It's Halloween - time to get chilled, thrilled and spooked! Sarasota and Her Islands is hopping with family-friendly Halloween happenings, including costume contests, haunted hayrides and houses, pumpkin carving, a scary ball, gory theater — and even an appearance by a mummified pharaoh.

Sarasota's Downtown Merchants Association is hosting its first Halloween Extravaganza at

Kids bob for apples at Sarasota Jungle Gardens' Creatures of the Night event

various downtown locations on Oct. 27. The kid-friendly events happen at Five Points "Bones" Park and include a costume parade, a doggy contest, pumpkin painting, scarecrow building and scary story readings. The adult fun starts around 5 p.m. in "Skelton Alley" on Lemon Avenue with a costume competition, a "Head Dress Extravaganza," live music and a hayride. At midnight, the "Scream at State Street" (State Street at Lemon Avenue) features a live performance from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, followed by a showing of the film, complete with audience interaction.

The Fright Factory, A Nightmare on Main Street is a fabulously frightening haunted house (at 1400 State St.) created by members of the Sarasota Fire Fighters Benevolent Fund. Kids and adults will experience their share of thrills and chills from close encounters with monsters and other creepy creatures every weekend in October beginning with Oct. 12.

On Halloween, the Pineapple Scare Monster Ball takes place in The Fright Factory and promises to be a ghoulish extravaganza. Funky sounds from DJ Funkmaster Dima, dancing, tasty treats from 10 top Sarasota restaurants, a bubble and boil fountain and a graveyard retreat are part of the festivities.

At Mote Aquarium, it's Sharktoberfest all month long. If kids wear Halloween

A pirate ship is part of the fun of The Children's Garden's Spooktacular Celebration

costumes, they get a treat bag - and get in free with a paying adult. On Oct. 6, kids can, if they dare, shake fins with Count Sharkula; and on Oct. 13 come face to face with the notorious Captain Black-Fin.

Celebrate the creepy and the crawly at Sarasota Jungle Gardens' Creatures of the Night on Oct. 26 and 27.A "Hallo-Weenie Roast," a "Things That Go Bump In The Night" show and a scary walk down the "Terror Trails" are among the eerie activities. You can also "Meet The Creeper" and explore the "Department of Dastardly Discoveries." It's a jungle out there.

King Tut is the headliner at G.WIZ's Tut-O-Ween on Oct. 27. The science and discovery museum will be transformed into a Halloween phantasmagoria, with ghostly games, gooey goodies, meandering mummies and costume contests. There will be trick or treating in different areas of the museum.

The whole family will find something to scream about at Warm Mineral Springs' 5th Annual Haunted Halloween, Oct. 27. A tunnel of terror, a haunted hayride, a "Fear Factor Dungeon," wicked brews, pumpkin-carving and costume contests, games and music provide fear and fun.

Take a walk on the wild side at Crowley Museum & Nature Center's Halloween Fun on Oct. 27. Roast hotdogs and marshmallows over a campfire while exchanging spooky stories. And there are hayrides, costume contests and horseshoes, too.

Spend Halloween night with dinosaurs! On Oct. 27, children 8 to 12 are invited to the South Florida Museum's Halloween Sleepover, from 6 p.m. until 9 a.m. the next day. The fun includes museum tours, pizza, movies and games. (Editor's Note: If the T-Rex snores, it's best not to wake him.)

The Children's Garden's all-daySpooktacular Celebration, being held on Oct. 28, offers a "Spooktacular Art Gallery;" the biting insights of McGruff the Crime Dog; trick or treating; and booths selling toys, food and flea market fare.

Older children and teens will get a fright out of the FSU/Asolo Conservatory's Murder by Poe production on Halloween. The scarefest features seven of Edgar Allan Poe's horrific tales, on stage at the Historic Asolo Theatre.

Contact the attractions directly for event hours, admission prices and any age restrictions.

Happy Halloween!

If you go:

The Children's Garden, 330-1711, www.sarasotachildrensgarden.com

Crowley Museum & Nature Center, 322-1000, www.crowleymuseumnaturectr.org

FSU/Asolo Conservatory, 351-8000, www.asolo.org

The Fright Factory, A Nightmare on Main Street, www.thefrightfactory.net

G-Wiz, The Hands-On Science Museum, 309-4949, www.gwiz.org

Halloween Extravaganza, 366-7040, www.dmasarasota.com

Mote Marine Aquarium, 388-4441, www.mote.org

The Pineapple Scare Monster Ball, 366-7040, www.dmasarasota.com

Sarasota Jungle Gardens, 355-1112, Ext. 303, www.sarasotajunglegardens.com

South Florida Museum, 746-4131, www.southfloridamuseum.org

Warm Mineral Springs, 426-1692, www.warmmineralsprings.com