Things to do

Today

Free Car Seat Checks - Offered 1-4 p.m. by Safe Kids Kootenai County. A limited number of new car seats will be available for a minimum of $5 to those who qualify. Appointments are required. 1 p.m., Panhandle Health District, 8500 N. Atlas Road, Hayden, Idaho. Free. (208) 666-2511.

Canning Workshop - Class will focus on the water bathing technique. For age 14 and older. Pre-registration is required. 5:30-8:30 p.m., Southside Senior Activity Center, 3151 E. 27th Ave. $27. (509) 625-6200.

Tuesday

Family to Family Support Group - Provided by National Alliance on Mental Illness, Spokane. 6:30-8 p.m., Deaconess Health and Education Building, 910 W. Fifth Ave., Room 267. (509) 838-5515.

Wednesday

Ballroom Dancing for Kids - For ages 7-17. Learn the fox trot, waltz, cha-cha and more. Registration is required. Class held Wednesdays for four weeks from 6-6:40 p.m., Spokane Dance Company, 902 W. Indiana. $49. (509) 625-6200.

Christian Youth Theater Performance - Christian Youth Theater of North Idaho will perform a scene from its current production of “Treasure Island.” All ages welcome. 4 p.m., Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave., Coeur d’Alene. Free. (208) 769-2315.

Thursday

2009 Fall National College Fair - Hours are 9 a.m.-noon and 6-8 p.m., Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., Hall A. Free. (509) 279-7000.

“Creepy Candy Concoctions” - For ages 5-9. Enjoy making spooky critters using cookies, candies and other yummy ingredients. Preregistration required. 3:30-4:30 p.m., Mobius Kids, River Park Square, lower level, 808 W. Main Ave. $10/members, $12/nonmembers. (509) 624-KIDS.

“Let the Wild Rumpus Start!” - For school-age children. Create something wild while celebrating the release of the movie version of Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are.” 4 p.m., South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry St. Free. (509) 444-5331.

Lights On Afterschool Celebration - 10th annual event hosted by the Northeast Youth Center in partnership with Afterschool Alliance. Event will feature a spaghetti dinner and various activities including pumpkin decorating, bingo and community booths. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 6-8:30 p.m., East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone St. Free. (509) 482-0708.

Night Life Support Group - For foster, adoptive and kinship parents. 6:30 p.m., Shiloh Hills Fellowship, 207 E. Lincoln Road. (509) 928-6697.

Friday

Haunted Hike - Fourth annual event presented by Inland Northwest Council of Boy Scouts. Today, 7-10 p.m.; Saturday, 6:30-10 p.m. A kiddie hike will be Saturday, 2-4 p.m., Dishman Hills Natural Area, 299 S. Sargent Road, Spokane Valley. $6/general, $5/Scouts in uniform.

“Ponyo”- An animated adventure centered on a 5-year-old boy and his relationship with a goldfish princess who longs to become human. Rated G. Friday-Saturday, 5:15 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 4:15 and 7 p.m., Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, 508 S. Main St., Moscow. $6/adults, $3/ages 12 and younger. (208) 882-8537.

Play and Learn at Colfax Library - A community play group. Participants may stay for the entire 90 minutes, drop in or leave early. 10-11:30 a.m., U.S. Bank Building, 101 N. Main St., Colfax. Free. (877) 733-3375.

Dads Helping Dads - Group meets to discuss the important roles fathers play in their children’s lives. 7 p.m., Fowler Church, 3928 N. Howard St. (509) 290-6494.

Saturday

Scenic Train Rides - Sponsored by the North Pend Oreille Valley Lions Club. Fall color rides along and across the Pend Oreille River; 20-mile, round-trip rides leave from Ione Station. Today and Sunday. Visit www.lionstrainrides.com for train schedule and reservations. Ione, Wash. $12/adults, $8/ages 2-12 and seniors, free/age 1 and younger. (877) 525-5226.

Disney High School Musical 2 - Presented by Spokane Children’s Theatre. Shows today at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (signing will be provided for the hearing impaired during this performance), Spokane Community College, Lair Auditorium, 1810 N. Greene St. $8/children, $10/adults. (509) 325-SEAT.

Cathedral Harvest Festival - Craft and bake sale today, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Lunch, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, 1115 W. Riverside Ave. Lunch: $5/adults, $3/children. (509) 358-4290.

Rosalia Harvest Festival Music - Open mic at noon for musicians, singers and singalongs. Benefits the center’s new roof. Bring a dessert to sell; performers sign up at the door. For all ages. A concert at 2 p.m. by champion fiddler Aaron and his band The Afterthoughts. Rosalia’s Performing Arts Center, 114 E. Seventh Ave., Rosalia, Wash. Donation. (509) 569-2261.

Fangs and Flashlights - Flashlight maze designed for ages 4-8 with Count Chocula, Spiderman, Venom, Batgirl. Presented by City of Spokane Parks and Recreation. Registration required. Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook St. $14/advance tickets only. (509) 482-0708.

Red Cross Babysitter’s Training Course - For ages 11-15. Develop skills in leadership, basic care, safe play and first aid. Participants will receive a manual, emergency guide, CD-ROM, first-aid kit and babysitter’s training certification. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., American Red Cross Inland Northwest Chapter, 315 W. Nora Ave. $45. (509) 326-3330, ext. 215.

Argonne Friends of the Library Book Sale - Items include slightly used books and AV items at low prices. Proceeds support the Argonne Library. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Argonne Library, 4322 N. Argonne Road, Spokane Valley. (509) 893-8260.

Spokane is Spelling: Student Spelling Bee – Fifth- and sixth-graders will compete in teams of three. Event supports the Spokane Public Library Foundation. 2-4 p.m., River Park Square Atrium, 808 W. Main Ave. Free. (509) 444-5318.

Trunk-r-Treat - Third annual event with church members giving out candy from the trunks of their cars or beds of their trucks. For ages 10 and younger. Wear a costume that isn’t bloody, violent or evil. Doughnuts and cider in the fellowship hall follows. 3:30-5:30 p.m., Spokane Valley United Methodist Church, 115 N. Raymond Road, Spokane Valley. Free. (509) 926-6277, ext. 1335.

Fourth Annual Halloween Party and Spooky Trail – With snacks, activities, games and a newly expanded Spooky Trail. Costumes are optional. 6:30 p.m., Indian Creek at Priest Lake State Park, Priest Lake, Idaho. (208) 443-2200.

Sunday

Monster Dash 5K Fun Run and Kids Run - Hosted by the Spokane Swifts Running Team. Race-day registration and number pickup is 7:30-8:30 a.m. 5K adult race begins at 9 a.m., followed by the kids’ race (for ages 12 and under, distances between 1/4 and 1 mile) at 10 a.m. A Monster Dash costume contest will follow the kids’ race. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes and also awarded in random prize drawings for all race participants. Registration must be received by Oct. 22. Late and day-of-race registration will be available for an added $5. Manito Park, 1702 S. Grand Blvd. 5K/$20 with shirt, $10 no shirt; kids’ run/$10 with shirt, $5 no shirt. (509) 998-5375.