Camarillo families have at least eight ways to celebrate Halloween in October, according to a new Visit Camarillo guide published Thursday, Sept. 24, by writer Bailey Huerta.

The lineup spans the full month. Here are the highlights.

Trail or Treat at Camarillo Grove Park

The Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District hosts Trail or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Camarillo Grove Park Nature Center, 6968 Camarillo Springs Road. Kids in costume trick-or-treat along the 1-mile Camarillo Grove Trail, answering nature-based questions at stops to earn treats. A craft station awaits at the Nature Center. Admission is $10 per child.

Parents get in free.

Registration is through the PVRPD Amilia store.

13th annual Boo Fest in Old Town

The Camarillo Merchant Association brings back its 13th annual Boo Fest on Saturday, Oct. 31, from noon to 3 p.m. in Old Town Camarillo. The free event sends costumed attendees trick-or-treating along the "Booooulevard," visiting participating businesses. A costume contest features four categories: Best Dressed Families, Best Dressed Adult, Best Dressed Youth and Best Dressed Pets, with small, medium and large breed divisions.

Chapel City Church, at Ventura Boulevard and Arneill Road, hosts a free carnival with games and treats during the event. Scannable Camarillo Heritage Days stickers on the sidewalk offer historical tidbits along the route.

Trick-or-treating at Camarillo Premium Outlets

Also on Oct. 31, Camarillo Premium Outlets holds a trick-or-treat event from 1 to 3 p.m. Visitors in costume can collect treats from participating stores displaying a pumpkin in the window.

More October happenings

The Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology offers guided tours Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., by reservation, and self-guided tours on Saturdays. The Visit Camarillo guide describes the foundation as housing one of the world's largest collections of avian artifacts, including skeletons, nests and eggs.

Malone's Metaphysical & More has October events including a group meditation and ceremony for the Full Moon in Aries on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

The Scary Dairy, a former dairy farm of the Camarillo State Mental Hospital in University Park, has served as a filming location for productions including The Ring, Jarhead, The X-Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The abandoned site sits off University Drive on Old Dairy Road.

The Local, an Irish pub, celebrates Halloween all month with themed cocktails, music and a costume contest on Halloween night. The Open Book at Camarillo Premium Outlets plans spooky arts, crafts and author events throughout October; dates are listed at theopenbook.net/pages/camarillo.

Upcoming Halloween events

  • Oct. 7 — Full Moon in Aries ceremony, Malone's Metaphysical & More
  • Oct. 17 — Trail or Treat, Camarillo Grove Park Nature Center, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., $10/child
  • Oct. 31 — 13th annual Boo Fest, Old Town Camarillo, noon–3 p.m., free
  • Oct. 31 — Trick-or-treat, Camarillo Premium Outlets, 1–3 p.m.