Sync

This time of year, there’s no shortage of things to mark on your calendar.

Though we're sure you’ve been invited to 1,739 private parties (you social butterfly, you) there’s still plenty of public events to attend from pumpkin carvings to poetry slams to dirty deeds (like the Mud Run pictured at right).

Here’s a relatively exhaustive list of the Halloween-themed parties and events coming up in the next week.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t include every church-based Halloween festival in town, nor could we list the costumed parties happening at local clubs.

For more information on those events, check out the calendar listings beginning on page 36.

TODAY TO FRIDAY

Pumpkin Carving Contest

Pinnacle Mountain State Park Visitor Center

119010 Pinnacle Valley Road, Little Rock

Pinnacle Mountain State Park is holding a Pumpkin Carving Contest. Participants can carve a pumpkin into a scene, activity, landform, plant, or animal found at the park. If enough pumpkins are entered, they will be lit and featured on the Halloween Hayride route for hayride guests. Winners will receive prizes redeemable at the park. Free admission. For more information, call (501) 868-5806.

THURSDAY

16th Annual Big Boo!-seum Bash

Various museums, Little Rock

At the Big Boo!-seum Bash, kids can enjoy storytelling, trick-or-treating, games and more at area museums. There is free admission and free parking, however participants are asked to bring nonperishable food items to donate to the Arkansas Foodbank to be entered for the chance to win prizes. Locations include Historic Arkansas Museum, Heifer Village, Central High School National Historic Site, Old State House Museum, Emoba, Clinton Presidential Library, MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History and the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. 6-8:30 p.m. For more information call (501) 376-4781.

THURSDAY TO MONDAY

20th Annual Boo at the Zoo

Little Rock Zoo ,1 Zoo Drive, Little Rock

At Boo at the Zoo, kids can trick-or-treat at the zoo along with visiting attractions like a hay maze, carnival rides, fair-style food and other concessions. There will also be the haunted train, a haunted house for older kids, a costume contest, magic show, Ghost Roast s’mores area, Frankenstein’s Dance Party and more. Hours are 6 to 9 p.m. each night. Admission is $7 per person, $15 for an all-inclusive armband, and $1 off for members or advance purchase. For more information, visit www.littlerockzoo.com.

THURSDAY

Ghost Stories & Campfire S’mores

Faulkner County Library

1900 Tyler St., Conway

The Faulkner County Library will host a night of spooks and thrills as they roast marshmallows, melt chocolate and creep each other out. 7:30 p.m. For more information, call (501) 327-7482 for more information.

THURSDAY

Music in the Garden

Dunbar Community Garden

1800 S. Chester St., Little Rock

Music in the Garden returns for October. Enjoy music from Megan Perochka with Devon Krenshaw while raising funds to support Dunbar Community Garden Project. Gates open at 5 p.m. There will be a “Spooktacular Garden Tour” costume parade. Children will entertain the chickens with a Funky Chicken Dance, visit the goats to find out “Who’s that Trip Trapping on their Bridge?” and finish up by walking through the spookily lit gourd arbor. There will be Halloween treats at the finish. Admission is $5; $3 for ages 5-12. For more information, visit www.dunbargarden.org.

FRIDAY

3rd Annual Halloweenfest

Tate Gym, Philander Smith College

900 Daisy Bates Drive, Little Rock

The Pre-Alumni Council presents its 3rd Annual Halloweenfest. There will be games, a costume contest, inflatables, and candy. All free with a donation of a canned good. Cash donations will also be accepted. All proceeds go to the United Negro College Fund. It is $3 to enter the costume contest, which has a $25 cash prize. 5-8:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.philander.edu or call (501) 240-7226. 

FRIDAY

Balloween

Porter’s Jazz Cafe, 315 Main St., Little Rock

Balloween is a costume and cocktail party benefiting Ballet Arkansas. There will be music from The William Staggers Trio, and complimentary hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer. Tickets $30 in advance, $40 at the door. 8:30 p.m. to midnight. For more information, visit www.balletarkansas.org.

FRIDAY

Discover the Ghosts of Argenta Past

Laman Library — Argenta Branch

506 Main St., North Little Rock

Hear the North Little Rock History Commission recount stories of ghostly encounters in the Historic Argenta District. 6-7 p.m. Visit www.lamanlibrary.org.

FRIDAY

Halloween Kid’s Night Out

Unity Martial Arts

3016 W. Markham St., Little Rock

Unity Martial Arts is hosting a special Halloween Kids’ Night Out with games, activities and more. Cost is $25. 6-9 p.m. Call (501) 868-9808 for more information.

FRIDAY

Haunted Evening Tour

MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History

503 E. Ninth St., Little Rock

The Haunted Evening Tour begins in one of the South’s most haunted buildings and from there the tour explores the dark streets and haunted history of the Quapaw Quarter and Argenta’s Historic Districts all while aboard the funeral car. Seating is limited and reservations are required. 7-9 p.m. Visit www.hauntedtoursoflittlerock.com for more information.

FRIDAY

POWER! Poetry Slam presents the Costume Slam

Vino’s, 923 W. Seventh St., Little Rock

Writers will engage in high-energy, gut-wrenching, mind-blowing, tear-jerking performances in hopes of impressing five judges — randomly selected from the audience — and win cash prizes. Unlike the typical poetry slam, audience members and performers are encouraged to dress up; special prizes will be awarded to the best costumes. The event will be hosted by Penn Ross Jackson Jr., and features a special performance by Chris “Scorpio” James. 7 p.m., admission $5. For more information, call 501-366-4130 or e-mail rigsbystclaire@gmail.com.

