Scream on the Green: A New Halloween Event in Downtown Novato

Downtown Novato isn’t usually a spooky place, but this Halloween season will be different with volunteers converting the former Novato City Hall and current council chambers into a haunted house (the Chamber of Horrors) and the merchants busy preparing for Safe Trick or Treat.

This is the first year the Novato Chamber of Commerce is presenting Novato’s Scream on the Green Faire. It will be centered on Sherman Avenue on the Green.

The fun will include live music, arts and crafts booths, a costume contest, pumpkin carving contest, and more. Beer and wine will be available.

Scream on the Green activities will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Music on Saturday includes: Marin School of the Arts, 10 to 11:45 a.m.; Journey Revisited, 12:15 to 2:15 p.m.; and Zebop! from 3 to 5 p.m.

The Novato Youth Center is sponsoring the costume contest with judging from 2:15 to 2:45 p.m.

As part of bully prevention month, the Novato Blue Ribbon Coalition will be handing out super hero wristbands.

Entertainment on Sunday continues with The College Fund band from 10 a.m. to noon; East Bay Mudd from 1 to 3 p.m.; and Chris Newton and the New Tones from 3:30 to 4 p.m.

There will be free flu shots provided by Novato Community Hospital. Kids can play on a pirate ship, slides, climbing wall, and other activities. Treats like sweet and sour licorice and corn dogs will also be available.

The chamber’s event is being held in conjunction with the Downtown Novato Business Association’s (DNBA) traditional Safe Trick or Treat, which will be held only on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Participating merchants will hand out Halloween treats for kids and parents. Look for the orange and black balloons.

Relax by the Pumpkin Patch (sponsored by Cooper’s Public Market) in the Town & Country Center at Fifth Street and Grant Avenue. The seating area is provided by Continental Jewelers.

There will be bounce houses for the kids, sponsored by the DNBA. Personally Yours Photography will shoot pictures of costumed children.

Novato Pediatric Dentistry will hand out goodie bags. There will be games, face painting and more at Las Guitarras. The Book Place will hand out free books. Love 2 Dance will be holding a bake sale and goodie bags. Kids also eat free from 4 to 9 p.m. at Grazie if accompanied by a parent.

Sponsors of Scream on the Green include the City of Novato, Renewal by Anderson, Novato Community Hospital, Marin Independent Journal, Marin Roto Rooter, Novato Courtyard by Marriot, Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit and Novato Smiles Dentistry.

For more information call the Novato Chamber of Commerce at 415-897-1164 or go to www.novatochamber.com or www.downtownnovato.com.