The beginning of October can signal one thing in Santa Ynez Valley and beyond — the fall season has begun and coming up fast will be Halloween and all the trimmings that come with it, like pumpkins.

And that was the idea a lot of people had on Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Solvang Farmer Pumpkin Patch on Alamo Pintado Road. The patch, owned and operated by Steve Jacobsen and his family, is one of the most popular in the Valley, and that showed as a good crowd showed up on a warm Saturday to get an early pick of the gourds.

“It’s an OK crowd, but I think the heat this weekend has kept a few away,” Steve Jacobsen said. “But I think the crowds will pick up as it gets cooler and also as Halloween gets closer.”

Jacobsen has operated the seasonal pumpkin patch along with family members like his daughter, Tayler, whom Steve calls the “brains of the operation,” and son Wesley, who was manning the popcorn stand at the patch on this Saturday.

In addition to the pumpkins, the Jacobsens also have a corn maze on the site that is a popular draw, as well as a number of old vehicles and farm equipment with pumpkins loaded on them, which makes for a great photo op.

The patch not only has a lot of Valley residents coming by, but also folks from further away.

Mario Pavlovic came up from Los Angeles with his sons Luka and Matteo to pick out a few pumpkins, and it was a return trip for them.

“We come to this place often, and they wanted to come up and pick pumpkins,” Mario said. “We used to come when it was at another location, and we’ve always been happy about what we found.”

Dylan Jones of Santa Maria, who was there with his family, was also becoming a loyal customer of the Jacobsens’ patch

“We came here last year and it was really great,” Jones said as his 2-year-old son Diego was pulling along a cart with pumpkins in it. “We decided to come back and try to make a tradition out of it.”

The Solvang Farmer patch isn’t the only one selling the Halloween gourds: The Summerset Farm and Pumpkin Patch, located at 3450 Baseline Ave. in Santa Ynez, just north of Edison Street and next to Highway 154, also has some available. The patch is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Summerset Farm calls itself “a hidden gem” in the Santa Ynez Valley and states on its website “our mission is to grow high quality produce to be enjoyed by all.” in addition to the pumpkin patch, the farm also offers a produce stand, pick-your-own berries, local honey, homemade jams, free range eggs, and more!

While pumpkins are popular this time of year, so is seeking out eerie and unsettling, but mostly fun, activities such as the haunted house put on by the Solvang Parks and Recreation Department. This year’s 29th edition of the Halloween Haunt is themed “Tainted Souls: Even Clowns Have Feelings” and will be open on Friday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Oct. 28, at 411 2nd St. in Solvang. Each night will kick off with a more kid-friendly version from 6 to 6:30 p.m., and the more “grown-up” version will continue from that point until 9:30 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for ages 12 and under.

Parks and Recreation Director Jenny McClurg made a general presentation to the Solvang City Council and remarked that they just got started on the attraction.

“We started this week, and it should be quite a production,” she said. “We should be busy with it for the next four weeks.”

The department is still seeking volunteers to help out with and participate in the Haunted House. You can register to help out, either as a guide or as one of the “monsters,” by going to cityofsolvang.com/310/Haunted-House. 

Meanwhile, The Haunt, billed as “Solvang’s premier ghost tour,” promises to “whisk you away into the ghostly past of this unique Danish village. Embark on a thrilling adventure through the town’s haunted architecture, steeped in eerie tales of their phantom residents at the most haunted sites.”

Having started back up last month in time for Danish Days, the tour is perfect for families, couples, and children. The Haunt combines authentic ghost hunting with engrossing storytelling, making it an unforgettable journey into Solvang’s haunted past.

The tour runs Thursday through Sunday through October and will also offer extra days on Oct. 30 and 31 for Halloween. The tour departs near the Visitor Information Center. Spots fill up fast, so book online now to secure your place in this otherworldly experience. To get tickets and learn more go to thehauntghosttours.com/tours/solvang/.