FRIDAY

Profzilla, a Halloween Bandfest Fundraiser

Bear’s Den Pizza, 235 Farris Road, Conway

The University of Central Arkansas’ literary journal, the Toad Suck Review, will host Profzilla, a Halloween Bandfest Fundraiser, to raise money for printing the highly anticipated second issue due out in January 2012. The event will feature four bands: ambient nu-jazz duo Vibrant 6th, starring Professors Jesse Butler and Michael Yoder; a stripped-down version of Slings and Arrows, original blues/jazz music by Professors Garry Craig Powell and Chris Craun; Luke and Alan Pittman, Craig Seager, and Professor Marck Beggs starring in the Americana/folk rock band dog gods; and progressive metal band Still Reign, made up of Jake Brown, Matt Paul, Adam Crain, Andy Honer, Josh Ingram and Tyler Scalise. 8 p.m. $5. For more information, email toadsuckreview@gmail.com

FRIDAY TO SUNDAY

The Halloween Show

Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church

1601 S. Louisiana St., Little Rock

The Halloween Show includes a costume contest and prizes and is presented by The Vagabond Theatre Company. 8 p.m. $5. Ages 21 and up. For more information, visit www.vagabondtheatrecompany.org.

FRIDAY

UCA Theatre Department “ShakeSPOOKtacular”

Faulkner County Library

1900 Tyler St., Conway

The Faulkner County Library presents an evening of murder and mayhem as students from the UCA Theatre present scenes and monologues from Shakespeare’s creepiest, eeriest and most hair-raising plays. 7 p.m. Call (501) 327-7482 for more information.

SATURDAY

Boo Bash at The Peabody

The Peabody Little Rock

3 Statehouse Plaza, Little Rock

The Peabody Little Rock is hosting its fourth annual Boo Bash Halloween party. DJ Brandon Peck and emcee Epiphany will be “keeping the dance floor freaky” until 1 a.m. Local celebrities will judge the costume contest, and more than $5,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to the top five winners. Admission is $10 at the door, but you must be 21 or older to attend. Tables in the Voodoo VIP Lounge can be reserved in advance by calling (501) 399-8059. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. For more information, visit www.rivertopparty.com.

SATURDAY AND MONDAY

Halloween events

Laman Library

2801 Orange St., North Little Rock

Laman Library is getting into the spirit of Halloween with several events. On Saturday morning, the library will have a Scary Movie Marathon for teens beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting until 4 p.m. Only PG-13 movies will be shown. Later Saturday afternoon, there will be a fall festival suitable for all ages in the lecture hall 2-3 p.m. On Monday, the library will have a Costume Party from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the teen center.

SATURDAY - MONDAY

Halloween Hayride

Pinnacle Mountain State Park

119010 Pinnacle Valley Road, Little Rock

Experience a different kind of Halloween as you enjoy a fun-filled Halloween Hayride complete with a roaring campfire and treats. You might even get to roast some ghosts (marshmallows). Advance payment of $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12 is required. 5-7 p.m. at Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

SATURDAY

Halloween on Ice

Arkansas Skatium

1311 Bowman Road, Little Rock

Arkansas Skatium’s ice skating students will put on a special Halloween exhibition from 5:30-7 p.m., including exciting music and props. Free. For more information, call (501) 227-4333.

SATURDAY

Mud Run

Two Rivers Park

Pinnacle Valley Road, Little Rock

The Mud Run, starting at 9 a.m., is for the adventuresome spirit and is a family-friendly race. Participants run, walk, skip, trot and even cavort through the 5K course, which winds through a scenic Little Rock Park. Participants must overcome an “obstacle” or two along the way, then finish with a spectacular frolic through the world-renowned 300-foot mud pit. The point is not to finish fast but to finish with style. Awards are given for best costume, among other things. Registration ranges from $20-$35. Visit MudRun.org.

SATURDAY

Pugaloosa on the River

Murray Park, Pavilions 1 and 2

Rebsamen Park Road, Little Rock

Pugaloosa on the River is a fundraiser and meet and greet event for the Pugs & Kisses Rescue. There will be other local rescues involved, as well as vendors. There will be a Halloween costume contest for the dogs, other games, contests, prizes, food and much more. You can bring your family, pugs, and other small dogs. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free admission. For more information, call (417) 230-6775, email luvmyk9@rocketmail.com or visit www.pugsandkissesrescue.com.

SATURDAY

Jack ‘O Lantern Contest and Halloween Party

Kitchen Co., 11525 Cantrell Road, Little Rock

Bring your carved or painted jack ‘o lantern to Kitchen Co. by noon Saturday. While the pumpkins are being judged, you can enjoy some Halloween treats. Prizes will be awarded and competition entry is free. For more information, call (501) 663-3338.

SATURDAY

Tiny Hands Monster Bash

Next Level Events

1400 W. Markham St., Little Rock

Tiny Hands Monster Bash is a Halloween costume party fundraiser and will have silent auctions and a live auction, drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and music. The event benefits the UAMS Family Home and UAMS Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased online at uamsfamilyhome.org or (501) 920-2328.

SUNDAY

Pumpkin Hill

Wildwood Park for the Arts

20919 Denny Road, Little Rock

At Wildwood Park for the Arts, you can catch a tractor-drawn hayride to Pumpkin Hill’s hay fort and pumpkin patch. There will be crafts and activities including a nature hunt in the Arboretum, a Pumpkin Push Race and an old-fashion Sack Race. Open to the public Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Admission is $5 per child and includes a miniature pumpkin to take home; parent admission is $2. Picnics are welcome. Call (501) 821-7275, email Kristen Vandaveer at kvandaveer@wildwoodpark.org or visit www.wildwoodpark.org.