From pumpkin patches to haunted houses, East County pulls out all the stops to help you and your family have an enjoyable and safe Halloween. Get ready to mark your calendar – fun is just around the corner.

Now through Oct. 24

Home Decorating Contest

Members of the Brentwood Advisory Neighborhood Committee are seeking the city’s most ghoulish home in this year’s Halloween Decorating Contest. Any home within the Brentwood city limits exhibiting creative Halloween-related decorations in its front yard will be considered. To nominate a home, click here The winner will be announced Oct. 29. For more information, call 925-516-5366.

Now through Oct. 31

Smith Family Farms Pumpkin Festival

The Smiths’ month-long festival features activities such as a hayride to the pumpkin-picking patch, live interactive music, educational displays, a corn maze, Miwok Village, barnyard petting zoo, country store and picnic area. Reservations are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Drop-ins are welcome from 12:30 to 5 p.m. The festival runs weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission (which includes a pumpkin) is $8 on weekdays and $9 on weekends. Smith Family Farm is located at 4430 Sellers Ave. in Brentwood.

Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (through Oct. 31)

Sanctuary of Evil – Maze and Haunted House

Girl Scout Troop 31437 and Boy Scout VC Troop 152 are ready to scare up some more thrills at their annual Halloween extravaganza, which features a 7,000-square-foot corn maze, a haunted house and The Last Ride, a simulated ride to the grave in a pitch-dark wooden casket embellished by a spooky soundtrack. Admission, which includes all three attractions, is $10. The Sanctuary of Evil can be found at 936 Carpenter Road in Oakley. For more information, call 925-206-3339.

Oct. 15

Fall Carnival and Pumpkin Patch

Bring the family to Brentwood Elementary School, 200 Griffith Lane, from 5 to 8 p.m. for an evening of fun and adventure. This year’s event features carnival games, an obstacle course, bounce houses, a petting zoo, pumpkin patch (pumpkins will be on sale for $4) plus crafts and face painting. A magician will dazzle crowds with fun tricks. Admission is free and tickets will be available for purchase to access games and activities. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase.

Oct. 22

Laurel Elementary Halloween Carnival

Laurel Leopards invite the community to enjoy games, candy, a bake sale and other fun activities at this year’s festival. A haunted house will spook and delight visitors. Laurel Elementary is located at 1141 Laurel Road in Oakley. The carnival runs from 4 to 8 p.m.

Garin Harvest Carnival

Now in its 25th year, the Garin Harvest Carnival is the place to be to get a jumpstart on Halloween. The event features games, food, a petting zoo, hay maze, cakewalk, crafts and other wickedly fun activities. The carnival runs from 4 to 8 p.m. at Garin Elementary, 250 First St. in Brentwood. For more information, call 925-513-6370.

Masquerade Ball

Experience a spooktacular evening of entertainment, fine dining and dancing with the Brentwood Senior Citizens Club, Inc. from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Brentwood Senior Activity Center, 193 Griffith Lane. Attractions include music by Ciro Vargas, a costume contest plus a prime rib and chicken dinner courtesy of Brentwood Café. Prizes will be awarded to the best costume, scariest costume and most original costume. Tickets are $20. Purchase tickets in advance at the Brentwood Senior Activity Center by today, Oct. 15. For more information, call 925-516-5444.

Oct. 22 and 23

Red Man/Pochontas Halloween Festival

This year’s family-friendly festival, in its ninth year, features games, crafts, face painting, a kid-friendly haunted house, movies, raffle prizes and more. The festivities take place at 1403 Main St. in Oakley from 6 to 10 p.m. Admission is $1.50.

Oct. 23

Harvest Festival

The City of Oakley hosts its second annual Harvest Festival at Civic Center Plaza, 3231 Main St., from noon to 4 p.m. Come dressed in your Halloween costume for a chance to win a prize, and come on an empty stomach to battle it out in the pie-eating contest. Arts, crafts, vendors, games, a hay maze and pumpkin-carving contest are also scheduled to help get you into the Halloween spirit.

Pet Costume Contest

Cypress Veterinary Hospital, 2037 Main St. in Oakley, hosts an open house from noon to 2 p.m. This year’s event includes a pet costume contest. Registration is held from noon to 1 p.m.; awards are presented at 1:30. For more information, call Vicki at 925-625-5330.

Hometown Halloween

Fine tune your trick-or-treating skills at Brentwood’s premiere Halloween event, held at First and Oak streets from 5 to 8 p.m. This event is perfect for all the ghosts and goblins in your house. Take a stroll through downtown and visit the many merchant booths, and don’t forget to pop your head into the local businesses for treats at this safe-and-sane Halloween event. If you dare, take a tour of the two haunted houses or stop by the haunted bus for an extra thrill.