Other events on and around Halloween include:

A Not So Scary Movie; Saturday, Oct. 21, from 2 to 4 p.m.; 202 Dairyland Road, Buellton (future site of SYV Children’s Museum)

The Santa Ynez Valley Children’s Museum will be screening what is billed as a “Not So Scary Movie” for ages 10 and under and their families at the future site of the museum. Tickets are $8 per person or $30 per family, which includes the movie screening on the patio and access to the “Mud Kitchen” and “Dirt Zone” play area. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase and attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. For more information, go to syvchildrensmuseum.com. 

Day of the Dead: Haunted Ball at Sunstone, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m., Sunstone Winery, 125 Refugio Road, Santa Ynez

This Halloween, Sunstone Winery transforms into a haunting haven inspired by Dia De Los Muertos.

Enjoy Day of the Dead inspired cocktails, delicious bites, and dance the night away in the wine cave with DJ Fess on Deck.

Honor those who have passed and come dressed up in your best costume. Prizes will be given to the best dressed in three categories: Best Group, Most Original, and Best Couple. Tickets: $129 ($99 for Sunstone Members). For more info go to exploretock.com/sunstonewinery/event/439075/day-of-the-dead-haunted-ball-at-sunstone

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The kindergarten teachers at Solvang Elementary School decided to host a fun pumpkin patch for their students to celebrate Halloween, as the typical class parties and the school’s annual parade in Solvang were canceled. 

“These kids have been so great this year, adapting to distance learning and whatnot; we wanted to give them a little fun before school started in person,” said teacher Carrie Padfield. 

Breven Betz, 5, chooses his pumpkin at Solvang School’s pumpkin patch.
Photo by Raiza GiorgiHallow

The teachers gathered pumpkins and placed them on the grass field behind their classrooms and each student got to come during a designated time to pick a pumpkin and take a goodie bag home with them. 

“We are so excited to come back to class and see our teachers and friends,” said Natalie Groves, parent of Navine, who was excited about decorating her pumpkin. 

Breven Betz ran around the field looking at all the pumpkins before making his selection. 

“I work at home and so having the kids back at school will be great to get work done, but I am nervous about how this will go,” said Melanie Kile, Breven’s mom. 

Solvang started their hybrid model the following Monday with TK through first grade coming back on campus alternating days, and this week started second-third and eighth grades, and next week will have grades fourth through seventh. 

The classes are split into three cohorts with the green and blue groups alternating days, and the purple cohort only distance learning. All students will have to wear masks, even though Santa Barbara Public Health mandated masks for third grade and above, and face shields for kids in second and under. 

“It’s hard having five- and six-year-olds on the iPad all day and trying to teach a meaningful curriculum,” Padfield said. “I am so excited about having the kids back in class. School should be fun at this age, and this is when we instill a love of learning. I have been waiting months to see my kids.”

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The Allan Hancock College men’s basketball program is once again preparing to scare and delight the community with its annual “Frightmare Forest” haunted maze.

The three-acre haunted maze is located at Hancock’s baseball and softball complex and is adjacent to the college’s vineyard at 800 S. College Drive in Santa Maria.

Maze runners brave enough to enter the eerie labyrinth will navigate their way through an entanglement of tricks and spooky surprises. The event also serves as a fundraiser for Hancock’s men’s basketball program.

“Frightmare Forest has become a community tradition where kids of all ages, their friends and their families can come to experience a good old-fashioned scare,” said Hancock men’s basketball Head Coach Tyson Aye.

Frightmare Forest will run from 7 -10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings on Oct.18-19, Oct. 25-26 and Oct. 31 on Halloween night. Attendees are invited and encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes.

Tickets for the maze are $10 per person. Group rates are also available for groups of 10 or more.

Free parking and the entrance to the maze are located at the baseball and softball complex.

For more information, call 1-805-922-6966 ext. 3790 or email men’s basketball Head Coach Tyson Aye at tyson.aye@hancockcollege.edu.

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By James Riley

With gleeful laughs and frozen faces,

Happy children to my classroom came;

Costumes, excitement, candy and treats,

They looked different, yet seemed the same.

They all were something original,

Gruesome warrior or pretty maid;

Witches, bums and bag ladies too,

Uninhibited and unafraid.

