Published: October 28, 2009 09:45 pm      

Scaring up some fun:

PRINCETON – Ghosts, goblins, witches and perhaps even Harry Potter and Spider-man will roam the region this Halloween, but there are times when they can trick-or-treat and parties they can attend.

Halloween arrives on a Saturday this year, but opportunities for early spooky fun arrive on today and on Friday, too.

The Princeton Times is hosting its sixth annual Trick-or-Treat at the Times on Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m..

The afternoon’s events and offerings will include free treats, a harvest photo shoot and free child identification finger-printing by a representative of the West Virginia State Police.

In addition, trick-or-treaters 15 and under will be eligible to enter a free costume contest worth a $100 savings bond for the grand prize winner and $50 savings bonds for the first-place winner in each of three age categories: 0-4 years old; 5-9 years old and 10-15 years old.

While all the activities are free, Princeton Times Editor and General Manager Tammie Toler said parents will also be able to purchase photo prints and CDs of their trick-or-treaters.

Toler said the event offers local youngsters either an alternative or addition to traditional trick-or-treating.The Princeton Times office is located at 109 Thorn Street.

• The Chuck Mathena Center and Mercer County 4H are hosting a canned food drive today from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. People are being urged to trick-or-treat in their neighborhoods to collect canned food for Tender Mercies Ministries in Princeton and the Bluefield Union Mission. Organizers urged participants to chose a costume, collect canned food and bring it to the CMC where there will be hot chocolate and cookies.

People who wish to donate but cannot go out Thursday can still contribute by bringing canned goods to the CMC by Nov. 5. For more details, and to sign up please contact CMC at 304.425.5128 or e-mail CMC at boxoffice@cmcwv.org.formation.

•At the Princeton Recreation Center, the annual Haunted House is open Friday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Oct. 31, Halloween, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Rooms featuring everything from spiders to scary clowns are part of this year’s haunted house. Proceeds help sponsor the department’s activities.

•At the former Kroger store in Bluefield, Va. Jack and Viola Asbury and the Bluefield, Va. Kiwanis Club are hosting the annual Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The free party features refreshments, games, spooky activities and more. The party was created to give children safe activities for Halloween night.

•The Matoaka Fall Festival is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Town of Matoaka.

• The Haunted Mine at Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine in Pocahontas, Va. is open today and Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and admission is $5 adults and $3 children under 11-years-old.

•The Montcalm High School ROTC will be hosting a Spooky Bowling Days 10 at the Green Valley Bowling Center on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. A Halloween party will follow until 4 p.m.. Participants will be able to bowl three games and get shoes for $7. Trophies and spirit awards will also be given. Anyone is invited to participate. For more information, call Brian Krabbe or Sgt. Dorsey at (304) 589-3719.