Events

Today

St. Patrick’s Blessing of the Animals - The Rev. Kenny St. Hilaire, pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Church and School, will bless pets during the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. 8:45 a.m. St. Patrick School parking lot, 2706 E. Queen Ave. (509) 638-2527

North Spokane Young Life Fall Fundraising Dessert - Annual fundraiser to benefit North Spokane Young Life’s work with middle and high school students. 7 p.m., Service Station Coffee House, 9315 N. Nevada St. Donation; reservations required. (509) 484-6915

Wednesday

Brightest Stars Fundraising Breakfast and Starlight Citizen of the Year Reception - Presented by the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Trish McFarland, executive director of YWCA of Spokane, will be recognized as the Starlight Citizen of the Year, and pianist/vocalist John Fluker will perform. Attendees will also learn more about the organization’s mission to help seriously ill children and their families cope with their fear, pain and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. 7:30-9 a.m., Red Lion Hotel at the Park, Skyline Ballroom, 303 W. North River Drive. Free; reservations required. (509) 474-2820

Clark Fork Delta Fall Foliage Cruise - Three-hour cruise on Lake Pend Oreille aboard the Shawnodese with guest speaker and author Jane Fritz. Departs 1 p.m. from Kramer Marina at East Hope, Hope, Idaho. $39/adults, $38 seniors. Reservations required. (208) 255-5253

“Sleepy Hollow” - Presented by Theater Arts for Children. Today-Saturday and Oct. 14-16 at 7 p.m., Spokane Valley Partners Building, 10814 E. Broadway Ave., Spokane Valley. $10/ages 13 and older; $5/children ages 12 and younger. (509) 995-6718

Friday

Friday Kids Night at the Museum - All ages. Play in the museum after-hours, solve a crime using CSI techniques, enjoy popcorn and watch a movie. Bring a comfy pillow and blanket. 5:30-8:30 p.m., Mobius Kids, 808 W. Main Ave., Lower Level. $12/members; $15/nonmembers. (509) 624-KIDS

Saturday

I See Me! Multicultural Books for Early Literacy - Every child needs to see their language, culture and ethnicity reflected in books around them. Participants will receive book lists and ideas for what to look for in picture books to help children find themselves in books and increase their literacy skills. Two STARS credits. 10 a.m., Moran Prairie Library, 6004 S. Regal St. Free. (509) 893-8340

Heads Storytime and Activities - Listen to Matthew Van Fleet’s latest book and play a game of Heads memory. Take home an animal hat and activity pages to continue at home. 11 a.m., Auntie’s Bookstore, Children’s Section, 402 W. Main Ave. Free. (509) 838-0206

Author Betty Hodges - Local author will sign copies of her beginning reader book, “Jamie and the Haunted Lighthouse.” 1-3 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore main floor, 402 W. Main Ave. (509) 838-0206

Author J.R. Parker - 19-year-old author from Idaho will sign copies of his young adult fantasy novel, “Kestrel’s Midnight Song.” 1:30-3:30 p.m., Auntie’s Bookstore main floor, 402 W. Main Ave. (509) 838-0206

Creepy Critters (Shadle) - For school-age children. Meet and learn about reptiles and amphibians. 3 p.m., Shadle Library, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave. Free. (509) 444-5331

Pancake Breakfast - Served the second Sunday of each month. 8:30 a.m.-noon, McIntosh Grange, First and Lake streets, Rockford. $4/adults, $2/age 10 and younger. (509) 535-1165

Jam for Bread - Danny McCollim and Friends, jazz pianist; Steven King, guitarist; Ashe West African Drumming; Six Foot Swing and Spokane Area Children’s Chorus will perform to benefit Crosswalk. 3 p.m., Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ, 411 S. Washington St. $12/adults, $10/students and seniors, $25/families. (509) 624-1366

Ongoing

Amaizing Corn Maze – More than 12 acres of family fun with three mazes. Food court, a corn cannon shooting range, maze game with prizes, a petting zoo, and free parking. Helicopter rides Saturdays-Sundays, noon-5 p.m., through Sunday. Corn maze hours are Fridays, 4-11 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Sundays, noon-5 p.m. (bring two cans of nonperishable food items to receive $1 off admission on Sundays only). No pets, no purses or backpacks in maze, strollers and wheelchairs enter at own risk. Haunted Trail on Saturday, 6-11 p.m. Beck Road just off Highway 53, Hauser, Idaho. $8/adults, $5/seniors and children ages 5-12, free/age 4 and younger. Prices after 6 p.m. beginning Saturday for Haunted events: $10/adults, $7/seniors and children ages 5-12, free/age 4 and younger; helicopter rides: $15. (509) 242-2676, http://kix961.com/ pages/cornmaize/ cornmaize_home.html

Apple Festival - Weekends through Oct. 31. Visit www.greenbluff growers.com for map of growers.

Children’s Activities and Classes - A variety of classes, camps and workshops will be offered for children age 3 and older. Dates, times and costs vary. Sponsored by the City of Spokane Parks and Recreation Department. Preregistration required. (509) 625-6200

Colville Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch Maze - Open daily through Oct. 31. Eleven acres with two mazes. Mondays-Thursdays, 4 p.m. to dark; Fridays, 4-10 p.m.; and Saturdays-Sundays, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Bring flashlight for night visits. 73 Oakshott Road, Colville. $7/age 12, $5/age 5-11, free/age 4 and younger. (509) 684-6751

“Every Child Ready to Read” - A family literacy workshop held Mondays from 10:30-11:30 a.m. through Oct. 25. For children ages 3-6 and their parents/caregivers. Learn early literacy skills to prepare for reading success in school. Preregistration required. Hayden Library, 8385 N. Government Way, Hayden, Idaho. (208) 772-5612.

Fall Color Scenic Train Rides - Sponsored by the North Pend Oreille Valley Lions Club. Twenty-mile round trip rides along and across the Pend Oreille River, leaving from Ione, Wash., Station. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 16-17 and 23-24, at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. $12/adults, $8/ages 2-12 and seniors, free/age 1 and younger. Visit www.lionstrainrides.com for schedule and reservations. (877) 525-5226

Fall Reading Programs at the Coeur d’Alene Library - Children’s fall library programs include: Preschool Storytime for ages 3-5, Wednesdays from 10:30-11 a.m. and 1-1:30 a.m.; Tales for Twos and Threes, Tuesdays from 11-11:30 a.m.; Book Babies Lap-Sit for ages newborn to 2 accompanied by a parent or adult, Tuesdays from 10:15-10:45 a.m. and Fridays from 10:30-11 a.m.; and Lego Club for ages 5-10, Thursdays from 4-5 p.m. Coeur d’Alene Library, 702 E. Front Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Free. (208) 769-2315, ext. 438

“How I Became a Pirate” - A musical by Alyn Cardarelli and Steve Goers, based on the book by Melinda Long. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. and Oct. 16-17 and 23 at 4 p.m., Spokane Masonic Center, 1108 W. Riverside Ave. $12/adults, $10/children. (800) 325-SEAT

Scarywood Haunted Nights - The theme park will transform every Thursday from 6-10 p.m. and Fridays-Saturdays, 6 p.m.-midnight, through Oct. 30, and Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 6-10 p.m. Includes the haunted attractions of Blood Bayou, Terror Canyon Trail and The Zombiewood Express plus some regular rides. Silverwood Theme Park, 27843 N. U.S. Highway 95, Athol, Idaho. $24.99/includes rides and a free pass for May 2011. (208) 683-3400