Each child knew they were special,

As they scampered in mock fright;

Acceptance reigned within them,

They belonged on Halloween night.

But when the celebration is over,

If one peered closely inside,

Would another mask be unveiled,

A timid youth who wished to hide?

Inside they may feel all alone,

A clever mask they hide behind;

No one sees the tears that flow,

Nor feels the pain or hears their whine.

They long for one who loves them,

Undermining their self-made jail;

Still creating a parade of masks,

When pretentions begin to fail.

Underneath there dwells confusions,

Born in isolation and in fear;

They desire another’s gentle touch,

A caring heartbeat to be near.

Intently listen and try to hear,

Acceptance will set them free;

A bond is needed for them to share,

Behind the mask a child you’ll see.

Remember the child of Halloween,

Who scurried about in mock fear;

Understand that for many of them,

The masks stay on all year.

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Solvang Parks and Recreation Director Fred Lageman says that he loves his department’s annual haunted house because it brings out more than just terrifying screams. It also brings out all the volunteers who put it together.

“One kid that started in high school has come back every year, even now as he is in medical school,” Lageman said.

Another local volunteer that Lageman can’t wait to see is Athena McCandlish, who he says always comes up with the most intricate costumes really gets into character.

The 26th annual community haunted house, with the theme of “Fright Farm” this year, will return Oct. 30-31 to the Solvang Festival Theater along with its Halloween Street Fest.

A more kid-friendly version for young children will be available from 6 to 6:30 p.m. each night. A scarier version for older children and adults will run from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.

The terrifying haunted house and friendly street festival are organized by Solvang and Buellton’s Parks and Recreation departments. For just over 25 years, it has been a valley tradition to brave the approximately 20-minute guided tour through the theater building and grounds. More than 2,000 people walk through the mysterious haunted house every year, raising around $20,000 for Parks and Rec programs.

Lageman is in charge of the theme, storyboard and set design of the event, which he usually spends the previous year in planning.

The haunted house does take Lageman away from spending the holiday with his family, as he has never gone trick or treating with his kids, but instead the kids love helping out behind the scenes, and making those memories are just as precious to him.

“This year, though, they want to just experience the tour as if they’ve never seen it, so I fully intend on scaring them,” he said with a laugh.

Lageman says he encourages his staff and volunteers to work the event in shifts so that no one else misses an opportunity to trick or treat with their families if they want.

This year’s haunted house still needs about 30 monsters (actors) and another 20 tour guides, as well as volunteers to help with the construction and dismantling of the set. Applications are available in the Solvang Parks and Recreation office or on www.cityofsolvang.com. For more information, call 805-688-PLAY.

Tickets are available online on the city’s website and BuelltonRec.com, as well as at the door.

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Santa Ynez Valley merchants will welcome the fall season by kicking off the annual Scarecrow Fest and contest on Oct. 1. Residents and tourists are invited to vote on their favorite creations throughout the month.

This year’s contest will include Ballard, Buellton and Los Olivos as well as Solvang, the town that started the Scarecrow Fest. Scarecrows can also be found around Santa Ynez and Los Alamos during October.

The month-long festival will run through Oct. 31, during which time visitors and residents are encouraged to play, stay and enjoy the scarecrow sights and many community events.

Those events include Solvang Stomp on Saturday, Oct. 13, and the Solvang 3rd Wednesday Wine & Beer Walk on Oct. 17, as well as the Solvang and Buellton recreation departments’ big haunted house at Halloween.

The winning scarecrows from each town, crafted by local businesses, will be announced on Oct. 16 and eligible for the “2019 Harvest Cup: Best in the Valley” title and trophy, which will be announced at a ceremony in November.

The Landsby was the 2018 overall winner.

Each of the participating towns holds its own Scarecrow Fest and associated contest to select a winner that will represent each town in the quest for the valley-wide Harvest Cup trophy.

The valley’s first Scarecrow Fest was held in Solvang in 2010, initiated by the Solvang 3rd Wednesday committee. 

For more information, go to www.syvscarecrows.comor follow the event on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Scarecrow voters and visitors are encouraged to use the hashtag #syvscarecrows in on-line discussions of the SYV Scarecrow Fest.

