It’s time for your pooch to get creative and strut down the runway at the 5th Annual Howl’oween Costume Contest and Pawrade! The event is free to attend, and tickets to enter the contest are $15, with a percentage of proceeds going to a local dog rescue. Pups will be judged in categories like “spookiest,” “funniest,” and “most creative DIY,” as well as best overall. Prizes will be awarded to the winners! RSVP at runwayplayavista.com/events. RUNWAY is located at 12775 W. Millennium Drive in Playa Vista.

The YMCA is preparing for its largest community event of the year: its annual Halloween Spooktacular! Save the date for Friday, October 25th from 6 to 9 p.m. for the most ghoulish-family fun in Westchester! Reservations to attend the free event will launch next month, and activities will include games, candy, a haunted maze, entertainment and more. Food will also be available for purchase. Follow the Y at facebook.com/westchesterfamilymca to learn more about their upcoming events!

Loyola Marymount University welcomes Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Grammy-winning and Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated performer, Anthony Ramos for an exciting event in the "Global Conversations Series." They will screen Ramos's episode of the acclaimed PBS series "Finding Your Roots" and lead a compelling discussion on identity, ancestry, and the critical issues confronting our nation today. Free and open to the community, the event is Saturday, Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. on the Drollinger Family Stage at Lawton Plaza. Attendees must register here: https://www.lmu.edu/global-conversations/anthonyramos/ LMU is at 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90045. LMU’s Global Conversations Series, presented by the Office of the Provost and the Marymount Institute for Faith, Culture, and the Arts, fosters dialogue that transcends disciplines and perspectives.

Celebrate the spooky season–and prepare for all the Halloween treats you’ll be eating–by signing up for the Sixth Annual Monster Dash in Playa Vista. Grab your friends and your best costumes to participate in this bewitching fun run/walk that takes place along the neighborhood’s Bluff Creek Drive. The cost to register is $50 for adults and $20 for children 18 and under (plus fees). A family bundle of four tickets is also available! A costume contest, live DJ, giveaways and custom finisher medals for runners, round out the event. For more info and to RSVP, visit eventbrite.com and search “Playa Vista Monster Dash.”

Visit RUNWAY Playa Vista for a family-friendly day that is sure to scare up some fun! The shopping center will be transformed into a spooktacular party, featuring crafts, photo booths, petting zoo, creepy characters, games and more! local businesses will also be handing out candy from 2:30 to 3 p.m. For an extra special treat, buy a ticket for a visit to the Candy Coach, for a five-minute dash to fill up your bag with chocolate and more! RSVP at runwayplayavista.com/events. RUNWAY is located at 12775 W. Millennium Drive in Playa Vista.

The Westchester Senior Center will hold a veteran's appreciation event on November 15 at 1 p.m. The event will feature a panel of esteemed guests, a bbq lunch, and a chance to honor local veterans. The Senior Center is located at 8740 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester for more information or to RSVP, visit laparks.org.

St. Jerome Parish will hold their annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Faire on Saturday November 23, 2024 (9:00am-4:00pm), and Sunday November 24, 2024 (8:00am-2:00pm). Food, raffles, and 50 craft vendors will be ready to help kick-off the holiday season.

Join the Holiday Spirit at LMU! This exciting annual holiday tradition is fun for the whole family. There will be music, crafts for kids, food trucks, and photos with a special guest from the North Pole. This event is free and open to the public. The event is Friday, December 6 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Get to Know SMPREP's Primary Program Please join us Saturday, December 7 from 9-11 a.m. for Saint Monica Preparatory's annual Christmas Playdate & Open House. The fun and festive morning is a wonderful opportunity for families starting to explore Kindergarten and primary grade options for the 2025-2026 school year to get to know our community better and to kick off the holiday season! Saint Monica Prep's Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade teachers will all be on hand at the event to lead story time, arts & crafts and STEM activity stations. RSVP on our website at saintmonicaprep.org.