Dress up for Halloween parades, trick-or-treating

You don’t have to wait for Oct. 31 for the Halloween fun to begin. Here are some events scheduled for this weekend in the metro-east that will get you and your trick-or-treaters in the spirit. It wouldn’t be Halloween without some parades for costumed pets and humans, costume contests and some early-bird trick-or-treating. You’ll find more Halloween events in the What’s Happening listings on page 8B.

Howl’oween Pet Parade

Think how great Fido and his big ears would look in a Yoda from Star Wars costume. And your German shepherd might just be a prize winner as a Frozen princess.

If you can talk them into it, bring your pets to the Belleville Area Humane Society’s How’oween Pet Parade and Costume Contest at 1 p.m. Sunday. The parade starts at Ninth and West Main streets and ends with a Street Fest in front of Pitcher’s Sports Pub & Pizzeria, 104 West Main St.

Entry fee is $10 per dog; $25 for a business entry. It’s free for humans. Both four-leggers and two-leggers are encouraged to dress up to help less fortunate pets. Register online at www.bahspets.com or at the shelter, 1301 S. 11th St. in Belleville (618-235-3712). On Sunday, registration and parade lineup is at 12:15 p.m. at Ninth and Main.

The Street Fest fun includes music by DJ, a photo booth, face painting, costume contest and prizes.

Collinsville Fall Festival

Main Street will be flowing with costumed kids and pets during the Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Collinsville.

There will be trick-or-treating at Main Street merchants from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A chili cookoff is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A Kids Costume Contest begins at noon with prizes in four age groups for most creative, TV/movie/cartoon and Mayor’s Choice.

A Critter Crawl Pet Parade begins at 2 p.m. Gather at 1:30 p.m. in the Dog Park at 509 West Main St.

The event is presented by Collinsville Main Street and Scott Credit Union.

Columbia Hi-Jinks

Merchants have stocked up on treats for the little pricesses and ghosts who will come a’callin’ from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday on Historic Main Street for Halloween Columbia’s Halloween Hi-Jinks.

Admission is free.

Halloween on the Farm

Kids ages 10 to 14 can have a spooktacular time from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Willoughby Farm, 631 Willoughby Lane in Collinsville.

They’ll roast hot dogs and marshmallows over a fire, go on a haunted trail hike, hear ghost stories, go on a hayride and carve up some jack-’o-lanterns. Wear your costume.

The cost is $16 for non-residents, $14 for Collinsville residents. Reservations are requested.

Register online at www.collinsvillerec.com, call 618-346-7529 or visit the CARD Activity Center at 10 Gateway Drive, Collinsville.

This story was originally published October 21, 2015 at 5:31 AM with the headline "Dress up for Halloween parades, trick-or-treating."