Haunted houses and ghoulish ghost walks, pumpkin-carving and trick-or-treating, visits to Poe's grave and canine costume contests. That's what Halloween is all about. In and around Baltimore, that is. And we tell you where to find it all - from the frightening and horrid to the wacky and downright absurd. Be wary, though: Some events listed below are geared to older children and adults, so call ahead if you're unsure whether an event is appropriate for the little tykes.

Anne Arundel County

"Bennett's Curse - House of the Vampyres." Today-Nov. 1, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Arundel Mills, 7000 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover. Located next to Jared, the Galleria of Jewelry and across from Wal-Mart. Self-guided haunted tours of a medieval castle. For ages 10 and older; ages under 10 need parental consent. $10; $8 ages under 12. Call 410-538-6438.

"Halloween Happening." Tomorrow-Sunday and Wednesday-Oct. 31, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds, Route 178, Crownsville. Haunted barn and hayride. $8; free for ages 5 and under. Call 410-923-3400, Ext. 7.

"Legend of Creepy Hollow." Oct. 31, 6:30 p.m. Chesapeake Music Hall, 339 Busch's Frontage Road, Annapolis. Do or Die Productions presents the interactive mystery. $45 includes show and buffet. Call 410-626-7515.

"Murder Through the Ages." Tomorrow-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. Chesapeake Arts Center, 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park. Do or Die Productions presents the interactive mystery. $12-$16. Call 410-636-6597.

"Spirits of Annapolis Tours." Today-tomorrow, Tuesday-Wednesday, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. William Paca House, 186 Prince George St., Annapolis. Hear stories about the ghosts, spirits and mysteries of colonial Annapolis. $15-$20. Call 410-267-7619 for reservations.

Baltimore City

"Fell's Point Ghost Walk." This Saturday and every Friday through Nov. 29, 7 p.m. Tours depart from aMuse, 1623 Thames St. Haunted tours of Fells Point. $8-$12. Call 410-522-7400 for reservations.

"The Great Halloween Lantern Parade." Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Pulaski Monument, Patterson Park, Eastern and Linwood avenues. Participants will parade candlelighted lanterns through the park. Free. Call 410-342-0600.

"The Great Halloween Lantern Parade" post-party. Saturday, 9 p.m. Creative Alliance, 413 S. Conkling St. Halloween dance. Wear your costume. $4-$6. Call 410-276-1651.

Halloween concert. Sunday, 2 p.m. Peabody Institute, 1 E. Mount Vernon Place. "Young People's String Program." Free. Call 410-659-8100.

"Halloween Harvest Cooking." Saturday, noon-4 p.m. The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, 844 E. Pratt St. Program with food historian Sue Latini, who cooks up harvest dishes and offers samples. A Mary Pickersgill re- enactor will give trick-or-treat candy to children. $3-$5. Call 410-837-1793.

"Halloween in Hampden, Hon." Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. All along 36th Street in Hampden. Magic wand-making, mask-making, trick-or-treating, costume parade, costume contest, more. Free. Call 410-235-5800.

Halloween tour. Oct. 31, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Westminster Burying Ground and Catacombs, Fayette and Greene streets. Theatrical reading of Poe's The Masque of the Red Death, classical guitar performances, tour of Westminster Hall with eerie music, visit to Poe's grave and tour of Westminster Catacombs, more. $3-$5. Call 410-706-7228.

"Haunted Hike." Saturday, 7 p.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Gwynns Falls Trail. Hike begins at the Winans Meadow trail, Franklintown Road. For ages 8 and up. $4. Call 410-396-0808 or 410-396-0440.

"Horrifically Horrid Haunted House." Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The Joseph Center, 430 S. Broadway. Haunted house. For ages 7 and up. 50 cents. Call 410-732-5000.

"Howl-O-Ween Canton Dog Festival." Sunday, noon-6 p.m. The Can Company, 2400 Boston St. Dog costume contest: scariest, funniest, most Baltimorean, most human and best match with owner. $10 for participants; free for spectators. Call 410-558-CANC.

"Howl-O-Ween Hop." Saturday, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. The Maryland SPCA grounds, 3300 Falls Road. Dance with costume contest, open bar, prizes, silent auction, more. $75. Benefits the SPCA. Call 410-889-9331, Ext. 4.

