KVCC

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum will celebrate Safe Halloween on October 26. The practice of dressing up for Halloween is as old as the items displayed in Dazzling Dresses. It is only “fitting” then that this year's Safe Halloween program be focused on things you wear! Come ready to be adorned with hats, masks, jewelry, and accessories.

Participants will be able to create and decorate items to wear from top to bottom, including a pirate hat and scarf, a Halloween visor and crown, or a collage spider hat. Children will have their pick of face painting, pumpkin glasses, or a super hero, skeleton, or zombie mask. There will be crafts to make an Egyptian collar or a reflector, or a beaded necklace. Paper-bag vests, snap bracelets, Halloween tattoos, and bat ring will also be available. Canvas Trick-or-Treat bags, monster fan, and designer shoe laces complete the festive ensemble. Twenty free hands-on crafts will be available from noon to 4 p.m. Visitors may also take a quick walk through the graveyard and haunted halls of the planetarium. Nightwalk, a free show, will run every half hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last show at 3:30).

A Spooky Spaceship Mission will take place every half hour in the Challenger Learning Center; free from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last mission at 3:30 p.m.). An abandoned spacecraft orbiting Earth, which supposedly crashed on Mars several years ago, is now attempting to make contact with Mission Control. Help solve the mystery of the spooky spacecraft. Open to all ages. Children under the age of eight must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Limited seating.

DKA Charities will once again welcome local youth-serving organizations for hands-on activities and trick-or-treat on the Kalamazoo Mall, behind the Museum, between Eleanor and Water Street from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A costume contest will be held at noon. There will also be activities at Trunk-O-Treat in Bronson Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., sponsored by the City of Kalamazoo's Parks and Recreation Department.

The Costume Closet is also accepting donations of new and gently used costumes for those who would like one. Costumes can be donated at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, the City's Parks and Recreation office at 251 Mills Street at Mayor's Riverfront Park, and at Downtown Kalamazoo, Inc., 141 E. Michigan Avenue, Suite 501. Costumes will be available on a first come, first served basis.

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its Board of Trustees.