BOOville

Stop by Discovery Bay Elementary, 1700 Willow Lake Road, from 4 to 8 p.m. to experience BOOville, a joyous Halloween event for the whole family. Guests will find game booths, a haunted house, bounce houses and delicious treats such as caramel apples. Also check out the Goblins & Ghouls Rocking Halloween Band. Admission is free, but canned food donations are encouraged. For more information, e-mail booville@dbpta.org.

Oct. 24

Fishing for Treats

Bring the kids out for a day of fun in the sun and a little early trick-or-treating at the Hook, Line and Sinker sponsored bass tournament at Russo’s Marina, 3995 Willow Road in Bethel Island. Children who come to the tournament dressed in a Halloween costume will receive a special trick-or-treat bag. Enjoy a delicious hot dog barbecue presented by the Oakley Delta Lions Club and hang out to see which anglers take home the trophy. Call 925-625-2441 for more details.

Oct. 27

Halloween Party

Little monsters are invited to the Brentwood Senior Center, 193 Griffith Lane, for a Halloween party sponsored by the Friends of the Brentwood Library. Families will be treated to crafts, games and spooky snacks at this free event, so come in costumes or orange-and-black wear. The event is intended for grades K-6. Younger children are welcome with parental supervision. For more information, call 925-516-5290.

Oct. 28

Halloween Howl La La Boo

Be at the Oakley Library at 6:30 p.m. for a special, spooky storytime. Come dressed in costume for stories, crafts, treats and loads of fun. The library is located at 1050 Neroly Road. For more information, call 925-625-2400.

Pioneer Fall Fest

Family fun will be found at Pioneer Elementary School, 2010 Shady Willow Lane in Brentwood, from 5 to 8 p.m. Come join the Colts celebrate Halloween with games, crafts and tons of other ghoulishly great activities.

Oct. 28 and 29

Haunted House

Liberty High School’s Playmakers are ready to scare the Halloween spirit into you at their popular haunted house, open Oct. 29 from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. and Oct. 30 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $6 ($5 if you bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to charity). If you dare, the haunted house is located at the Liberty Performing Arts Center, 850 Second St. in Brentwood.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Be prepared for thrills and chills at Heritage High School’s annual haunted house. The Pride and Prejudice and Zombies house will be open during the witching hours of 7 to 10 p.m. The fright factor is appropriate for ages 13 and up. Admission is $5. Proceeds will be donated at the Heritage Theater Program.

Oct. 31

Dog Parade and Costume Contest

Don’t let Fido miss out on the tricks and treats of the season. Enter your pooch in the Streets of Brentwood Dogs on Parade contest, a fundraiser for the Contra Costa Humane Society. Contests include best costume, best trick, best singer, smallest dog, largest dog and a owner/dog look-alike competition. Registration is $10 to enter the parade and costume contest only; $20 to enter the parade plus two to six contests. Sign-ups begin at 8:30 a.m.; the parade kicks off at 9:15. For more information, visit www.cchumane.org.

Day of the Spooky Streets

Come celebrate Halloween at The Streets of Brentwood, 2565 Sand Creek Road, from noon to 4:30 p.m. The event features the Delta Transit Haunted Bus, the Tumble Time Bus, kid’s crafts and games, face painters, a pumpkin patch, a costume parade and contest and more. Radio Disney will also be on hand to set the mood with some silly and spooky tunes.

Halloween at Sand Creek Crossing

Trick-or-treaters are welcome at the Sand Creek Crossing Shopping Center in Brentwood from 2 to 6 p.m. The center’s stores, restaurants and retailers will be handing out free Halloween goodies while supplies last.

Holy Eve Community Carnival

Enjoy a fun and safe substitute to Halloween at the Holy Eve Community Carnival at Somersville Towne Center, 2556 Somersville Road in Antioch, from 2 to 9 p.m. The event, sponsored by the Grace Bible Fellowship of Antioch and the Salvation Army, offers free rides, games, food, candy and entertainment. Come check out the kid-friendly roller coaster, pony rides and bounce houses. For more information, call 925-522-2017.

Circus Night

Come on out and enjoy a safe-and-sane alternative to Halloween at the Harvest Time Assembly of God Church, 2200 Ventura Dr. in Brentwood, from 6 to 9 p.m. This free event features candy, games, pony rides and more. Bikes will be given away every 15 minutes. Call 925-516-1908 for more information.