Halloween is on Thursday of next week, and the days leading up to the holiday are packed with wicked activities. Local breweries will have themed parties, the Deschutes Public Library will hold events at its various locations and the Old Mill District will put on its popular day-of celebration Oct. 31.

Get into the spooky season spirit at the following All Hallows Eve festivities.

Stranger than Fiction, Literary Ghost Walk at Downtown Library

Start the celebrations early at the Downtown Bend Public Library on Thursday. Author Jools Sinclair will share her journey from writing about fictional ghosts to coming face-to-face with real ones. Librarians will then host a literary ghost walk where they introduce and discuss some of their favorite dead authors.

Sinclair, a mystery author and Bend Ghost Tours spirit guide, will talk about the chilling tales that drew her to ghosts in the first place and also about her own real-life encounters with the paranormal. Then, she’ll share some stories about her adventures of being a ghost detective on the streets of downtown Bend. She will also speak to the power of ghost stories — both real and fictional — and why people need them today more than ever.

Following the talk, join in the library’s ghost walk. Visit with the ghosts of authors who will be stationed throughout the library to tell more about their works.

Thursday 6-7 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m.; free; Downtown Bend Public Library, 601 NW Wall St., Bend; dpl.libnet.info or 541-617-7050.

Witchy Weekend

Juniper Preserve is celebrating Halloween Saturday with a Witchy Weekend Festival. The resort will have Halloween-themed activities including games, mask decorating, glow-in-the-dark lava lamp making and spider lollipop crafting. Attendees are welcome to explore the Ghost Tree Pumpkin Patch to pick a pumpkin and carve it on-site. There will also be a Sunset Costume Parade, so don’t forget to come in costume.

The evening will wrap up with a dance performance by Further Movement Collective. The night market will be open throughout the afternoon and evening. The event is free for resort members and lodge guests. Admission is $35 for children and $20 for adults.

As part of the weekend celebrations, the resort will have a swim and movie night Friday evening, featuring the 1993-classic “Hocus Pocus.” The movie will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 to nonmembers.

Friday 4-10 p.m.; $25, free to resort members and lodge guests; Juniper Lodge Pool, Juniper Preserve, 65600 Pronghorn Club Drive, Bend; juniperpreserve.com.

Saturday 3-8 p.m.; $35 kids, $20 adults, free to resort members and lodge guests; Juniper Preserve, 65600 Pronghorn Club Drive, Bend; juniperpreserve.com

Light Up Halloween — Illuminemos Halloween

Head to Bend Church of the Nazarene on Sunday for a variety of family-friendly Halloween activities. The church will have trunk-or-treating, food trucks, free hot chocolate and popcorn, a photo booth, live reggae band and games. Organizers will also be raffling off prizes throughout the evening. Come in costume and enjoy an early Halloween celebration with friends and family.

Sunday 6-8 p.m.; free; Bend Church of the Nazarene, 1270 NE 27th St., Bend; bendnaz.churchcenter.com or 541-382-5496.

Halloween at Old Mill

Spend Halloween day in the Old Mill District. The whole district will transform into a spooky playground where everyone is invited to partake in the festivities. Participating shops will have trick-or-treating, plus craft stations and selfie spots. Watch costumed pets parade through the district and the famous witches’ paddle on the Deschutes River.

For those looking to participate, the paddle starts from Riverbend Park at 4 p.m. Spectators will crowd the Old Mill Bridge and riverbanks to watch the witches. This is a popular spot to spend Halloween evening, so expect crowds and difficulty parking.

Thursday, Oct 31 4-6 p.m.; free; Old Mill District, 450 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 422 and Riverbend Park, 799 SW Columbia St., Bend; oldmilldistrict.com or 541-389-7275.

For more Halloween events, see our Halloween calendar.