"Ode to Halloween." Today, noon. Westminster Hall, Fayette and Greene streets. "Lunch Under the Pipes" concert, tour of Westminster Catacombs, cookies, cider and prize drawings for a Halloween tour. Free. Call 410-706-2072.

"Phantom Trolley." Tomorrow-Saturday, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Baltimore Streetcar Museum, 1901 Falls Road. Spooky streetcar ride, refreshments, more. $3-$6. Call 410-547-0264.

"Pumpkin Pastimes: An Old-Fashioned Harvest Festival." Saturday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Maryland Historical Society, 201 W. Monument St. Harvest craft-making, masquerade parade, trick-or-treating through time, more. Come in costume. $7. Call 410-685-3750, Ext. 321.

"Rattle Your Bones Shindig." Tomorrow, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Port Discovery, 35 Market Place. Costume contest, Halloween bowling, pumpkin-decorating, "Guess the Goo" game, refreshments, more. $4-$6. Call 410-864-2669 for reservations.

"Silver Scream." Tomorrow-Saturday and Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre, 817 St. Paul St. Musical comedy about outrageous horror films. $15. Call 410-752-1225.

"Zoo BOOO! 2002." Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Baltimore Zoo, Druid Hill Park. Trick-or-treating, train rides, costume contest, haunted barn, creepy crafts and games, more. Free with zoo admission: $6-$10; free for ages under 2. Call 410-396-7102 or 410-366-LION.

Baltimore County

"The Ballestone Strangler." Tomorrow-Saturday, 6:30 p.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Ballestone Manor, Rocky Point Golf Course, 1935 Back River Neck Road, Essex. Scary house tours and haunted trail. $2.50-$8. Call 410-887-0218.

"The Ghosts of Miners Past." Tomorrow, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Oregon Ridge Nature Center, 13555 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville. Spooky stories around the campfire. $3. Call 410-887-1815 for reservations.

"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." Saturday, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Patapsco Valley State Park, Orange Grove Shelter, Avalon area, off South Street from Route 1, Halethorpe. Halloween campfire program about snakes, spiders, bats and vultures - all symbols of the spooky holiday. Marshmallow-roasting after program. $3. Call 410-737-0451 to register.

"Halloween Animals." Saturday-Sunday, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Marshy Point Nature Center, 7130 Marshy Point Road, Chase. Hear spooky animal stories. Free. Call 410-887-2817.

"Halloween Family Fright Night." Tomorrow-Saturday, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. YMCA, 7677 Lillian Holt Drive, White Marsh. Halloween hayride, haunted hike, costume parade and contest, refreshments, more. $5 per person or $20 per family. Call 410-837-9622.

Halloween party. Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Company, 108 Main St. Costume competition, pumpkin-painting, mask-painting, games, safety lessons, more. Parking available at Franklin Middle School, 10 Cockeysmill Road. Free. Call 410-833-1370.

Halloween safety event. Monday-Wednesday, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Overlea Fullerton Senior Center, 4314 Fullerton Ave. Halloween safety tips, tours of decorated rooms, kids' activities, treat bags to take home, more. $2; $1 ages 5-12; free for ages 4 and under. Call 410-887-5220.

"Haunted Dungeons at Fort Howard Park." Tomorrow-Sunday, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. At the end of Route 20 in Fort Howard. Haunted walking tours. Presented by the Edgemere Sparrows Point Recreation and Parks Council. $6-$8. Call 410-887-7529.

"Haunted Hayride." Tomorrow-Saturday, 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Chapel Hill Farms, 4350 Chapel Road, Perry Hall. Frightening hayrides. $6; free for ages under 5. Call 410-887-5187.

"The Haunted Pool." Today-Sunday, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Crosby Crossing Swim Club, Crosby and Chesworth roads, Catonsville. Tour the haunted grounds. $6. Call 410-788-3723.

"Howl-O-Ween Fun Day." Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Trinity Episcopal Church, Memorial Hall, 120 Allegheny Ave., Towson. Greyhound costume contest, photo-taking, baked goods, more. Come in costume yourself. Presented by the Greyhound Pets of America/Maryland. Free. Call 410-788-3104.

"Nightmares From Elmridge." Tomorrow, 7 p.m.-11 p.m.; Saturday, 6 p.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday and Oct. 31, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.; Monday-Wednesday, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. 5400 East Drive, Arbutus. Haunted house. $4.50-$6.50. Call 410-247-0046.