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Halloween can be the spookiest night of the year, but keeping your pets safe doesn’t have to be tricky. Santa Barbara County Animal Services wants to help you have a Happy Halloween by reminding you about the Halloween dangers for pets. SBC Animal Services suggests that pet owners take the following steps to ensure their pet’s safety.

1. Keep pets safe inside your house or garage. This will ensure that pets won’t become frightened or feel threatened by costume clad children or adults.

2. Be sure all pets are wearing collars with ID tags. Check to make sure microchip information is up to date. Frequently opened doors can provide a perfect opportunity for escape. A license tag is your pet’s ticket home!

3. Keep candy out of your pet’s reach. Candy can be harmful and in some cases fatal to pets. Chocolate is toxic to both cats and dogs. Sugar free candies containing the sugar substitute xylitol can cause serious problems in pets. Candy wrappers may have tasty leftovers on them and if ingested can cause serious injury to your pet’s digestive system.

4. Use Halloween decorations with caution. Make sure that pets cannot become entangled in cords or other hanging decorations. While a carved jack-o-lantern is festive, pets can easily knock over a lit pumpkin and start a fire. The flame from a jack-o-lantern or candles can singe, burn, or set fire to your pet’s fur. It is recommended that you use artificial flames to decorate your home.

5. Leave Fido at home. Dogs may become difficult to handle during the noise and confusion of the Halloween festivities. A dog may run away or bite out of fear which will quickly end the Halloween fun for all.
Santa Barbara County Animal Services wishes you a safe and happy Halloween and reminds you state law requires all dogs over four months of age to be licensed. Should your pet get lost this Halloween be sure to stop by your local animal shelter in Santa Maria, Lompoc, or Santa Barbara so we can help them get back home.

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16

Flu Shots Now Available – Buellton Medical Center, 195 Highway 246, Buellton.

Better Hearing Event – 16th and 18th. Valley Hearing Center, 2027 Village Lane, Suite 204, Solvang.

17

Solvang 3rd Wednesday – Visit www.solvang3rdwednesday.com.

18

College Prep Advice – 6:45-7:45 p.m. Solvang Veterans’ Memorial Building, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; Free.

Birds of the Channel Islands Lecture and Book Signing – 7-8:30 p.m. Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang.

19

Milk: Dare You Do Dairy or Not? Seminar – 11 a.m.-noon. Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, 2050 Viborg Road, Solvang. Free; 805-688-6431.

Flu Shot Clinic – 1-5 p.m. Sansum Clinic, 215 Pesetas Lane, Santa Barbara. Adult and pediatrics; 805-681-7500.

Flu Shot Clinic – 1-4 p.m. Sansum Clinic, Pediatrics, 1225 North H. Street, Lompoc. By Appointment only, must be a current clinic pediatric patient; 805-737-8760.

Harvest Festival –  4:30 – 8 p.m. Enjoy a fun evening for the little ones at the annual Harvest Festival. Carnival games, petting zoo, food and more! Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Preschool at 1825 Alamo Pintado Road, Solvang. $6 and up.

Laberinto with Revancha Nortena on Stage – 8 p.m. Chumash Casino Resort, 3400 Highway 246, Santa Ynez; www.chumashcasino.com/entertainment.

20

Los Olivos Day in the Country – 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Downtown Los Olivos. Morning family fun run, parade, tractor show, food and drink. Free.

First Baptist Church Car Show –  10 a.m.-3 p.m. First Baptist Church, 2667 Janin Way, Solvang; www.fbccarshow.com.

Ice Cream Social – 2 – 4 p.m. at the Buellton Library – The community is invited to enjoy free ice cream and meet the new Senior Library Technician Dominic Keen. Sponsored by Friends of the Buellton Library.

21

Succulent Pumpkin Workshop – 1-3 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden, 151 Sycamore Drive, Buellton. $30/non-members or $20/members; www.santaynezvalleybotanicgarden.com.

22

Deadline to register to vote – For information, call 805-722-8683 or visit www.sbcvote.com.

