For over 75 years, the Prell-Bland American Legion Post 271 Halloween Parade has been a local tradition, reports member Buck Hoegeman.

All Batesville children are invited to wear costumes and march Saturday, Oct. 31. The procession starts at 6 p.m. from Batesville Memorial Pool on Mulberry Street, heads east on West Pearl Street, south on South Main Street and ends in front of the Memorial Building, where each child will receive a bag of treats.

Legionnaires get together and stuff over 800 bags beforehand and then distribute them, he says. “I love to see the kids in their costumes and the parents that come out for the parade.”

Rain won’t disappoint trick-or-treaters. If that happens, they’ll go out to the Liberty Park pavilion to get their American Legion goodies.

To blast off fall’s creepy holiday period, 15 events are slated in this area over the next two weeks.

In chronological order:

A Haunted Village that includes a hayride around Metamora and a tour of scary scenes is presented by the Metamora Economic Development Corp. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 16-17, from 7-10 p.m. Cost is $5.

On two Saturday nights, Oct. 17 and Oct. 24, Halloween cruises are being planned for 7:30, 8 and 8:30 p.m. by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources at the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site in Metamora. Storytellers Jeff Kuehl and Celestine Bloomfield will tell ghostly tales as the boat proceeds down the canal and back. Treats for passengers round out the event. Cost is $4. Info: 765-647-6512.

The Southeastern Indiana YMCA and the Batesville Community School Corp. Choices Program host a free costume dance for all grade 6-8 students at the Y Saturday, Oct. 17, from 7:30-10 p.m. Costume contest categories are best overall, most creative, best group, scariest and funniest. There will be a DJ, and pizza and bottled water will be provided. It will be a “fun time for the kids to get out and meet other people and show off their costumes,” announces Trent Freyer, YMCA sports and recreation director.

Haunted hayrides are scheduled for two Sundays, Oct. 18 and 25, at the Brookville-Whitewater Reservoir. In addition, there will be karaoke and a costume contest on Oct. 25. Info: www.in.gov/dnr/ fall.

All youth are invited to the fifth annual Franklin County 4-H Fun & Friendly Halloween Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 5-7 p.m. at the Brookville fairgrounds. In addition to a petting zoo, hayrides, games and trick-or-treating, a costume parade is slated for 5:30 p.m. and storytime at 6. “It is a fun and safe place to trick-or-treat and a unique Halloween event in the area,” reports Angie Riffle, 4-H youth development extension educator. Info: 765-647-3511.

The Batesville Memorial Public Library’s Halloween party is Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 7-8 p.m. Children ages preschool through third grade are encouraged to arrive in costume and will receive trick-or-treat bags. Don Miller will present “The Boo-Rific Halloween Show.” “He will be doing a magic act,” says Sandra Dickey, children’s department head. She encourages youngsters to attend “just for the fun of Halloween.”

Haunted history will be presented at the Brookville Library Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m. Participants will share spooky stories and local legends concerning Franklin County.

“Bats and Boo...ks” is the theme of the Greensburg-Decatur County Public Library party Friday, Oct. 23, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. “We’ve changed some things this year .... Kids can wear their costumes, and we encourage Moms and Dads to do so, too. They will follow the Halloween treat trail and everyone will get treats and refreshments and make crafts .... and listen to stories,” notes outreach librarian Lori Durbin. “You can pick and choose what you want to do.” Each family can bring one carved or decorated pumpkin to be judged during a contest with funniest, scariest, prettiest, most creative and most unusual categories. The program is targeted for kids 12 and under, and children must be accompanied by adults. Registration required: 812-663-2826.

Rugged families can enjoy Spooktacular Camping. On Friday, Oct. 23, there are campfires, spooky crafts and refreshments at Mounds State Recreational Area’s Brookville Lake Camp Store and the Whitewater Memorial State Park naturalist cabin. On Saturday, Oct. 24, both sites will have a campsite decorating contest, trick-or-treating, crafts, live music and scary bingo. Mounds SRA also will host a cornhole tournament and costume contest for kids, adults and pets. Info: Indiana Department of Natural Resources, 765-647-2657.