Halloween

The Halloween battle of the theme parks has begun. For decades, Knott's Berry Farm's Halloween Haunt has reigned supreme as Southern California's ultimate theme park for Halloween frights. The Buena Park amusement park started the after-hours tradition more than 30 years ago and is credited with inventing the Halloween mazes duplicated by theme parks nationwide. But this year, officials at Universal Studios Hollywood say they are extending that park's Halloween Horror Nights and relying heavily on its movie connections to knock Knott's from its monster perch.

Maui's big Halloween blast in Lahaina may shrink this year now that authorities have voted to deny permits for a costume contest, outdoor entertainment stages and craft, food and activity booths. The festivities, sometimes referred to as the "Mardi Gras of the Pacific," drew crowds of 20,000 people in previous years. Some residents complained that public drunkenness, lewd behavior and risque costumes insulted the legacy of the historic town, former capital of the islands.

Bruce Springsteen chose Friday to unveil a Halloween-inspired blues rave-up, a song that came days after the artist announced he would not be able to have his annual Halloween display at his Rumson, N.J., mansion because the high volume of visitors caused too much disruption for the neighborhood. "If you grew up in Central or South Jersey you grew up with the 'Jersey Devil,' " Springsteen wrote on his website, brucespringsteen.net, where the song is available for a free download. "Here's a little musical Halloween treat.

In sin city, Halloween is circled in red. The Circus of Horrors, Hillbilly Hell and Vampire's Blood Feast are among the many haunted houses that promise to terrify Vegas visitors. There's even a haunted casino for folks who don't find the real gambling halls scary. "The feel of fear, that's what you want to give them," says Jason Egan, the founder of Fright Dome, the largest Halloween attraction in town, at Circus Circus.

Finally, some not-so-spooky news for retailers: With Halloween on a Friday, many consumers are putting aside recession worries and snapping up Batman Joker masks, Sarah Palin glasses and Hannah Montana wigs. At Hollywood Toys & Costumes this week, shopper Jo Kurtz was pushing a cart loaded with a vampire hunters kit, a coffin, plastic spiders and a necklace made of plastic garlic cloves.

There are plenty of movies to get you in the Halloween spirit this weekend. The American Cinematheque's Egyptian and Aero theaters are hosting their annual Halloween Horrorthon, Spooky Double Features festival. Kicking off the Egyptian's fright fest tonight is a Peter Cushing double bill from director Terence Fisher: 1958's "Horror of Dracula" and 1960's "The Brides of Dracula."

The most disturbing Halloween accessory this year may not be the spider webs hanging off the shrubbery or the door sensor that emits ghostly screams, but a lone jack-o'-lantern displaying the words: "No candy at this residence." About 1,200 violent or child sex offenders on probation or parole in Maryland have been ordered to hang these orange pumpkin signs -- or plain ones reading, "No candy" -- at their residences today. If they don't, the knock at the door will be from an officer of the law.

"I watched him for 15 years. Sitting in a room, staring at a wall, not seeing the wall, looking past the wall, looking at this night -- inhumanly patient -- waiting for some secret, silent alarm to trigger him off." -- Dr. Loomis in "Halloween" (1978) -- And so here we are, almost 30 years later, with the ninth iteration of the venerable "Halloween" franchise landing in theaters this week.

IT'S a balmy September evening just after sundown, and Gabriel Gonzalez and his family peruse an aisle of pirate accessories, skull-headed walking sticks and fake tattoos. More than five weeks remain until Oct. 31, but on the shelves of the seasonal retail store Spirit in Glendale, Halloween is no apparition. "I'm just surprised there's not any Christmas stuff out yet," Gonzalez says.

Americans will spend an estimated $5.07 billion on Halloween this year, scaring up $1.82 billion for costumes, $1.55 billion for candy, $1.39 billion for decorations and $310 million for greeting cards, the National Retail Federation says. In 2005, revelers spent an estimated $4.96 billion, according to an annual survey conducted for the retailer group by BIGresearch. Howard Beige, executive vice president of Rubie's Costume Co.