23

Solvang Chamber of Commerce Business Expo 2018 – 4-8 p.m. Root 246 at Hotel Corque, 420 Alisal Road, Solvang. Network with other local businesses. Family friendly event; 805-688-0701 or www.solvangcc.com.

SYV Women’s Network Meeting – 6-8 p.m. 5797 W. Camino Cielo Road, Santa Barbara; 805-403-3999.

24

“Night of the Living Dead” Film Screening and Virtual Zombie Hunting – 9:45 p.m.-Doors open, 10 p.m.-Zombie Costume Contest, 10:15 p.m. Movie Begins. Unlimited Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. beer tastings from 9:45-10:15 p.m. while supplies last. Parks Plaza Theater, 515 McMurray Road, Buellton. $25/person or $20/members. Pricing includes beverages; www.centralcoastfilmsociety.org.

25

Past, Present and Future Exhibit – Now through Nov. 11. Elverhoj Museum of Art and History,1624 Elverhoy Way, Solvang. Exhibit in on display in celebration of the museums 30th anniversary. Free; www.elverhoj.org.

26

The Sugar Blues (Just in time for Halloween) – 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, 2050 Viborg Road, Solvang. Free; 805-688-6431.

Solvang School PTO’s Fall Carnival – 4-8 p.m. Solvang School, 565 Atterdag Road, Solvang; www.solvangpto.org.

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” Film Screening with Barry Bostwick – 8 p.m. Chumash Casino Resort, 3400 Ca-246, Santa Ynez. Screening with live shadow cast and behind-the-scenes stories by Barry Bostwick. $35 and up; www.chumashcasino.com/entertainment.

27

The Great Pumpkin Festival – 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Kalyra Winery, 343 N. Refugio Road
Santa Ynez. Pumpkin decorating, scary scavenger hunt, candy prizes and great wine (wine for 21+ only). Event is free, wine available for purchase; www.kalyrawinery.com.

Grand Opening Celebration – 11 a.m.-2 p.m. First Bank, 1992 Old Mission Drive, Solvang. Special promotions, hors d’oeuvres, drinks and door prizes; 805-688-0592 or karen.bowker@fbol.com.

Military Cannon Ball – 5-10 p.m. Solvang Veterans Memorial Building, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang. Dinner, 1940s Rose Garden Dance Band, dancing, auction. $60 cash or $62 online at www.syvalleyvets.org.

Mini Movie Night, “Lost Boys”  – 7 p.m. Alamo Hotel, 425 Bell St, Los Alamos. Free; www.muniwine.com.

Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden Member Appreciation Dinner – 5:30 p.m. deLanda Vineyard in Los Olivos. Dinner, live music, silent auction. $75/member; www.santaynezvalleybotanicgarden.com.

Halloween Party – 5 – 7:45 p.m. Bethania Lutheran Church, 603 Atterdag Road, Solvang. Food, friends and fun for all ages. Pizza buffet from 5:30-6:30 p.m. $5/person or $20 per family and a canned food or sock donation. RSVP desired at 805-688-4637 or bethanialutheranch@gmail.com.

31

The Santa Ynez Chamber Halloween Street Faire – 5-8 p.m. Games, bounce houses, food, live music by Agin Brothers & Territorial Law Band. Costume Contest at 6 p.m.

NOVEMBER

2

Queen of Arts Show and Sale – Nov. 2 from 4-7 p.m. and Nov. 3 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Solvang Veterans Memorial Building, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang; Free.

Steve Augeri, former lead singer for Journey – 8 p.m. Chumash Casino Resort, 3400 Ca-246, Santa Ynez. $19 and up; www.chumashcasino.com/entertainment.

3

Buellton Holiday Bazaar – 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Buellton Rec Center, 301 Second Street, Buellton. Free; www.buelltonrec.com.

4

Photography in Nature Workshop – 1-4 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden, 151 Sycamore Drive, Buellton; www.santaynezvalleybotanicgarden.com.

Daily

Pumpkin Patch and U-Pick Berries – 9 a.m. daily for the season. Summerset Farm and Dale’s Nursery, on the corner of Edison and Baseline off Hwy-154; 805-245-0989.

