October is here, with COVID causing a scare. There’s still traditional fun to be found

What is Halloween without trick-or-treating? And what is October without Halloween?

Yeah, boo is right!

It’s no surprise that COVID-19 could cancel Halloween, or at the very least cut the number of ghostly events in half, if not more.

You may not be showing off your zombie costume downtown, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get into the spirit by other means.

Get the bejesus scared out of you at The Haunted World, which is still going strong.

Or head over to Mad Swede Brewing for its Helhest Helfest, an autumnal celebration of the brewery’s fourth anniversary and its spookiest beer, the Helhest Oat Ale. The event, which kicks off Oct. 10, continues Wednesdays-Saturdays until Halloween, and features an all-ages, socially distanced haunted house, prizes and treats.

And if you haven’t taken the kiddos to Linder Farms and Lowe Family Farmstead yet, better schedule a visit for corn mazes, pumpkin patches and other family-friendly activities. The seasonal attractions wrap up this month, and this will be the last year for Linder Farms.

Have fun and stay safe this October. And be sure to confirm events before heading out, because nothing is certain these days.

Concert Series

Tuesdays on the Creek Concert Series: 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, through Oct. 13, Indian Creek Plaza, 120 S. Kimball Ave., Caldwell. indiancreekplaza.com. Band lineup:

▪ Oct. 6: Scott Pemberton

▪ Oct. 13: Casio Dreams

Festivals/Fairs

Fall Harvest Festival: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, in October, Outlaw Field, Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, Boise. Scarecrow Stroll, one-way straw maze, pumpkin patch, local food trucks, beer from Lost Grove Brewing, rotating artisan vendors. $8 general, $6 seniors, $5 children 4-12, free for ages 3 and younger and IBG members. Special events each week:

▪ Oct. 3: music and garden store yard sale

▪ Oct. 10: movie night “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (limited tickets)

▪ Oct. 17: music

▪ Oct. 24: spooky stories by Storyfort and Old Pen

▪ Oct. 31: Halloween costume parade (RSVP)

Idaho City Days: Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 3-4, Idaho City. Features a Cowboy Poetry Gathering sanctioned by the Cowboy Poets of Idaho; craft, antique and food vendors on the streets; amusements in the park; open house at historic buildings; entertainment on business stages throughout town; a fun run to benefit the high school cross country team; Saturday morning yoga at the Community Center; Community Sunday Worship in Brogan Park followed by breakfast to benefit the volunteer fire department. idahocitychamber.org/idaho-city-days.

Mazes and Haunts

The Haunted World: Dusk to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and dusk to midnight Friday-Saturday, Oct. 1-31, Northside Boulevard and Idaho 20/26, four miles north of the Nampa sugar factory. Features a 35-acre outdoor haunt, a hostel asylum gone wrong (Skullvania) and a 15-acre corn maze. $25 general, $30 for fast-track pass, free for ages 5 and younger, at the gate or hauntedworld.org.

Lowe Family Farmstead Corn Maze and Pumpkin Festival: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 4 to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, through Oct. 30, 2500 S. Eagle Road, Kuna. Corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, food, games, pig races, cow train, more. $8.49 Monday-Thursday, $13.21 Friday-Saturday, in advance or at the gate. Senior and military discounts available, free for ages 3 and younger. $20.75 for Field of Screams (Fridays and Saturdays only). 208-922-5678, farmsteadfestival.com.

Linder Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 5 to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, through Oct. 31, 7165 S. Linder Road, Meridian. Boise State corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, food, petting zoo, mechanical bull, more. Farm admission only, required: $5 Friday-Saturday, $4 Monday-Thursday, free for ages 3 and younger. Corn maze add-on: $7 general, $4 children 4-11. Half price for military (every day) and Tuesdays (everyone). 208-371-0222, linderfarms.com.

Helhest Helfest: All ages at 5 and 7 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday with an additional 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday for 21 and up only, Oct. 10-31, Mad Swede Brewing, 2772 S. Cole Road, Boise. Autumnal celebration of Mad Swede’s Helhest Oat Ale complete with a socially-distanced no-touch, outdoor haunted house, prizes, and of course, beer. $13 general, $7 children (parental discretion is advised for ages younger than 10), includes a journey through the haunted Helheim, a pint of Helhest Oat Ale (or an oatmeal cookie for kids and non-beer drinkers), and a roll of the ghost dice to win a range of prizes. Parties are limited to 10 people and should only include people in your “quarantine pod”. Parties will be led separately in 15-minute intervals. Reservations recommended: madswedebrewing.com/order-online.

Spectator Sports

Professional Bull Riders: 6:45 p.m. Oct. 16-17, Ford Idaho Center, 16200 N. Idaho Center Blvd., Nampa. $15-$350. ICTickets.

