No matter where your tastes run, there's probably a Halloween party just right for you somewhere on Cedar Creek Lake this weekend and continuing through the big night on Oct. 31.
In Gun Barrel City Park the Pavilion will host "Monster Mash Bash," a family-oriented Halloween dance and costume contest on Wednesday, Oct. 31, featuring Tuley's Karaoke playing spirited tunes. The event will begin at 8 p.m. after trick or treating wraps up and end at 9:30 p.m. There will be three categories in the City Park costume contest with each awarding a $50 prize for the best get-up. The categories are ages six and under, ages seven to 13, and ages 14 through adults.
For the more daring there will be a Halloween costume party at Garlow's nightclub Saturday, Oct. 27, also in Gun Barrel City. The crowd will run more to the likes of what you might expect to see at the large annual Halloween bash in Dallas' Oak Lawn entertainment district. Garlow's hosts regular female impersonator shows so the crowd is likely to be dressed in an anything-goes sort of style, The costume contest that starts at 11 p.m. will feature a first-place prize of $100 cash and a $100 bar tab, a second-place prize of $50 cash and a $50 bar tab and a third-place prize of a $25 bar tab.
Down the road in Seven Points, Cedar Isle Restaurant and Baja Beach Club, will also feature a costume party on Oct. 27. The club, which also leans toward the anything goes spirit late at night, will feature live entertainment by Lost Boys band and cash prizes for best costumes.
In Mabank the "Halloween Senior Monster Ball" will be held at the Ballpark Senior Center, Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. It will feature Joe Walenta and the Ranch Hands band. There will be prizes for best costumes, and hot dogs, chili pie, nachos, desserts and non-alcoholic beverages will be served.
In Payne Springs the Fire Department is hosting "Fright Night at the Firehouse" Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-27, 7 p.m. to midnight, and Wednesday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
In Tool, the city is hosting a fall festival and costume party Friday, Oct. 26, at Oran White Civic Center, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In Kemp City Park the city will host a fall festival Saturday, Oct. 27, at 1 p.m. featuring a costume contest and coloring contest. The Yellow Jacket Marching Band will perform at 3 p.m.
In Kaufman, the county will host "Scarecrow Festival" on Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Courthouse Square. The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake will be there from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. showing dogs and cats it has available for adoption.
So go out and have a good time, but remember temperatures are expected to drop 20 to 30 degrees in the next couple of days in case you are planning something really daring.