Solvang Farmer Pumpkin Patch – 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Open Daily; www.facebook.com/solvangfarmerpumpkinpatch.

Every Sunday

Arts and Crafts: “Nature Sun Prints” – 12-1 p.m. Neal Taylor Nature Center, Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, 2265 Hwy. #154, Santa Barbara. Free. $10/vehicle parked; 805-693-0691 or Julie@clnaturecenter.org.

Round Up Live Music on the Patio– 11 a.m. Maverick Saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. Visit www.themavsaloon.com.

Every Monday

Senior T’ai Chi, 9:15 a.m.; Arthritis Exercise Class, 10:15 a.m.; Creative Coloring, 1 p.m. every other Monday; Senior Issues, 1 p.m. every other Monday; Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805- 688-1086.

Divorce Care Recovery Seminar and Support Group – 6:30-8:30 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Christian Academy Library, 891 N. Refugio Road, Santa Ynez; Louise Kolbert at 805-688-5171.

Every Tuesday

Knitting, 9 a.m.; computer class, 9:30 a.m.; bridge and poker, 1 p.m.; Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-1086.

2-Step Lessons – 6:30 p.m.; 8 p.m. – Industry Night and Karaoke Party.

Maverick Saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. Visit www.themavsaloon.com.

Every Wednesday

SYV We Support the Troops – 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Volunteer to pack care packages on the 4th Wednesday of each month. Bethania Lutheran Church, 603 Atterdag Road, Solvang.  805-245-4951.

Yoga, 9:15 a.m.; Bingo, 1 p.m.: Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-1086.

Knit and Crochet – 1 p.m., Buellton Senior Center, West Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-4571.

Healing Hearts Support Group – 2-4 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church, 1825 Alamo Pintado Road. Free. To R.S.V.P. call 805-693-0244.

Solvang Farmers Market – 2:30-6:30 p.m., First Street between Mission Drive and Copenhagen Drive, Solvang.

Every Thursday

Chair Exercises – 10 a.m., Buellton Senior Center, West Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-4571.

Arthritis Exercise Class, 10:15 a.m.; poker, 1 p.m., Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-1086.

Brain Injury Survivors of Santa Ynez Valley – 12-2 p.m., Bethania Lutheran Church, 603 Atterdag Road, Solvang. Jodi House Brain Injury Support Center offers a support group for brain injury survivors and caregivers; www.jodihouse.org.

Honky Tonk Party – 4 p.m.-Free Tacos; 6 p.m.-Dance Lessons. Maverick Saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. Visit www.themavsaloon.com.

Every Friday

Pilates – 10 a.m., Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive; 805-688-1086.

Bingo – 1 p.m., Buellton Senior Center, West Highway 246, Buellton; 805-688-4571.

Every Saturday

Cachuma Lake Nature Walk – 10-11:30 a.m.; 805-688-4515 or www.sbparks.org.

Junior Rangers Program – 12:30-1:30 p.m. Neal Taylor Nature Center, 2265 Hwy-154, Santa Barbara. Children 3 and up; under 10 years must be accompanied by an adult. $3/person. Nature Center admission is free. Visit www.clnaturecenter.org.

KidKraft – 2-2:45 p.m., 2nd Saturday of each month, Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, 1511 Mission Drive, Solvang; monthly art class for kids of all ages; $5/child, adult admission included.

Coming Up

Log onto www.cityofsolvang.com, www.buelltonrec.com or www.visitsyv.com to see a full schedule of programs and events that range from adult and youth sports to teen dances, field trips, excursions and more.

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Fans can celebrate 40 years of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” alongside lead actor Barry Bostwick when he and a live “shadow cast” come to the Chumash Casino Resort’s Samala Showroom at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26.

After the screening, Bostick, who played Brad Majors, will dish on all his best behind-the-scenes stories during a live talkback and Q&A. Tickets for the show are $35, $45 & $55.

For the past four decades, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” has become a phenomenon that has sparked fans to dress up and shout lines in movie theaters across the world, especially during Halloween season.

