Treat kids to more than just candy this Halloween

Halloween is kids’ play – no matter how hard adults try to hone in on the fun.

According to a National Geographic Kids survey of more than 300 kids (average age 11 years), 32 percent of respondents say wearing a costume is their favorite part of the holiday while 24 percent say getting candy is what rocks. (Others reported enjoying most seeing others’ costumes, going to parties and decorating the house.)

Seventy-eight percent plan to go trick-or-treating, with most of them (73 percent) saying they’ll stick to their neighborhood and/or building.

About half say they share their candy with their siblings, parents or friends. (how reliable is this survey?) while 24 percent say they don’t share any of it.

Nearly 80 percent say they either don’t eat all of their candy and throw some away or make it last more than a week. Seven percent say it’s gone in a few days while 4 percent report that they have nothing to show the next day.

But truth be told, there’s more to Halloween than just trick-or-treating. Here are some of the kid-friendly Halloween activities on tap for the weekend; find more at www.spokane7.com/events.

Corbin Art Center Halloween Fun – Call (509) 625-6200 for information about the following classes at the Corbin Art Center, 507 W. Seventh Ave.:

“Mom and Me: Ghost or Goblin – Arts and crafts project for ages 3 to 5 on Friday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Cost is $11. “Halloween Creepy Critters – Arts and crafts project for ages 6 to 11, Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Corbin Art Center, 507 W. Seventh Ave. Cost is $11.

“Monster Bash – For ages 6 to 11, Saturday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Cost is $11.

“Haunted Halloween Mansion – Instead of being scared, create your own haunted mansion. For ages 3 to 5. Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Cost: $11.

Ghoul Ol’ Fashioned Halloween Fun – Old-fashioned Halloween party, a “not so haunted house,” costume parade, treat hunt, ghost stories and lots more Friday through Sunday at Camp Dart-Lo, 14100 N. Dartford Drive, off Highway 395. Children must be chaperoned. Friday 4:30 to 7 p.m. (bring flashlights); Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m. Cost is $5 for kids and free for their adults. (509) 747-6191, extension 16.

Halloween Story time with Auntie Violet – Saturday at 11 a.m. at Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. Hear spooky stories and wear your costume; prizes will be given out. (509) 838-0206.

Lakes Middle School Fall Carnival and Haunted House – Spaghetti dinner, haunted house and carnival games, Saturday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Game tickets are 2 for $1. Spaghetti dinner costs $3 for adults and $2 for students and younger siblings. Tickets available at the door. Located at 930 N. 15th St., Coeur d’Alene. (208) 667-4544.

Family Halloween Carnival in Post Falls – Saturday from 6:30 to 9 p.m., at Post Falls Middle School, 15th and Henry streets. Hosted by Girl Scout Troop 251. Admission is $1. Tickets for carnival games are 4 for $1. For more information, call (509) 747-8091 extension 206.

Fall Harvest Party – Games, prizes, food and fun. Kids are encouraged to come in costume (but please no extreme gore or demonic themes). Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Northside Church of Christ, 5601 N. Jefferson St. Free. (509) 325-2456.

Halloween Spooktacular Event at Priest Lake – Pumpkin painting, costume parade with prizes, games, apple-bobbing, and a spooky movie at Priest Lake State Park, 12 miles north of Coolin, Idaho. The event is free but parking is $4 per vehicle. Saturday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information, call (208) 443-2200.

School Indigo Fall Festival – Safe family fun including carnival style games, kids’ costume contest, chili cook-off and raffle drawings, Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the school, 1323 E. Sherman Ave. No scary or inappropriate costumes, please. Cost $5 per person, $20 for a family up to 6 people. For more information, call (208) 765-1555.