Ready, set, go to get the best viewing spot for the popular Emmaus annual Halloween Parade and Halloween in Emmaus 5K race Oct. 19. Come on out and cheer the runners on and applaud the parade marchers and floats.

The start time for the race is 7 p.m. Prizes are awarded to top runners and costume contest winners. For information, visit Emmaus 5K.com. Proceeds from the race benefit the Halloween parade and Emmaus’ parks system.

The parade steps off 7:30 p.m. The event attracts thousands of spectators along the parade route. Visit borough.emmaus.pa.us for a complete parade route. The rain date for both events is Oct. 20.

Volunteers are needed to help with the parade organization. Please consider becoming involved. A parade committee has been meeting 7 p.m. every Thursday at borough hall in the community room. Volunteers do not need to attend every meeting. For information, call 610-965-6250 or visit EmmausParade@aol.com.

Trick or treat night in Emmaus will be held 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25 (rain or shine). Please be on the lookout for little ghosts and goblins.

Emmaus Borough Council meets 7 p.m. Oct. 7 and 21 in council chambers, 19 S. Fourth St.

The borough will hold its first annual Dumpster Day and household hazardous waste event 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 5 at the compost center on Kline’s Lane. This is an event for borough residents only, not designed for businesses. For information on this event, visit borough.emmaus.pa.us.

Curbside leaf collection begins Oct. 21 and continues through Dec. 7. For information, visit borough.emmaus.pa.us.

The Emmaus Garden Club will meet noon Oct. 1 at Faith Presbyterian Church, 3002 N. Second St. The program will be “Fall Gardening and Cleanup” with Linc Coffin. Coffin, a master gardener, will discuss how to extend your gardening season and how to clean up the garden properly. Guests are always welcome. For information, call 610-965-6109.

The Knauss Homestead Preservation Society will host a Boozy Bingo fundraiser Oct. 13 at Fire Company #1, 50 S. Sixth St. Doors open 11:30 a.m. and bingo begins 1 p.m. Guests must be 21 to enter. Food and beverages will be available. For information, visit www.the knausshomestead.org.

The Knauss Homestead Preservation Society and the Emmaus Main Street Partners are hosting Oktoberfest, 1 to 6 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Knauss Homestead, 152 E. Main St. (rear). For information, visit www.theknausshomestead.org.

There will be no Emmaus Senior Citizen’s group meeting at the church Oct. 4. The group is going out to eat. The group regularly meets 1 p.m. the first and second Friday of each month at St. Matthew’s E.C. Church, Fifth and Ridge streets. The group will play bingo at the Oct. 11 meeting. All local senior citizens are welcome to attend. For information, call 610-966-4273.

The Emmaus Lioness Lions Club’s 23rd annual apple dumpling sale is currently underway. Call 610-776-7477 to preorder. The dumplings are available in regular or sugar-free. The dumplings will be available for pickup at the Egypt Star Bakery, 415 Chestnut St., 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 13 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 14.

The Emmaus Historical Society is always looking for Emmaus-related items and vintage holiday items. They are especially interested in locating vintage Halloween items for their displays. If interested in donating anything in these categories, stop by the museum 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays or call 610-966-6591. Donations for the 2020 spring yard sale are being accepted now.

The historical society meets 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at St. John’s parish hall, Fifth and Chestnut streets. The program is “Carved in Stone: The Interpretation of Pennsylvania Dutch Tombstone Inscriptions and Decorations” presented by Patrick Donmoyer, director of the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University. All are welcome to attend. Plan to visit the historical society museum, 218 Main St., to see the celebrations’ displays and the Halloween display.

The historical society will host a bus trip Dec. 19 to Dutch Apple Theater in Lancaster for “Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn.” Call Nancy at 610-967-5715 to register.

St. Ann School, 435 S. Sixth St., will hold a run/walk event Oct. 26 as part of its 70th anniversary celebration. Registration opens 8 a.m. in the gym. A 1K walk/fun run is 8:30 a.m. and the 5K race starts 9 a.m. There is an entry fee. The run/walk event takes place on some borough streets and the South Mountain Trail. For information, email dursob@gmail.com (subject line 5K) or 215-820-0428.

St. Ann School will host a beef and beer dinner Oct. 26 in the school gymnasium to raise funds to benefit the school’s annual and endowment funds. The doors open 6 p.m. and dinner is 7 p.m. The deadline for pre-sale tickets is Oct. 21. For information, visit carrie.gradin@gmail.com or call 484-550-8963.

The Emmaus Kiwanis Club will hold a fundraising event, “Quarters for a Cause,” 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Macungie Fire Hall, 31 S. Walnut St., Macungie. The doors open 1:30 p.m. The admission fee includes one free paddle with a number on it. Extra paddles may be purchased. The proceeds help to support programs for the children in the community. The Woman’s Club of Emmaus will hold its annual fall card party 11:30 a.m. Oct. 31 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 501 Chestnut St. The club’s famous barbecue sandwiches and desserts will be served. Bridge, Pinochle, Phase Ten and the usual games will be played. Those attendees interested in participating in the card party should call Sandy at 610-395-6434.

The Emmaus Farmers Market is held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday at Triangle Park. For information, visit Emmausmarket.com.

The Friends of the Emmaus Public Library canceled the Sept. 27 Autumn Social. Refunds have been issued to those who purchased tickets. However there are a number of donated prizes for the silent auction. Those items will be used in a monthly raffle starting in October. Purchase tickets at the library for a chance to win some great prizes. Be on the lookout at the library and on the library’s social media to find out what prize will be raffled off in October.

The Emmaus Public Library staff invite library visitors to join them for Halloween fun 4 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 31. The staff will hand out sweets and non-food treats to patrons in costumes. At 7 p.m., members of the Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild will have silly and scary stories to share with elementary ages and up.

Emily Reiser, of the Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley, will present a program on identity theft and fraud protection 10:30 a.m. Oct. 3 at the library.

L’Aura Hladik Hoffman, founder and director of the N.J. Ghost Hunters Society, will take attendees on a journey through the spooky Pocono Mountains. RSVP by email eplcollection@cliu.org, call 610-965-9284, ext. 210 or stop at the library’s front desk to save a seat.

Tech doesn’t have to be scary. Mel Draving, owner of Here For You Concierge of Emmaus, will show attendees (for ages 55 and older) how to get the most out of their smart devices 7 p.m. Oct. 21.

For a list of other programs and movies offered at the Emmaus Public Library, visit www.emmauspl.org.

Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6 through 12. Please be sure to thank fire personnel for helping to keep our community safe.

Congratulations to Linda and Mike Waddell on being honored as Emmaus’ Volunteers of the Year. The Waddells were honored for their 15-year commitment to the vision and operation of the Emmaus’ Remembrance Garden and Emmaus’ Commemorative Garden Foundation.

The deadline for including items in the November column is Oct. 14. Send to 913 Little Lehigh Dr., visit durdock@aol.com or call 610-967-2661. Best wishes for a safe and fun-filled Halloween.