Two Halloween events open in Arroyo Grande on Saturday, October 24. The Village's clue hunt starts on Branch Street at 10 a.m., and the City's Halloween Carnival opens at Elm Street Park at 1 p.m. Two different groups plan them and publicize them on separate pages, and neither page mentions the other. The hours overlap by three hours, though, so one day can hold both. The City's Recreation Services Department and the Village Merchants' Guild each run their own part of the season, and the calendar is easiest to use when you put the two lists together. That holds through the holiday parade on December 6.
Two Organizers, Two Calendars
The City posted its fall lineup on September 3. The list covers the Harvest Festival, the Big Ditch Market, the Halloween Carnival, the Lions Club Turkey Trot and the fall adult sports leagues. All of it runs through the Recreation Services Department, with registration at arroyogrande.org/rec. The City's fall events release doesn't mention the Village merchants' Halloween plans.
The Village has its own list. The merchant guild calls itself "a group of business owners excited about what's happening in the Village of AG," and its upcoming events page shows two items for this season. One is a weekend murder mystery on October 24 and 25. The other is a Halloween celebration on October 31, when Branch Street closes. The City's carnival isn't on that page.
So nobody publishes the whole schedule, but the two halves fit together well, starting with the weekend of October 24.
The Village Half: Murder in the Village
This is the second year for the event, which its listing calls "A Weekend-Long Whodunit." Players visit more than a dozen participating storefronts, and each one has its own character and clues for solving the mystery. The sharpest solvers win prizes, and the organizers describe the event as "fun, free and family-friendly." The event page hosted by The Gallery gives the hours as 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The game starts at Monarch Books. The guild's page says to pick up a newspaper there on October 24 with all the game details. That makes the bookstore the place to start Saturday morning. A full Saturday also covers more ground than a quick lap of Branch Street, since there are more than a dozen storefronts to visit.
The listings don't name the participating shops, and the guild's page says details are still to come. The Monarch Books newspaper is the source for the official list.
The Park Half: The Halloween Carnival at Elm Street Park
The City's carnival is a much bigger setup. According to the September release, it runs from 1 to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It includes a Halloween-themed BounceTown, water walking balls, a pumpkin patch, food trucks, LED mini golf, face painting, costume contests, carnival games, a live DJ and a free Trick-or-Treat Trail. A free family movie at 7 p.m. closes out Saturday. Sunday includes a free magic show at 5 p.m. The City calendar entry shows the same 1 to 7 p.m. hours for both days.
The City's pages don't give a venue. Visit SLO CAL's listing puts the carnival at Elm Street Park, 1221 Ash Street, the same address as the Recreation office. That listing prices BounceTown at $15 to $25, says some activities are free, and says tickets are sold at the Recreation office or at the door.
The two sources don't agree on everything. The Visit SLO CAL listing shows hours of 3 to 9 p.m. and includes a haunted maze priced at $3 to $5. The City's release doesn't mention a maze and gives 1 to 7 p.m. This post goes with the City's hours because the City runs the event. Recreation Services at 805-473-5474 can confirm the maze and current pricing. Advance activity registration is open at the City's rec site.
How Saturday, October 24 Fits Together
The Village game runs from 10 to 4, and the carnival runs from 1 to 7. Both run from 1 to 4 p.m. One way to fit both into a single day, using the published hours:
- 10 a.m. Pick up the newspaper at Monarch Books and start on the Village storefronts while Branch Street is quieter and the carnival hasn't opened yet.
- Midday Keep collecting clues. The game runs until 4 p.m., so there's no need to rush.
- 1 to 4 p.m. The carnival is open. Split the afternoon however suits your group, and remember that the Village storefronts stop handing out clues at 4.
- Late afternoon Move to Elm Street Park for costume contests, the Trick-or-Treat Trail and BounceTown before the carnival closes at 7.
- 7 p.m. The free family movie at the carnival ends the night.
Sunday has the same overlap with a different finish. The Village game ends at 4 p.m., and the magic show at Elm Street Park starts at 5. That leaves an hour between the last clue and the magic show.
A Week Later, Branch Street Closes for Trick-or-Treating
Halloween itself goes back to the Village. The merchant guild lists its Halloween celebration for October 31 from 4 to 6 p.m. and says Branch Street will close for it. The guild invites families to dress up and bring the kids to collect candy, and it has set up an online wish list where people can donate candy. October 31 is a Saturday this year, so the two-hour window falls on a weekend afternoon.
Branch Street will also have work crews this month. The City scheduled public-tree trimming starting Wednesday, October 7, for about three to four weeks, weather permitting. The work covers Branch Street from Traffic Way to Crown Hill, along with Grand Avenue east of Oak Park to Highway 101 and James Way between Oak Park Boulevard and Equestrian Way. The City warned of minor disruptions. If the work takes the full four weeks, it could still be going on during the mystery weekend. On the published schedule, it should be finished or close to it by October 31.
After Halloween, the Season Moves Back Toward the Village
After the Turkey Trot at the high school track, the last two big dates of the year are both in the Village. The City runs all three.
- Sunday, November 15, 2 to 4 p.m. The 49th Annual Turkey Trot, sponsored by the Arroyo Grande Lions Club, takes place at the Arroyo Grande High School track. It's for children from preschool through eighth grade, and first-, second- and third-place finishers win turkeys, chickens and game hens. Registration is $5, includes a Turkey Trot T-shirt and post-race refreshments, and is open online or at the event starting at 1 p.m.
- Sunday, November 29, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Big Ditch Market comes back to the Car Corral in the Village for a holiday edition. It follows the market's evening dates on September 4 and October 2, which featured local artisans, food trucks and live music by Ryan Jenkins. The holiday market moves to a daytime slot on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
- Sunday, December 6. The City Holiday Parade and Jingle Bell Dash take place in the Village. The dash starts at 4 p.m., the parade follows at 5, and Visit SLO CAL's event listing gives an overall window of 4 to 7 p.m. Since the City's own calendar page still shows last year's date, it's a good idea to check the time again closer to the parade.
The City's adult leagues run during the same weeks. Basketball plays September 28 through November 12 at the Oceano Community Center. Softball plays October 18 through December 6 at Soto Sports Complex, so its last day falls on parade day.
One Park to Leave Off the List Until November
Biddle Park is partly closed this fall. KSBY reported in September that a project will replace the gazebo and add picnic tables, a barbecue facility and accessible paths. During construction, the southwest area of the park, the Willow Bluff and Bobcat day-use areas, and the southwest parking lot are closed. The work is expected to finish in November. That date is a target, not a promise. If it holds, the new gazebo and picnic area should open before the December 6 parade.
Venture Real Estate follows the Village calendar the way an owner would, from Branch Street closures to the storefronts taking part in events like Murder in the Village. If you own a home or building near the Village and want to talk through what this season's events mean for it, Contact Us.