Virtual Events

Ridetober Virtual 5k/10k Challenge: The free virtual race can be completed anytime, anywhere between Thursday, Oct. 1, and Sunday, Oct. 11. Decide when, where and how (walk, run or bike) to complete your own race at your own pace. Registration at ridetober.com. The first 100 registrants will receive a free Ridetober 5k/10k t-shirt and swag. All registrants will be entered into raffle drawings.

Virtual SueB 5k 10k Walk/Run: Run or walk anytime from Sunday, Oct. 4, through Sunday, Oct. 11. Choose from a selection of 5k and 10k courses around the Treasure Valley following meaningful local landmarks such as SueB’s memorial tree in Ann Morrison Park and the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights. Also, offering a real-time, innovative race day experience through RaceJoy, which offers live tracking, progress alerts, and GPS mapping. Event will kick off Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. on the WCA’s Facebook page: facebook.com/WCABoise. The 11th annual event honors the memory of Susan “SueB” Newby and promotes healthy relationships while raising funds for the Women’s and Children’s Alliance Endowment Fund. Cost is $25 for 5k and $35 for 10k. Register and more information at runsignup.com/Race/ID/Boise/SueB5K10KRunWalk.

We Art Women: This year’s celebration of the arts for women by women will be online Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 22-25. Silent auction of invitational 8x8 panel art, the juried show artwork, as well as other community-donated pieces. And a virtual concert from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25. Fundraiser for the Women’s and Children’s Alliance. Donations appreciated. weartwomen.com.

Farmers Markets

Boise Farmers Market Drive-Thru: Customers place their orders online by 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, choose a pick-up time through the Eventbrite ticket system and arrive at the appointed time at the market at 1500 Shoreline Drive. Orders will be delivered to their car. Pickup times offered every 15 minutes between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays, through October. There are 25 slots for every 15-minute period. theboisefarmersmarket.com/bfmdrivethru.

Eagle Saturday Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 3, Heritage Park, 185 E. State St., Eagle. 208-489-8763.

Meridian Main Street Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 17, Meridian City Hall Plaza, 33 E. Broadway Ave. 208-918-3480, meridianmainstreetmarket.com.

Nampa Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 31, Lloyd Square Park, 13th and Front streets. 208-412-3814, nampafarmersmarket.com.

Farm to Fork Farmers Market: 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, through Oct. 13, Indian Creek Plaza, 120 S. Kimball Ave., Caldwell. indiancreekplaza.com/farm-to-fork-farmers-market-1.

Daily Calendar

Oct. 2

Local Legends: 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, Indian Creek Plaza, 120 S. Kimball Ave., Caldwell. Treasure Valley’s best musicians, dancers, comedians, and talent put on their best performance for your vote to become the 2020 Local Legend. Fundraiser for SK8 Ribbon Coalition. $10 at indiancreekplaza.square.site/local-legends, $12 at the door.

Borgore: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, Revolution Center, 4983 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. $20-$55. eventbrite.com.

Oct. 3

Beauty + Wellness Marketplace: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, Galaxy Event Center at Wahooz, 1385 S. Blue Marlin Lane, Meridian. Boutique show features 45 vendors offering a vast array of products and services, including skincare, makeup, nutrition, fitness, leisure, clothing, jewelry, plus the latest styles and trends. Free. Register at eventbrite.com.

Oct. 5

Law Enforcement Appreciation Celebration & Rally: 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, Ford Idaho Center, 16200 N. Idaho Center Blvd., Nampa. Featuring rising country music star Levi Blom & Band, Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue, and Meridian Deputy Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea. Keynoting the event will be Idaho Gov. Brad Little and Dr. Darrin Porcher, of New York, NY, a former NYPD lieutenant and US Army Officer, who travels the country as a police tactics expert witness. Gates open at 4 p.m. with food trucks in the parking lot. Proceeds will benefit local law enforcement charities. $10 at amplifythe99.com.

Oct. 9

Readings & Conversations w/Patti Smith: Online lecture at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, with Patti Smith, acclaimed musician and author of “Just Kids,” “M Train,” and “Year of the Monkey.” All tickets come with a complimentary copy of “Year of the Monkey.” $30 general, $25 for The Cabin members w/code. thecabinidaho.org/learn/programs/readings-and-conversations.

Oct. 10

Senior Fair: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 10, Nampa Civic Center, 311 3rd St. S. This year it’s going to look different as a curbside service. Attendees are still going to be able to come and visit with vendors who will help them sort out their questions and concerns regarding insurance, healthy living, finances, home care, assisted living, future planning and more. Except, seniors will drive up to the event, get their free tote full of information and goodies, and then park in a designated parking area and request the vendors they would like to meet with. Each vendor will come out and meet with the seniors in the parking lot, where the senior citizens can stay safely in their vehicles. Free. 208-468-5500, nampaciviccenter.com.

Harvest Festival: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, Heritage Park, 185 E. State St., Eagle. Pumpkin decorating, donut eating contest, music, food trucks, fall market, more. 208-489-8763.

Oct. 17

Young Dubliners: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, Revolution Center, 4983 N. Glenwood St., Garden City. $10-$35. eventbrite.com.