THE TIME TO HOWL FAMILIES OFFERED MANY CHOICES TODAY.

PALMDALE - Families looking for safe Halloween activities have plenty of choices today, from haunted houses to trick-or-treating in the Antelope Valley Mall.

Here are some of the activities, in chronological order:

-- A Halloween video program with crafts will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Quartz Hill Library, 42018 50th St. W. For more information call [phone].

-- A drop-in Halloween and autumn craft event for children age 2 and older runs from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Lake Los Angeles Library, 16921 E. Ave. O. Preschoolers must be assisted by a parent.

Children will have a choice of making a fall leaf pin or a Halloween bookmark. For more information call [phone]

--The Antelope Valley Mall's Spooktacular Halloween Bash will start at 4:30 p.m. in the center court, where costumed teens will tell Halloween stories for younger children until 5:30. Candy will be handed out to trick-or-treaters from 5 to 7 p.m. at mall stores. From 6 to 7 p.m. entertainer Ken Frawley will sing songs and play games with children.

The mall event is free and open to the public. For more information visit or call the mall customer service center at [phone].

--The Lancaster Elks Lodge's annual Halloween party runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at the lodge, 240 E. Ave. K. The party is for children up to age 12, accompanied by their parents.

Free burgers, hot dogs, punch, games and prizes will be offered.

--The Haunted Jail will be open for tours from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Mira Loma Jail on 60th Street West at Avenue I. Tours begin under the jail water tower. Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies warn that visitors should be prepared for long lines.

The Haunted Jail has has been expanded into new buildings, making this the largest yet, said deputies who have sponsored the event for children for four years.

Call [phone] for a recording of general information and specific details on accommodations for disabled persons.

-- The Antelope Valley Scare operates this year at a new location, south of the JetHawks' Lancaster Municipal Stadium on Valley Central Way off Avenue I.

The ``haunted mortuary'' has been expanded from 4,000 square feet last year to 10,000 square feet this year, with two outdoor graveyards and a smaller version of Camp Crystal Lake, the setting of the ``Friday the 13th'' horror movies.

New this year is help from John Carl Buechler, director of ``Friday the 13th Part VII,'' ``Goulies,'' ``Watchers Reborn,'' ``Troll'' and ``Dungeon Masters.''

Buechler supplied props and his decorating expertise. Michael Valenzuela, who has worked with Buechler on films, has been helping with the monster makeup for Antelope Valley Scare for the last two years.

A special free children's trick-or-treat haunted house will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. for children age 10 and younger. One parent or guardian may accompany each child through the maze for free. This is a toned-down version of the regular show, and children will receive candy from not-so-scary monsters, organizers said.

General admission from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. is $7. The tours are not recommended for children under age 10.

There also will be an ``extreme show'' from 10 p.m. to midnight for $10 admission.

Admission for groups of 20 or more is $6 per person.

-- The Palmdale City Players will perform radio-style versions of three classic stories - Edgar Allan Poe's ``The Cask of Amontillado,'' Rudyard Kipling's ``The Mark of the Beach'' and Oscar Wilde's ``The Canterville Ghost'' - at 7:30 p.m. at the Palmdale Playhouse, 38334 10th St. E.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors, students, military and youth. Call [phone].

Local residents also are opening their own haunted homes to the public on Halloween evening.

--As he has annually for the past 20 years, Dr. Ray Bracamontes has transformed his garage and front yard into a haunted house for neighborhood kids.

The house is located at 43008 Guyman Ave., off 40th Street West and Avenue L. Last year approximately 150 people visited.

--In Littlerock, Ryan Danfield has a haunted laboratory in his front yard at 7203 Peachtree Lane. The laboratory features an outdoor graveyard, walk- through spider hallway, and walk-through maze.

The haunted laboratory will be open not only tonight, but also Saturday, from 6 p.m. until the last visitor leaves. Admission is a $1 donation. The house is located off 75th Street East north of Highway 138.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Scary creatures surround Rancho Vista Elementary School in Palmdale as costumed students wait to begin a Halloween parade on campus Thursday.

(2 -- color) In real life, the zombie is Trev Lockhart, 9, of Palmdale.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer

(3) Some of the girls go for glamour in their Halloween parade costumes.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer