Johnston and Des Moines Metro Events, When and Where: Spooktacular Fun Run, Finish Strong 5K, Bill Maher, Celtic Thunder

There are so many great events taking place in Johnston this weekend, but if you have time to head to Des Moines, we've got you covered on events there, too.

Spooktacular 5K fun run/walk - The Johnston Chamber of Commerce hosts the Fourth Annual Spooktacular 5k Fun Run/Walk at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Johnston High School Stadium. Check-in for the race is at 7 a.m., cost is $25. You can register online or at the race. All proceeds of the race go to the Johnston Partnership for a Healthy Community.

Finish Strong 5K - Johnston Evangelical Free Church hosts the fall edition of the Finish Strong 5K at 9 a.m. Saturday at the church. On-site registration begins at 8 a.m. The cost for ages 18 and over is $20 and for those 11 to 17 years old is $15, 10 years and younger is free. A t-shirt is included with registration. Kid's t-shirts are $12. All proceeds go to help support Youth Missions at JEFC.

Johnston Fire Department Open House - The Johnston Fire Department hosts an open house to celebrate Fire Prevention Week. Stop by for tours, demonstrations of putting on fire gear, test your Stop, Drop and Roll knowledge and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Welome to Medicare Program - The Johnston Public Library hosts SHIIP to answer all your questions about Medicare. The meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Large Meeting room. Register by calling 278-5233.

Pathway Anniversary - Pathway Church in Johnston celebrates its 10th Anniversary on Sunday. The Church will meet at the Holiday Inn on Merle Hay Road.

Teen Read Week - The Johnston Library kicks off Teen Read Week on Sunday. Students in sixth to 12th grades are invited to Guess the Book and Win a Prize. The library has shredded a book (it was already damaged beyond repair), and it's your turn to figure out which book it is. Write down your answers on a form in the Teen Area of the library. If you guess correctly, you could win a $20 gift card to Barnes & Noble.

Metro Events

Planned Parenthood Book Sale: One of the largest charity book sales in the nation kicks off Thursday. Shop 600,000 new and used books, plus CDs, records, games and more. Admission is $10 on Thursday, Oct. 11. There is no charge to attend Oct. 12-15. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. today; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday; and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday.
Bruce L. Rastetter 4-H Exhibits Building, Iowa State Fairgrounds, 3000 E. Grand Ave. in Des Moines

Fall Gallery Night is Friday in West Des Moines' Historic Valley Junction. Six local art galleries, plus many other shops and restaurants, will be open late. This event is free and open to the public.
Historic Valley Junction
Friday, Oct. 12, 5-9 p.m.
Free

Up-and-coming Des Moines country singer Sydney Lett’s Sweet 16 Country Blowout at the Val Air Ballroom benefits the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
Val Air Ballroom
Saturday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.
Tickets.

Bill Maher: For the past 17 years, Bill Maher has set the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go on American television. First on “Politically Incorrect” and for the last eight years on HBO’s “Real Time,” Maher’s combination of unflinching honesty and big laughs have garnered him 26 Emmy nominations.
The Civic Center, Des Moines.
Saturday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets.

Upcoming

Celtic Thunder: Surpassing sales of one million units combined, the musical phenomenon that is Celtic Thunder has been hailed as BILLBOARD’s Top World Music Artist, along with Top World Music Imprint and Top World Album of 2011 for their most current disc, Heritage.
The Civic Center, Des Moines
Wednesday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets.