Riverside packs a lot into the holiday season, starting with plenty to do in October. October is the month when things cool down a bit and start to get spooky. Our monthly guide is by no means comprehensive, but it offers plenty of reasons to get out of the house this month, ranked from "Not Spooky At All" to "Mommy, Hold Me!"
Not Spooky At All
Riverside Historical Society Book Fair - October 6 Don’t worry! You didn’t forget to study for your final exam in history class—that would be spooky. The Riverside Historical Society is having another book sale, and if you love local history, come listen to the experts share things you don’t know about our city. This is your first chance to buy the Historical Society’s new compilation of scholarly and fun articles, The People's Playground: Riverside’s Fairmount Park.
Love Riverside - Citywide Serve Days- October 10-13 Love Riverside has been a good friend of the Gazette from day one. Every October, they organize a weekend-long community service event that includes opportunities for volunteers in many areas of the city and in many ways. Some of their needs include gardening, clean up, crafting, blood donation, and general organizing. No special skills are needed. Check out their website for the available opportunity that works best for you.
Barktoberfest - October 12 Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center’s Annual Barktoberfest is an incredible event. Bring your well-behaved pups to White Park and enjoy music, dancing, food, and beer. This is a 21+ event, but designated driver pricing is available if you just want to eat bratwurst and pet the puppies!
Arlington Vs. Poly Football at Wheelock Field - October 31 High school football on Halloween! Maybe not so scary, but costumes are encouraged, and some of you may prefer this to ignoring trick-or-treaters at your door all night. We will update this with a ticket link when it becomes available.
Spooky as a Puppy in a Skeleton Sweater
Spooky Stories and more at DTBS The Downtowne Bookstore has big plans this Halloween season. They will be sponsoring a scary story contest for all ages, with prizes for each of several age groups. There will also be a chocolate and book pairing event, as well as Spooky Stories in the dark in the newly restored basement. Additionally, there are book club opportunities, and the shop is decorated for Halloween and well-stocked with spooky books for readers of all ages.
Halloween Menu at RAD Coffee I'm not sure how they'll top the September Beetlejuice menu, but the folks at RAD Coffee (3952 University Ave) always have something cool going on. I can’t wait to see how scary they can make purple lemonade on the Halloween menu!
Full Circle Players: Henry V Henry V may not be the scariest Shakespeare play, but there are sword fights, and that is awesome! The Full Circle Players put on a great show at The Box at The Fox. Look out for special events and discounts!
A Sneak Peek at the Spooktacular Catacombs Tour at The Mission Inn. (Ken Crawford)
Spooky as a Munsters Marathon
Spooktacular Tours of The Mission Inn Catacombs We have all heard the stories. Now you can see how many ghosts you encounter on your way from the Mission Inn basement to the top of Mt. Rubidoux!... Just kidding. The Spooktacular Catacomb Tour is the first chance for many of us to see the basement halls that once served to house some of Frank Miller’s finest art. It’s mostly empty now, except for some spooky surprises. This may be your only chance to see what we have all heard so much about!
Flabob Haunted Airport - October 12 This is an exciting first for Flabob. Come see the almost 100-year-old airport dressed up for Halloween. There will be treats and prizes, and Flabob is an incredible place to experience the history of Riverside.
Riverside Airport Planes and Treats - October 19 The original Riverside Airport Halloween party. If you’ve been, you know how popular this event has become in just a few years. Lieimamo and the Riverside Airport Cafe crew do an incredible job, and this year promises to be the best yet.
Ghost Walk: Nevermore - October 25 and 26 White Park is the jumping-off point for a guided storytelling tour of Downtown Riverside. The park will host an Edgar Allan Poe-themed party, featuring family entertainment and a beer garden. The optional tour will take you through the haunted history of Riverside, with talented storytellers sharing totally not true (maybe) tales at the spots where they occurred.
Mommy, Hold Me! (not for the very young or easily scared)
Castle Dark Ghosts, ghouls, and jump scares galore! Castle Park transforms into a scary, fun haunted estate for Halloween every year. This is a full-scale haunted party, and you don’t have to drive the whole 91 freeway to get there.
Reichland Asylum Haunt - October 11-31 On Bandini between Brockton and Magnolia, Reichland Asylum emerges every Halloween for a truly unique neighborhood experience. The Wood Streets always know how to party, and Reichland Estate is a well-crafted haunted house with incredible lighting and decorations. It may be too scary for very little ones.
This list includes just a few selections from everything happening in October. Please check our calendar for events around town and any Halloween-themed activities.
A free event on Oct. 13 at the Civil Rights Institute in Southern California celebrates local female activists with a book launch, performances, and exhibits.