"Trail of Terror." Today-Sunday and Nov. 1, 7 p.m. Padonia Park Club, 12006 Jenifer Road, Cockeysville. Spooky hayrides with scary walks in the woods, haunted house, corn maze. $3-$10.95 per attraction. Portion of proceeds benefits the American Red Cross. Call 410-252-2046.

"Trick-or-Treat Kidney Walk." Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Towson Town Center, 825 Dulaney Valley Road. Pledge walk with candy pit stops, Halloween games and prizes, Oriole Bird, more. Registration at 8:30 a.m. Proceeds benefit the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland. Call 410-494-8545.

Carroll County

"Bedlam in the Boro." Today, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.; tomorrow-Saturday, 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Lineboro Volunteer Fire Department, 4224 Main St. Haunted hayride and carnival. $4-$8. Call 410-239-4467.

"Festivus Hauntimus." Tomorrow-Saturday, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Carrolltown Center, 6400 Ridge Road, Eldersburg. Haunted house, moon bounce, face-painting. Must be over 6 to enter haunted house. $5; $3 with canned good donation. Call 410-781-7070.

"Frightmares at Bleak Hill Farms." Today-Nov. 2, 6 p.m.-midnight. Reese Road and Route 140, Westminster. Haunted barn and haunted hayrides. $8-$20. Call 410-876-3251.

"Haunted Barn." Today, Sunday-Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; tomorrow-Saturday, 7:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Taneytown Jaycees, 8 Warehouse Alley (behind Country Kitchen Restaurant). Thirteen rooms of horror. $5. Call 410-775-2056.

Harford County

"Harriet's Happiest Halloween." Today-tomorrow, 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Chesapeake Theater, Harford Community College, 401 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air. Presented by Harford Dance Theatre. Theatrical performance. Wear your Halloween costume. $5-$7. Call 410-836-4211.

"Haunted Golf." Saturday, 1 p.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Churchville Golf Course, 3040 Churchville Road. Halloween-themed miniature golf, trick-or-treating. $7. Call 410-836-5075.

Howard County

"Ghosts of the Patapsco Female Institute." Tomorrow-Saturday and Nov. 1-2, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park, Mount Ida Visitor Center, 3691 Sarah's Lane, Ellicott City. Haunted walk through the park. Wear a costume and walking shoes and bring a flashlight. $4. Call 410-465-8500.

Halloween carnival. Tomorrow, 6 p.m. St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Route 216 and Murphy Road, Fulton. Costume contest, haunted house, refreshments, more. $2 per person; $5 per family. Bring a canned good for charity. Call 410-792-2223 or 301-725-0241.

"Halloween Extravaganza." Saturday, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Long Reach High School, 6101 Dobbin Lane, Columbia. Costume parade, games, cake walk, face-painting, more. Free. Call 410-313-7117.

"Haunted Halloween." Tomorrow, 7 p.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Rockburn Branch Park, Montgomery Road, Elkridge. Haunted hayride and trail, for ages 7 and up. $7. On Sunday, from 2 p.m.-4 p.m., ages 2-7 can take a fun hayride (not scary). $3. Call 410-313-4625.

"Nightmare Woods." Tomorrow-Sunday and Wednesday-Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Haunted farmhouse, freak-show stage, 3-D clown asylum, midway, more. $13. Call 410-730-2424 or 410-481-SEAT.

"Scary (?) Scenes." Saturday, 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Howard County Center for the Arts, 8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City. The Howard County Ballet presents a dance performance, with members dressed as ghosts and goblins. Wear a scary costume. $5. Call 410-465-8233.

"Wilde Halloween." Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Slayton House, Wilde Lake Village Green, Columbia. Halloween games, singing, dancing, imaginary walk through a haunted house, trick-or-treating for costumed children, more. For ages 3-10. $3. Call 410-730-3987.

Prince George's County

"Fright Fest." Tomorrow and Nov. 1, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday and Nov. 2-3, noon-10 p.m. Six Flags America, 13710 Central Ave., Largo. Haunted train, haunted house, non-scary hayride, Halloween shows, nightly costume contests, costumed characters, Looney Tunes Spooky Town, more. $23.99-$35.99; free for ages 3 and under. Call 301-249-1500.

"Jack-o-Lantern Tea." Sunday, 4 p.m. Belair Mansion, 12207 Tulip Grove Drive, Bowie. Tea, candlelight tour with ghost stories. Come in costume. $17. Call 301-809-3089 for reservations.