The time for scares and candy is here again – Halloween time! Sure, you can frighten yourself to death in one of those “hayrides” around town, or, if your nerves and/or your kids are not quite ready for something like it, you can celebrate the holiday in a less horrifying, yet not less fun, way in Old Pasadena.

In fact, you can start having fun this weekend, when on Saturday, Oct. 25, you and yours can decorate a jack-o-lantern at One Colorado (41 Hugus Alley) from 10 a.m. to noon. Pumpkins will be provided on a first-come first-served basis, along with glue sticks and washable markers so that you can create and later take home a personalized pumpkin. That’s not all, on Sunday, Oct. 26, you can give your dog an early celebration by taking it to the “Growl-o-ween” at The Dog Bakery (36 W. Colorado Blvd., Suite 3 -on Mills Place) at 9 a.m. Dress up your dog, parade it about, and it may end up winning the costume contest, which will include categories like “best large dog costume,” “best small dog costume,” “best duo costume,” and so on.

On Halloween Day (Oct. 31), it will be your turn to dress up and trick-or-treat in Old Pasadena from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., when more than 100 businesses will be expecting your family. Popular costumed characters will walk up and own Colorado Blvd., and Old Pasadena “ambassador guides” will be handing out Halloween eggs filled with surprises. When your candy bags are full, you can then walk to the One Colorado courtyard for a free professional photo against a Halloween themed background and hundreds of pumpkins. Or you could arrive at 7:30 p.m. instead, to watch “Mad Monster Party?” which will be screened at One Colorado.

Sounds like fun? We think so. See http://www.oldpasadena.org and http://www.onecolorado.com for more information. And have a happy and safe Halloween!

Photo courtesy of oldpasadena.org