A selection of citywide Halloween events for families in some of the more populous Dakota County suburbs:

Rosemount

Haunted Woods Trail

Saturday's event is aimed at preschool through middle-school aged kids.

Costumes are encouraged, as are warm clothes if it's cold out; it's all outdoors.

A trail starts at the Park & Ride lot on Hwy. (South Robert Trail), winds through Central Park, and exits onto 145th Street West.

Volunteers pass out candy, and at the entrance, nonperishable food donations are accepted.

For more information or to volunteer, contact: Mike Bouchard at 612-840-9016 or at rosemounthalloween@charter.net, or 651-322-6011, the city parks people.

Mendota Heights

Halloween Bonfire

The annual Halloween Bonfire is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 31 at Mendota Plaza.

It's meant as a safe and enjoyable alternative to trick-or-treating. Firefighters hand out free hot dogs and soda, and merchants provide free goody bags.

Residents can deposit brush in the designated area between the Mendota Plaza Shopping Mall and South Plaza Drive, from Oct. 25 to Oct. 30 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. until the site is full. Must be less than 4 inches in diameter; no grass clippings, leaves, construction debris or other materials.

Eagan

Halloween Hodgepodge

Twenty carnival games are on tap for this event, taking place next Sunday at the Community Center, 1501 Central Parkway.

Family dances, trick or treating, "creepy crafts," face painting and other activities are planned from 3 p.m. — 7 p.m.

Advance tickets are on sale through October 24 at Parks & Recreation at the Municipal Center and October 25 at the Community Center.

Burnsville

Halloween Skating

The Burnsville Ice Center's annual Halloween Skating Party takes place next Sunday.

All ages are welcome on Oct. 26 from noon – 1:30 p.m. at the center, ice center, 251 Civic Center Parkway. Admission is free but skate rentals are $3, though quick lessons on how to skate are free.

Costumes are encouraged. There are prize drawings, trick-or-treating and carnival games.

For more information, contact the center at 952-895-4657 or visit www.burnsvilleicecenter.org.

Apple Valley

'Party for tots'

There's a Haunted Halloween Party at the Community Center on Oct. 31, aimed at ages 2 ½ to 6

Games, crafts, stories, songs and treats are featured. Parents do not stay and children must be potty trained. Participants can wear a costume.

Session 1 is from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.; session 2 is 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Cost is $7 per person, per session. Registration deadline is Friday.

Lakeville

Haunted Forest

Lakeville's 23rd annual Haunted Forest Festival takes place on Saturday.

All ages are welcome, but parental discretion is advised for the Haunted Forest Trail. Organizers recommend that only third-graders or over take it.

The event is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Steve Michaud Park, 17100 Ipava Ave.

Cost is $10 per carload or $3 per person and a nonperishable food item for the community food shelf.

It's all outdoors, so dress for the weather.

'Trick or Treat to beat hunger'

Lakeville hopes to surpass last year's total of more than $10,000 in donated food during the Halloween season.

Through Nov. 1 the three Lakeville Liquor stores accept donations for food shelves Open Door and 360 Communities.

Either nonperishable food items or money is accepted. Either way, you get to pick a prize from a treat barrel.