This musical, science-fiction, horror-comedy film was released in 1975 by 20th Century Fox. The film is based on the 1973 musical stage production, “The Rocky Horror Show” and is a parody tribute to the science fiction and horror B movies released between the 1930s and early ’70s.

Panned by critics on initial release, the film soon became known as a midnight movie when audiences began participating with the film at the Waverly Theater in New York City in 1976. Audience members returned to the cinemas frequently and talked back to the screen and began dressing as the characters, spawning similar performance groups across the United States. At almost the same time, fans in costume at the King’s Court Theater in Pittsburgh began performing alongside the film, miming the actions on the screen above and behind them, while lip-synching their character’s lines. This method of shadow casting was adopted as another characteristic of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Tickets are available at the casino or at  www.chumashcasino.com.

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Each year the Santa Barbara Public Library offers one title to the community with the hope that everyone will read the same book at the same time—sparking conversations in the community about the themes of the book and how they relate to our lives.

This year, the library is excited to feature Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus  as our community reading program.  Now in its 200^th year of publication, and lauded as the first science fiction novel, Shelley’s 1818 classic explores themes such as prejudice, creation, the monstrous, and the ethics of scientific advancement.

The local Santa Ynez Valley libraries have planned events for all ages, beginning with a Ghost Story Challenge, for adults and teens.  (Mary Shelley’s novel was written in response to a challenge by Lord Byron to his circle of friends, to write a ghost story in one week.)  Library patrons will have until October 23 to submit a 500 word mysterious or scary story related to the supernatural.  How to submit: send your story in the body of an email (no attachments please) to SolvangLibrary@santabarbaraCA.gov, including your name, phone number, and age category: Adult (18+) or Teen (6^th -12^th grade).  A panel of professional authors will judge the entries, and the winners will be read aloud at the SBReads Frankenstein  Book discussion event on October 30^th  in the Santa Ynez Valley (Venue TBA).  All submissions will be published online.

Free craft events are planned: for ages 7 and up, Buellton Library will offer a MakeDo Frankenstein Cardboard event on Saturday October 6 at 2:00 pm.  MakeDo kits allow for fast and fun imaginative cardboard construction: participants will construct a larger than life Frankenstein. And, for adults, teens and tweens, Solvang Library will host FrankenZines on Saturday October 13,  at 2:00 pm.  Bring your own original, handmade Zine to life with collage, foldouts, and more!  (A zine is a small, self-published magazine)  All materials are supplied for these events, participants should register online at SBPLibrary.org to make sure there is space.

The Buellton Bookworms will discuss Frankenstein on Friday October 19 at 1:00 pm at Buellton Library

A special illustrated lecture exploring The Mythology of Halloween, by Arthur George, cultural historian and scholar of mythology, is scheduled for Wednesday October 24, at 6 pm at Solvang Library.  George, author of the blog “Mythology Matters” will examine not only the early beginnings of this popular holiday, but the myths which have grown up around it.

A double feature of the original Frankenstein movies will be shown at Solvang Library on Saturday October 27: at 1 pm, the original 1931 “Frankenstein,” with Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, and Mae Clarke; at 2:30 pm, the 1935 “Bride of Frankenstein,” with Elsa Lanchester, Boris Karloff, Colin Clive and more.  These are the classic James Whale films made at Universal studios.

For preschoolers, a Costume Storytime and Frankentoys Craft will be offered at Buellton Library on Monday October 29,  at 11:00 am.

Solvang Library’s final SB Reads Frankenstein Book Discussion event will be held on October 30^th at 6 pm, when the Ghost Story Challenge winners will also be announced and read aloud. Call the library to find out the venue for this evening!

Many more events are planned throughout the Santa Barbara Libraries: over 60 Santa Barbara Reads events can be seen in the online schedule (http://bit.ly/SBReads) or pick up an SB Reads booklet at any of the Santa Barbara Public Libraries beginning October 1.

Copies of Frankenstein and the related texts will be given away at several Santa Barbara Reads events as well as at random bookdrops throughout the community over the course of the month. Follow the Santa Barbara Public Library on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get these updates.

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