BEST BETS | OCT. 23, 2009

Friday, Oct. 23

The Second City: 50th Anniversary Tour will come to Rock Hill's downtown Community Performance Center, 249 E. Main St., at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30..

WU Poetry Slam with MC Carlos Robson, a member of the national spoken word championship team, will be at 8 p.m. at Plowden Auditorium on the Winthrop University campus. Admission is free.

CLICK FOR MORE PHOTOS

Saturday, Oct. 24

Get ready for Halloween at 6 p.m. at the 15th annual Firelight Fright Taletelling at Fewell Park Recreation Center in Rock Hill. The event is free, but concessions will be for sale. Bring blankets or chairs and dress warmly. Call 803-329-5645 or go to www.rockhillrocks.com for more information.

Free family fun is part of the RiverGate Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be costume contest, magic show, free pumpkins, pumpkin decorating, hayrides, a bounce house, face painting and free food at the RiverGate Shopping Center at the corner of Tryon Street and Hwy. 49 in Charlotte.

Experience the Civil War during a reenactment at Historic Brattonsville on Brattonsville Road in McConnells from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event continues on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be cannon-firing demonstrations, camp life activities, firearms presentations and children's military drills. Shop for reproduction gift items and purchase food from vendors.

Sunday, Oct. 25

Don't miss the last day of the 2009 Vida Latina Festival from noon to 7 p.m. at Plaza Fiesta in Fort Mill. There will be authentic Latin music, art, raffles, national handicrafts and dancing instruction — you can learn how to do the salsa, merengue and tango.

Winthrop University student chemists will give hands-on demonstrations for families and children in celebration of National Chemistry Week from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Museum of York County, 4621 Mount Gallant Road in Rock Hill.

Monday, Oct. 26

The unveiling of a historical marker at the former site of St. Anne Catholic School will be at 11 a.m. at 648 S. Jones Ave.

Anime and manga fans in grades six to 12 are invited to the York Public Library from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Registration is not required.

Tuesday, Oct. 27

Warm up the DVD player. “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” gets released.

Lenny Kravitz comes to the Charlotte Fillmore at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 28

Beta Sigma Phi's Tip, Drink and Be Scary benefit will be from 5 p.m. to midnight at the Grapevine Winebar, 1012 Market St. in Fort Mill's Baxter Village. Costumes are encouraged, but not required.

Thursday, Oct. 29

Experience some frights at the drive-in with a showing of “Halloween.” Tickets cost $5 per car.

Show off your knife skills at Clover's first pumpkin carving contest at 6 p.m. in the Clover Community Building, 120 Bethel St. There will be prizes for best traditional and original pumpkins. There is no entry fee but you must complete an entry form by Oct. 28. Go to www.cloversc.info for the form.