Shepherdstown’s second annual Halloween “Boo Fest” celebration will offer a wide variety of activities that everyone can enjoy, especially families with young children.

The celebration will begin next Friday, Oct. 24, and run though Halloween night, Oct. 31.

Most activities will be free and everyone will be welcome.

Highlights include:

– A Vampire Ball at the Community Club the evening of Oct. 24.

-Lots of daytime activities Saturday and Sunday October 25 and 26, including children’s arts, crafts and games; street music; a children’s Haunted Hallway; face painting; history carriage rides; and ghost and mystery tours.

– Also during the day that Sunday, free children’s Halloween films, a Costume Parade and Competition, and a Halloween Photo Booth.

– A Creepy Cocktail Crawl; Haunted Walk to Rumsey Park; and Hopping Halloween Music Bash with costume competition the evening of Oct. 25.

– An early evening Zombie Street dance Oct. 26.

– Performances and readings of classic horror stories at local restaurants and stores and showings of classic horror movies at the Opera House during the Oct. 27-30 weeknights.

– On Halloween night, traditional trick-or-treating; a special, family-oriented “Spooktacular” Halloween Concert; and a midnight Rocky Horror Picture Show.

A detailed schedule with exact times follows below.

For more information, go to the Shepherdstown Visitors Center website at www.shepherdstown.info or contact the Center’s Director, Jan Hafer, at 304-876-2786 or svc@shepherdstown.info.

The Boo Fest is being sponsored by the Shepherdstown Visitors Center, the Shepherdstown Business Association, the Station at Shepherdstown, and the Jefferson County Convention and Visitors Bureau.