Here’s a new twist on the obstacle course race for charity events. The Zombie 5K Run For Your Lives race is coming to Los Angeles October 20, 2011. Technically it’s coming to Temecula, but close enough. The idea for this race is very cool. Do you think you would run faster if you were being chased by a horde of infected zombies? Well, by registering as a survivor, you will be given a head start in the race from those who registered as a zombie. Anyone who registers as a zombie will be encouraged to dress the part and act the part! The bad news is the last day to register for the race was September 28th, but you can still register to be a spectator. And if you live in Austin, TX then you still have time to register for the event there. Just check the website for details.

Every year, I make big plans to try to attend as many Halloween related events as I can. But after I factor in all the days I work, blog, and attend to normal chores and family responsibilities, it really leaves me little time to do anything else. Notice how I conveniently didn’t mention that I waste most of my free time watching stupid Jersey-Shore-esqe television or playing games on Xbox 360. Okay, I’m guilty! I can certainly spend my time a little bit better. So I’m planning the month out early and creating my Halloween Events Wishlist for 2011. I will try my darndest to get to as many of these events and throw a blog in about how they turned out. That’s if I can put down the Xbox controller, of course!

OCT 8-9 – Big Horse Feed Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch & Harvest Festival

I got lost in a corn maze once, but I refuse to let those tall veggies get the best of me, so I will try again at what claims to be the largest corn maze in Southern California. More Info

OCT 15-16 – Calabasas Pumpkin Festival

These are a few of the reasons I want to attend this event: food, beer, arts and crafts, beer, pumpkin carving, beer, carnival games, beer, live bands, beer, contests, beer. Did I happen to mention there will be a lot of beer? Pumpkin flavored of course. More Info

OCT 29 – Long Beach Zombie Walk IV

I am so looking forward to this! Not only will be a Zombie Walk in Long Beach attempting to break a world record for the most attendees, but there will be a full day-long street fest, with music, film, food vendors and art. Bonus! An attempt will also be made to break the record for the largest choreographed Thriller Mass Dance in the world. I better start practicing my moves! This event is open to all ages and gates open at 2pm. More Info

OCT 30 – OC Trick Or Treat Festival & Hearse Show

The actual title is the 14th Annual Trick or Treat Festival/Halloween Hearse Show and Procession: “Freak Out”. I think I can freak out on the length of that title. As always the OC Marketplace is full of merchant booths. (Hoping most of these will be Halloween related items). Kids are encouraged to dress up in costume and there will be free face painting. I hear there will be a world renown pumpkin sculptor there and an annual “Hearse Show and Procession which features more than 50 vintage, restored and classic hearses, funeral coaches, ambulances and limousines taking to the streets of Costa Mesa in a two mile cortege at 10 a.m. with FreakShow Deluxe’s Minister of Macabre, Reverend Tommy Gunn, as the Grand Marshal in the lead hearse.” How cool is that! More Info

OPEN NOW – Coffin Creek & Chambers of the Mausoleum

This year I want to try a new haunted house/maze so I bought tickets to Coffin Creek Haunted Village and Hayride in Corona, CA. Story is that after the water subsided from a heavy 14-day rainfall back in 1938, 13 coffins were found in the creek. However most of the remains of the coffins were missing and strange things began to happen ever since. This haunt has 5 haunted attractions including a hayride, scarecrow trail, and goodies at the Dark Shadow Marketplace Midway. More Info

OPEN NOW – Halloween Harvest Festival at Pierce College

This is and will always be a repeat event for me. The Halloween Festival at Pierce College is top-notch. Not only do they have a kick-ass pumpkin patch, but a stellar corn maze to get lost in. And at night, things get scary in the patch, cornfields and haunted house. Last year we were lucky to catch a local grade school performance of various Halloween numbers including an awesome version of Thriller! More Info

OPEN NOW – Reign of Terror Haunted House

I have been meaning to try this haunted house, and this year I might just make it. Located in the Janss MarketPlace in Thousand Oaks, this yearly haunted house is a local favorite. More Info

I gotta tell you… If there was one thing that scared me as a kid it was the Quija Board! We had one and I really have no idea how we got it. I can’t imagine my mom forking over money for a toy like that. Was it even a toy? (Well the one we had was made by Hasbro, so I guess it was). One summer night we had decided to set up my brother’s new tent in our backyard and camp overnight. Our plan that night was simple: goof off, eat candy, tell ghost stories, then use the Quija Board to try to conjure a spirit. We weren’t seriously expecting any ghoulish visitors though…just thought it would be fun to try. Earlier in the night, my brothers and I had built what we called “burglar traps”. A burglar trap was simply a bunch of tin cans strung together with twine. We had placed them strategically in the corners of our backyard in hopes of catching a burglar. (Although I don’t know what we would’ve done if we’d caught one. You don’t plan things out too far in advance when your 10 years old.) After we had eaten the last of our candy, we pulled the Quija Board out and placed it between all of us. We took turns asking the board stupid questions and placed our fingers on the small heart shaped piece of wood called the planchette. Each of us accused the others of purposely moving it around the board. I can’t say for sure if the planchette ever moved on its own, but suddenly we heard the cans from the burglar alarms start to make noise loudly from both corners of our backyard! WE FROZE and just starred at each other with ghost white faces. A second later we were running out of the tent and back into our house, screaming and locking the door behind us.

Now there are very logical explanations for what might have occurred that night. It could have been a cat that got tangled up in our trap setting it off. But it was from both traps at the same time. Maybe two birds…at night? I don’t know, but the next morning we took that Quija Board and buried it deep in the backyard. It’s been over 20 years so I’m sure that board is worm food by now. I’ve never touched a Quija board again. I’m always a little creeped out by them in movies too. From what I remember, the movie “Witchboard” was a scary Horror movie from 1986 about the use of a Quija board. Don’t forget the unhappy creature the Quija board awakened in the movie “Paranormal Activity”. There are rumors that a new Quija Board movie is currently being shopped around the studios in Hollywood. So are you convinced that Quija boards are dangerous and can only bring you harm? What…your still curious to try one? Okay, don’t say I didn’t warn you! You might be able to find a Hasbro version at Toys R Us, but if not, try this Primitive Folk Art Quija Board I found on Etsy.com. Good luck!