at 111 S. Congress St., York. Entertainment will be provided by Tony King. A classic car show, door prizes, pumpkin decorating contest, costume contest, bake sale, silent auctions and more will be available. Registration for the car show will be from noon to 2 p.m. and the cost is $10. Trophies will be awarded at 3:45 p.m.

The Northwestern Theatre Company will perform Victor Gialanella's “Frankenstein” in the Northwestern High School auditorium on S.C. 5 in Rock Hill at 7 p.m. today. Tickets are $5 students and $8 adults. The play is being directed by Tamara Altman, theater teacher. Proceeds go to the theater company for future performances.

The Woman's Club of Rock Hill will host a Rock-A-Thon from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the City Club of Rock Hill, during the city of Rock Hill's Boo-Haha celebration. For details, call 803-985-5529.