Halloween

Zombie crush

Art Mix: Monsters' Ball

Get ready to do the monster mash on October 9, when the Crocker Art Museum's nod to All Hallow's Eve, the ghoulish Monsters' Ball, shuffles back into town like a mob of hungry extras from The Walking Dead.

Riding on the vampire cape tails of of the Sacramento Republic FC’s success, this year’s Art Mix: Monsters’ Ball event is sure to shoot adrenaline into the hearts of fans still suffering through the agony of World Cup withdrawal with the Living Dead Cup. This will be a four-on-four, creature-feature match organized by Street Soccer USA’s Sacramento Lady Salamanders—an organization that seeks to empower homeless women by providing life and job skills through the game of soccer. Of course, what would a horror-inspired evening be without a little musical wizardry? DJ Shaun Slaughter will spin diabolical tunes and indie rockers Mt. Whateverest will perform live. Psychics will also be on hand, should you want to know your fate, as well as creepy crafting exhibitions, films and art tours lit by the ominous glow of flashlights. Oh, and Giggle and Riot will set up a photo booth for those looking to indulge in spooky selfie fun. 5-9 p.m., free for members, $10 for nonmembers. 216 O Street; https://crockerartmuseum.org. L.H.

There will be blood

Vampire Ball

The inaugural Vampire Ball in 2009 paid tribute to Bella and Edward, the fang-crossed lovers from the Twilight series. Since then, themes have included homages to True Blood, Dracula, and Interview with the Vampire author Anne Rice. This year the celebration sinks its teeth into another True Blood theme. Visitors are invited to interact with actors and visit sets designed to emulate Sookie Stackhouse’s hometown of Bon Temps, La., with a trip to Fairy Land, Merlotte’s Bar & Grill and Fangtasia, among other spots. In other words, there will be blood—fake blood, hopefully. Saturday, October 25, 8 p.m.; $20-$25; 21 and over. Placer County Fair & Events Center, 800 All America City Boulevard in Roseville; www.shannonmc cabe.com. J.M.

Gross out, freak out, trip out

Scream Park California

Get your scream on starting October 4 at Scream Park California, the ultimate hair-raising experience for those who want to be grossed out, freaked out and tripped out while exploring three terrifying haunted houses designed to scare, shock and frighten. Traverse the mind of Richard Trenton Chase in a house that resurrects the horrific deeds of the notorious serial killer, the Vampire of Sacramento—Chase drank the blood of his victims—by recreating scenes based on his actual murders of innocent men, women and children in the 1970s. Try to decipher reality from a bad acid trip in a hallucinatory house that uses 3-D ChromaDepth technology to make visitors think spiders are crawling in their brains, and good luck making it out of Asylum alive—groups only get one flashlight to navigate through this totally blacked-out prison for the criminally insane where the patients are on the rampage. Eek. Through November 2, $20-$40. Scream Park Pavilion, 4909 Auburn Boulevard; (530) 794-8511; www.screamparkcalifornia.com. J.R.

This one's for the kids

Monster Bash

There’s something timelessly cute about dressing up one’s kids in embarrassing Halloween costumes. Things get decidedly less cute when kids become rebellious teenagers and go trick-or-treating—then hassle other kids for candy and vandalize houses. Step back in time where kids can have a bunch of fun in a safe environment with the Sacramento Children Museum’s Monster Bash. It’s a safe night of costumes, music, photos and exploring the museum’s kid-friendly exhibitions. Saturday, October 18, 6 p.m.; $15 for general admission, $10 for members. 2701 Prospect Park Drive in Rancho Cordova; www.sackids.org. J.M.

Do fright right

Callson Manor

This Halloween, don’t waste your time wandering around the world’s largest, “scariest” corn maze—it’s all just an elaborate trick concocted by the corn industry to disguise exercise as entertainment. Instead, from October 3 to November 1, head over to Callson Manor, an expansive Halloween theme park that features nine separate attractions, including a haunted house, an eerie insane asylum and a ghastly ghost town. For those with an unquenchable thirst for blood and brains, food and drinks from the Slasher Cafe should do the trick. Get your fright right this year and leave the babies at the pumpkin patch—or, better yet, get a sitter. 7:30-10 p.m., $26-$60. 800 All America City Boulevard in Roseville; www.callson manor.com. R.R.