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This is Halloween! Technically Halloween! Here are two Halloween costume party shows you can attend back to back. At 7 p.m. the Outer Space hosts Misfits cover band BRAINxEATERS, Julio Perdido (Spanish and punk covers), Daniel (pop-punk covers) and Muy Perraz's "sex techno." Various DJs spin ghoulish tunes and $5 will get you in with a costume, $6 if you go civilian.

The Jam has roots rock reggae group New Traditions (formerly the Dubba Dubs) and modern soul masters The Velvet Touch at 9 p.m. and you can bet your best Gomez Addams impression that the $10 cover will be cut in half if you have a costume on.

Trick or treat options ranged from candy to rocks (surprisingly popular!) in Old Town in Eureka on Saturday afternoon. A large crowd of costumed superheroes, Wonder Women, popular action and Pokémon characters, as well as costumed parents, wandered from participating stores on First, Second and Third streets to pick up the mostly sugary treats. Enjoy the sweet slideshow of costume highlights below.

Get an early start on celebrating Dia de Los Muertos at the Van Duzer at 7 p.m. with L.A.'s Grammy-winning Latin rock group La Santa Cecilia, Mexrrissey (a delightful Mexican Morrissey cover band with Spanish-language vocals) and one of the world's preeminent all female mariachi bands, Mariachi Flor de Toloache ($39).

Acclaimed songwriter and musician's musician Chris Smither brings his low-tenor rasp to The Old Steeple in Ferndale, where the doors will open at 6:30 p.m. ($25 advance, $30 door). His songs have been covered by everyone from Emmylou Harris to Bonnie Raitt and his tune "Leave The Light On" gives me goosebumps every time and is just so nice I always listen to it twice.

If I could Kyle Reese/Terminator-Skynet send myself back in time to tell dumb teenage me anything, I'd probably avoid mentioning the hellscape of the last election cycle and just make myself learn how to ride a skateboard and have fun while my body is still supple and quick to heal. Moms and dads: Don't let your babies be like bitter old me. Take your young aspiring cube-gleamers at 3 p.m. to RampArt's fourth annual Shredfest, where DJ Goldilocks and local bands Miteazwell and Not Ewe will rock and bounce the indoor skatepark while fire dancers dance, food is plentiful, and costumes are encouraged. It's free and family friendly with trick competitions galore.

At 8 p.m. at Siren's Song, Invisible Mans will be bringing a beautiful, plangent, and Wilco-esque sound from their native New Orleans for all of you dark Americana fans to swoon over. Jazz-rock duo Indigenous Gentlemen and ragtime group Back to the Hill open (price TBA).

The Alibi is hosting a Halloween version of their punk/new wave DJ night RadioClash with DJs Blancatron and Zero One spinning dance beats over power chords at 11 p.m. ($2).

Parents and kids, take a tour through the Spooky Dunes on Sunday, Oct. 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center ($5 donation, $3 members/Manila residents). See what spooky and silly characters you meet along the way. Come in costume! Call 444-1397 to reserve a spot for the one-hour tours.

Black Phillip was creepy but the goats are all cuddly at Sequoia Park Zoo's Boo at the Zoo happening Sunday, Oct. 29, from noon to 4 p.m. (regular zoo admission). This family-friendly annual event has arts and crafts for the kids, creepy snacks, hot apple cider, a costume parade and contest, and the delightful animal pumpkin chomp and stomp. Squee!

Talented local early jazz trio Belles of the Levee will be singing and plucking tunes from The Great American Songbook at the Palm lounge in Eureka at 9 p.m. ($5). These ladies are fantastic live and the venue fits their vintage vibe well.

The Arcata Theater Lounge is bringing back locally favored electronic act Minnesota at 9:30 p.m. ($15 advance, $20 door). The deep bass dance grooves appeal to many of our (clears throat) seasonal visitors, so Minnesota's shows have had a tendency to sell out in years past. DOV1 opens.

Following a 7 p.m. showing of Oscar-winning director Ava Duvernay's 2008 documentary This Is The Life about the late '80s origins of West Coast hip-hop in a South Central Los Angeles health food store/venue, stars of the film Abstract Rude and Myka 9 will do a Q&A and perform a set at 10 p.m. at the Miniplex. Admission is free with a movie ticket to the film.

Local show promotion team YAMS is kicking off their two-night Halloween Party at Blondies at 9 p.m. with dance rock power trio The Apollo Era and psychedelic dream pop band Paradise Inc., featuring the truly slick guitarist Leo Plummer from local funk favorites Object Heavy. Admission is free but donations are appreciated.

Is there a holiday kids love more than Halloween? (Nice try, Arbor Day.) They dress up, run amok and shriek with excitement — and all that before the sugar kicks in. So, where can you take your young Frankensteins and Rosemary's babies for candy and spooky fun? On Saturday, Oct. 28, McKinleyville Safeway Shopping Plaza is the place to be for the annual Halloween Costume Parade and trick or treating starting at 11 a.m. (free). In Eureka, costumed children 12 and under (who are accompanied by an adult) can trick or treat in Henderson Center from noon to 2 p.m. and in Old Town from 2 to 4 p.m. (look for participating store signs). And on Tuesday, Oct. 31, take the kids to Trick-or-Treat Downtown Arcata from 4 to 6 p.m. on the Arcata Plaza (free).

How about old-fashioned Halloween carnivals? Redway Elementary has a PTSA Fun Fair - Hocus Pocus stirring up fun on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 2 to 6 p.m (free admission) with carnival-style games, face painting, dinner, a pumpkin carving contest, a sweet treats shop, monster truck slide, cake walk, raffle and more. Ahoy, mateys! The Adorni Recreation Center transforms into a fun pirate ship on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. for Haunted Humboldt Bay, a spooky carnival with games and activities for ages 17 and under with accompanying adult. And Faith Center's Kids Karnival at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds is back with good, clean fun on Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. (free). Kids in fifth grade and under can enjoy games, candy, glow prizes, food and more.

Dude. Grab your board and make waves to RampArt Skatepark Saturday, Oct. 28 for Shred Fest 4 from 3 to 10 p.m. (free admission). This fundraiser for area skateparks/activities has music, food and refreshments and a whole lot of skating, surfing, skate and BMX competitions as well as lots of fun activities for kids and adults.