Halloween will be bigger and better in Windham this year, thanks to a new party and trunk-or-treat initiative.

“Windham’s All New Halloween Adventure” will take place Saturday, Oct. 29, from 6 – 9 p.m., at Windham Middle Middle School. The free event will feature games, prizes, refreshments and “haunted happenings,” plus an opportunity to trick-or-treat in the school parking lot.

Costume judging will happen throughout the evening, with winners in each age group announced at 7:30 p.m.

Local entertainers Flamin’ Raymin and Sizzlin’ Suzzin will on hand throughout the night.

Activities are open to families with children in Grade 8 and lower, and children must be accompanied by adult.

The event is co-sponsored by the Windham Parks and Recreation Department, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and Friends of the Windham Public Library.

Linda Brooks, parks and recreation director, said the event is a change from the department’s usual Halloween party – a candy hunt at Manchester School. Because the school is smaller, space was limited, and the event was only open to children in grades 3 and under, she said.

Brooks said the department decided to expand this year’s party “to make it open to more people, and make it last a little longer.”

She said the event has volunteer support, and students from Saint Joseph’s College and the Windham High School Key Club will be helping out at the party.

The department and the parks advisory committee are excited about the new option for trunk-or-treating, Brooks said.

“Some folks recognized that people living in more rural Windham don’t get trick-or-treaters, so this is an opportunity to do so,” she said.

People wishing to attend the event are asked to pre-register by calling the Parks Department, Brooks said.

Attendees are asked to bring an item for the Windham Food Pantry as a donation. Donations of baked goods, candy and other goodies for the party will also be accepted.

“Trunk-or-Treating” outside Windham Middle School will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. In the parking lot behind the entrance to the Field Allen School, attendees are welcome to decorate their vehicle trunks and fill them with wrapped candy to hand out to party-goers. Prizes will be awarded for the best decorations.

Check-in for trunk-or-treating runs from 4-5:30 p.m. Cars arriving after 5:30 p.m. will not be allowed to participate. For safety purposes, registered vehicles must stay at the event until 7:30 p.m.

To register a vehicle, fill out a registration form on the Parks Department’s website.

The Windham Primary Fall Festival will be held from 1-4 p.m. the same day at the primary school, with a scavenger hunt, dunk tank, scarecrow contest and more. The event is free for the whole family.

A CLOSER LOOK: 

To learn more about “Windham’s All New Halloween Adventure” or to pre-register, call the Parks Department at 892-1905.

Other Halloween festivities across the Lakes Region:

Bridgton residents can celebrate with the Recreation Department’s Halloween Party on Monday, Oct. 31, from 5:30-8 p.m., at the Old Town Hall, featuring a costume contest, music, bounce house and freeze dance. For more information visit the department’s Facebook page.

Casco and Naples team up to hold a Halloween Spooktacular party on Monday, Oct. 31, from 5-6:30 p.m., at the Casco Community Center, featuring games, pumpkin decorating and more. For more information email recreation@cascomaine.org.

Gray will hold its annual Halloween Party Saturday, Oct. 22, from 5-7:30 p.m., at the Henry Pennell Municipal Complex. Party-goers can enjoy a Pumpkin Walk around the Pennell Park with over 500 lighted carved pumpkins, carnival games (free prizes) and the haunted lab. For more information, visit the Parks and Recreation Department’s Facebook page.

New Gloucester will hold Trunk-or-Treat at the Community Building on Intervale Road from 5-7 p.m. on Monday Oct. 31. For more information contact Harvey Price at 926-4126 or hprice@newgloucester.com.

Raymond Fire Department will host a haunted house event on Monday, Oct. 31, starting at 4 p.m., at the station on Main Street. Traffic will be one way (westbound only) for the safety of party-goers and trick-or-treaters.

Standish Spooktacular will be held Saturday, Oct. 29, from 3-5 p.m. at Standish Memorial Park, and will include games, a bounce house, a pumpkin decorating contest and more. For more information call the Parks and Recreation Department at 642-2875.

Sebago Halloween Party will be held Friday, Oct. 28, from 6-7:30 p.m., at the Old Town Hall Gymnasium. For the first hour, there will be games, a bounce house and snacks; trunk-or-treat is in the parking lot from 7-7:30 p.m. For more information contact Denise Olsen at 749-5259 or recdirector@townofsebago.org

Flamin Raymin and Sizzlin Suzzin are providing entertainment this year for Windham’s big new Halloween event.