ABOVE: Fairmont High School senior Oliver Thedens stands in one section of his haunted house, of which this is his final year doing so. It will be one of several Halloween attractions open to the public this year.

FAIRMONT – Several local events are available for those with a spooky side as Halloween approaches.

St. Paul’s Lutheran will be hosting a trunk or treat from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 25. A snack station will also be available for interested kids.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sat. Oct. 26, Hy-Vee will be having a trick-or-treat. They recommend kids come with costumes for candy and spooky fun.

That same day at 8 p.m., Bowlmor Lanes will be having a costume contest and karaoke. There will be prizes for Best Costume, Best Couples Costume and Most Scary Costume.

Oct. 31 kicks off the last year of the Fairmont Haunted House at 528 West Interlaken Road. It runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Halloween, 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 1, and 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 2. There will be candy and scare levels can be adjusted for anyone. After five years of running it, Oliver Thedens is a high school senior and will be off to college next year.

“I like to see people laughing, having fun, enjoying it,” he said “That’s what makes it all worth it to me, putting in the time to see everyone’s joy.”

Thedens said people have reached out saying they are sad to see the haunted house go, which he said surprised him. The experience has instilled a work ethic within him which he said will aid him in the future as he goes to school for Biology on a Pre-Med track.

In his time running the haunted house, Thedens said he’s had several people say they want to do something similar. For those, he recommends they do what they think will be best.

“A lot of times I stress out about what I’m doing and feel the need to ask other opinions,” Thedens said. “In the end, usually what I thought in my head was what I should have done.”

Having a good support system also helps. Thedens said his sister Nola Thedens and friends Eya and Season Kotewa have really helped in terms of providing different points of view and ideas, many of which end up in the final product.

Vista Prairie at Goldfinch Estates, Ingleside Assisted Living, and Lakeview Methodist Health Care will all be having trick or treat with the residents Oct. 31. Vista Prairie is from 3:30 to 5 p.m., Ingleside is from 4 to 5, and Lakeview is 3:30 to 4:30.

Prowling on the Plaza is a downtown Trunk or Treat event from 4 to 5 p.m. Local businesses will be participating, and photo opportunities will be available while the street is closed. Activities will also be held at the Martin County Library in Fairmont from 4 to 6 p.m.

The events will then move to Woodland Avenue from 5 to 7 p.m. A witch’s dance and parade will be there alongside more trick or treating. For those less interested in something heartier, local food trucks will be available. The street will be closed during this time for kid and family safety.

The Marina Lodge will be hosting a Halloween Party from 5 to 11 p.m. There will be free snacks, half-off appetizers, and prizes for the best costume. Ian Ripley will perform from 5 to 7, followed by DJ Blake Potthoff from 8-11 p.m.