Various groups host pre-Halloween events this weekend

There's no shortage of activities for the young and older set looking to celebrate Halloween this month.

Beginning today, the 6th annual Pahrump Disability Outreach Program's (PDOP) Pumpkin Days gets underway at Ian Deutch Memorial Park.

Organizers have scheduled three days of activities for the family-friendly event today through Sunday.

Hours of operation are Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday's hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Director Paula Cooper said the Pumpkin Days event will play host to a variety of games for both young and old including a petting zoo, train rides and the ever-popular face-painting booth.

"The whole family can also enjoy the hay maze, hay pyramid and hay rides," she said. "We will have a haunted house and of course a pumpkin patch full of pumpkins.

Additionally, families can look forward to pony rides, fall photo opportunities, fall-inspired foods, hot apple cider and kettle corn, along with a kids' costume parade.

Cooper said attendees are sure to enjoy PDOP's handmade fire truck, and there's also Roos-N-More Zoo, a privately owned non-profit educational zoo with exotic animals for the children to enjoy on Saturday afternoon.

In addition to the regular weekend activities, Cooper said the program will play host to a 5-K / one-mile family fun walk called the 'Monster Dash' scheduled for Saturday morning at 8 a.m.

Registration begins at 7 a.m.

"There are numerous great prizes for runners to compete for and all proceeds from the event go to support PDOP Pumpkin Days," she said. "In addition, all runners receive free entry into PDOP Pumpkin Days, which provides people in the community with a place to go and enjoy authentic fall attractions and food for a reasonable cost."

Regarding the program itself, Pahrump Disability Outreach Program is described as a multi-faceted support group, providing parents, siblings, and other family members of children with any disability with community resources.

PDOP President David Boruchowitz said the non-profit organization provides families within the community a place to go for information, education, training and friendship without having to go to Las Vegas.

"Through PDOP there are now pediatric therapists servicing Pahrump through Dream Therapies, thus saving many families from having to make the trip to Las Vegas for therapy," he said. "Although we are leaps and bounds from where we started, there are still hundreds of families in need of services who are unable to receive them in our community."

Boruchowitz said the organization continues to attract additional health professionals to the Pahrump Valley with community support.

"All monies raised for PDOP will assist its members in paying for necessary medical costs or other services as they need for their children," he said. "Funds also provide a regular social event for the disabled children and their families. Pumpkin Days will be open to the public for a donation cost of $5 for a single day or $10 for the entire weekend."

Prepare to scream as NyE Communities Coalition is observing Halloween with their 2nd annual Haunted Acres event at their 1020 E. Wilson Rd. location.

Doors open at 5 p.m. for trick or treating, until 7 p.m. The haunting continues until 11 p.m. through Saturday. Tickets are $7 per person.

Several Halloween-themed events are scheduled this weekend, skewed mainly for adults.

Sheri's Ranch Brothel's annual Halloween costume contest kicks off this Saturday at their location at 10551 Homestead Road, on the valley's south end.

The costume party begins at 8 p.m., where the first place prize is $1,000.

Food and entertainment will also be a part of the evening.

For something less revealing and slightly tamer for Halloween revelers, the Pahrump Senior Center is holding its annual Monster Mash party at their 1370 W. Basin Ave., location from 5 to 10 p.m.

Site manager Anne Harris said the celebration includes music and dancing along with dinner and the ever-popular costume contest with prizes.

"This is another one of our annual fundraising events that we have here at the senior center," she said. "The proceeds go to support what we offer to area seniors. Last year's celebration went over very well and it's really fun to see all of the seniors dress up in costumes for the contest."

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. Follow @sharrispvt on Twitter.