Start Halloween early with these events

If you want to give your little one’s Halloween costume a trial run, Wichita provides plenty of opportunities this weekend for a dress rehearsal and, of course, candy. Here are six events the whole family can enjoy. For more Halloween festivities see, Click & Go.

Haunted Food Trucks at The Wichita Eagle

Eight food trucks and seven Eagle writers will be in attendance at this event. Attendees can purchase food from Charlie’s PizzaTaco, The Flying Stove, B.S. Sandwich Press, Hopperoni Express, Let’m Eat Brats, The Waffle Wagon, Brown Box Bakery and Stubby’s BBQ. Outdoor writer Michael Pearce will be signing copies of his new cookbook. Writers including Denise Neil, Annie Calovich, Stan Finger, Suzanne Perez Tobias, Beccy Tanner and Carrie Rengers will hold a trunk-or-treat for the kids.

Details: 5-8 p.m. Friday, Eagle parking lot, off Rock Island between Douglas and Waterman. Admission is free. For more information, call 316-268-6327.

Night of the Living Zoo

No need to be frightened. This kid-friendly event at the Sedgwick County Zoo will include pumpkin bowling, beanbag tosses and a fortune teller. More than 7,000 visitors usually attend this event and pick up treats from different vendors, plus walk down jack-o’-lantern lane. You can wander at your own pace and visit Candy Land on your way out.

Most animals will not be in attendance, but maybe you can spot the giraffes, grizzly bears or elephants.

Details: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd. Tickets are $6 in advance at QuikTrip stores or online. At the gate, the cost is $6 for members, $8 for nonmembers. Ages 2 and younger get in free. For more information, visit www.scz.org.

Hay, Hooves and Halloween

This event at Old Cowtown Museum draws close to 2,000 people for trick-or-treating, dancing and games for all ages. Activities include a zombie gunfight, face painting, a magician and a masquerade ball.

Kids can view spooky displays and pick up candy at the historic buildings. Even the cowboys will have candy in their saddles. The event will also include visits from witches, Frankenstein’s monster, the Headless Horseman and more.

Details: 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 W. Museum Blvd. Admission is $5 for youths and adults and free for members. For more information, visit www.oldcowtown.org.

Trick or Treat Street

This nonscary night at the Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center starts with a short musical about trick-or-treat etiquette and safety. Then attendees can practice at 16 trick-or-treat stations in the theater with games, crafts and Soapy the clown.

This fundraising event for the theater is aimed at children younger than 10. Attendees can have pizza for $1.50 extra at the theater 30 minutes before the 6:30 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday shows with a reservation.

Details: 6:30 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday, Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center, 201 Lulu. Admission is $6 for the show and trick-or-treating, or $7.50 for pizza with the show and trick-or-treating. For pizza reservations, call 316-262-2282. For more info, visit http://wctdc.com/events/tots.htm.

Spooky Science at Exploration Place

This inaugural event at Exploration Place will have Halloween-themed science experiments for all ages. Make your own potions, crawl through a spiderweb obstacle course and create a creepy creature to take home. Presentations will include liquid nitrogen pumpkin blasts, candy on fire and sheep brain and eyeball dissections.

Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday, 300 N. McLean Blvd. Admission is included in the general museum ticket, $9.50 for adults, $6 for youths, $8 for seniors and free for members. For more information, call 316-660-0600 or visit www.exploration.org.

Discovery Days: Trick-or-Treat at the Museum of World Treasures

Explore the history of trick-or-treating while practicing the ancient activity at the Museum of World Treasures. Attendees can pick up candy throughout the museum from costumed staff members, with healthy alternatives offered as well. Halloween-themed crafts will also be available.

Details: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, 835 E. First St. Admission is free with regular museum admission, which is $8.95 for adults, $7.95 for ages 60 and over, $6.95 for ages 4-12 and free for ages 3 and younger. Family passes for two adults and two kids also are available for $28.50. For more information, call 316-263-1311 or visit www.worldtreasures.org.

This story was originally published October 24, 2014 at 11:34 AM with the headline "Start Halloween early with these events."