It's that time of year for the eagerly awaited annual Emmaus Halloween parade. The parade will be held 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20. There is a rain date of 6:30 p.m. Oct. 21. While you are staking out your viewing spot along the parade route, be sure to cheer the runners participating in the KNBT Halloween 5K race, some in costume, which starts 7 p.m. before the parade and follows the parade route. The proceeds from the race go toward Halloween parade expenses and park projects. For information visit Emmaus 5k.com or email Emmausparade@aol.com.

Please be aware Emmaus moved Trick or Treat night to 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. In years past Emmaus' Trick or Treat night had been held on the last Thursday in October. Turn on your porch light if you want to welcome the youngsters.

The Emmaus police will be participating in the National Prescription Drug Take-back Day 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Emmaus Police Department, 400 Jubilee St. The officers will be collecting any unused, unwanted and expired prescription drugs.

In celebration of the autumn harvest season, the Emmaus Garden Club members invite you to join them at their Oct. 2 meeting at Faith Presbyterian Church, North Second and Cherokee streets. Guest speaker Bill Baird, chef and owner of Baird's Catering, Gilbertsville, will present the program "Vegetable Bouquets." Doors open noon, refreshments will be served, and the program starts 1 p.m. The public is welcome to attend you don't have to live in Emmaus. For more information, call 610-966-4181.

The Emmaus Main Street Partners will sponsor its third annual Beer Fest 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 6 in Emmaus Community Park's Art Pavilion. For more information, call 610-965-6279.

The Emmaus' merchants will host a downtown sidewalk sale 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 13. The event features music on The Triangle.

The Emmaus Historical Society is still taking orders through Oct. 10 for the society's apple dumpling sale fundraiser. To order, call the museum at 610-966-6591. Pick up dumplings at the Oct. 17 program meeting at St. John's Lutheran Church. It is also time to order shoo fly pies. Deadline is Nov. 2. Pies will be available for pickup at the Nov. 14 meeting.

The program for the Oct. 17 Emmaus Historical Society meeting is an "inside view" presentation on Bethlehem Steel by Ann Bartholomew and Donald Stuart Young, coauthors of "Bethlehem Steel in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania." The meeting will be held 7 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church parish hall.

On Oct. 5, 6, 7, 12 and 13, Mary Ann Miller will conduct Emmaus Historical and Ghost Tales Tour, an evening walking and car tour of several locations. There is a cost for tickets. For tour time information and tickets, call 610-967-1557 or 610-966-6591. Proceeds benefit the historical society building fund. Miller will hold a book signing of "Legends, Myths & Ghost Tales from Emmaus, Pa," noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 27 at the society's museum, 563 Chestnut St. Stop in to purchase your personalized copy and enjoy light refreshments.

The museum, which is open noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays, will also be open 4 to 9 p.m. Oct. 10 and 24.

Emmaus Borough Council meets 7 p.m. Oct. 1 and 15 in council chambers, 28 S. Fourth St. For information, visit borough.emmaus.pa.us or call 610-965-9292. Please note the compost center's hours have changed. Hours from Sept. 26 to Oct. 13 are 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. or till dusk Wednesdays; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Be sure to mark your calendar Oct. 6 for the 1803 House's "A Very Merrie Halloween." A Very Merrie Halloween is a juried craft and fall festival, presented by the Friends of the 1803 House. Advance tickets are now available for Merrie Halloween's pig roast dinner and may still be purchased at Sweet Memories or by calling the House at 610-965-0152.

Among the festival's activities, which will be held 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the historical house, 55 S. Keystone Avenue, is an apple pie baking contest, the sale of homemade soups, apple dumplings and delicious baked goods, children's activities, a haunted gingerbread house display and tours of the historic house. For information, call 610-965-0152.

There is still time to order apple dumplings from the Emmaus Lioness Club sale. Proceeds from the sale are distributed to various charitable projects and agencies through the club's general welfare fund. The dumplings are available in regular or sugar free (Splenda). For cost and to order, call Eileen Frick at 610-967-1720. Pick up orders in the rear of the Emmaus Bakery, 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 7 or 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 8.

All senior citizens over the age of 55 are invited to the Emmaus Senior Citizens meetings at St. Matthew's E.C. Church, Ridge and Fifth streets. The group meets 1 p.m. October programs include Oct. 5: Sen. Bob Mensch, R-24th, who will speak on taxes and local issues; Oct. 12: A covered dish meeting with entertainment by Sister Sound; Oct. 19: The group's Halloween parade (come in costume) with music by Betty Aftzinger; Oct. 26 is game day. For information, call 610-966-4273.

The Emmaus Arts Commission is opening its 2012 Student Horror Film Festival competition 6 p.m. Oct. 11 at Emmaus High School. Teams compete in middle school and high school divisions. There is an entry fee. The deadline for submissions is 6 p.m. Oct. 15.

The public is invited to view the final films during the Student Horror Film Festival finale at the Emmaus Theater, 2 p.m. Oct. 28. An awards ceremony follows immediately. There is a cost to attend the finale. For an application or for film viewing details, visit www.emmausarts.org.

Emmaus Public Library's children's fall programs will be Suns Story Time, Stars and Rainbows Story Times and Second and Third Grade Reading Adventures begining in October. For information, visit www.emmauspl. org or call 610-965-9284.

The Emmaus Farmers Market, KNBT parking lot, 235 Main St., is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday, rain or shine.

Happy Halloween to everyone. The next Emmaus column's deadline is due Oct. 19. Please send submissions for the column to Durdock@ aol.com or to 913 Little Lehigh Dr., Emmaus.