If one measures how big a holiday is by how busy the Durango Police Department is on the day, then Halloween is one of the big two.

People of all ages are out at some point during the evening, and those who aren’t on a sugar high have a high blood-alcohol content. And everyone gets to be someone else.

Lt. Ray Shupe of the DPD said Halloween and Labor Day weekend are the two holidays when it’s “all hands on deck” in the department. And this year, Halloween not only falls on a Saturday, it’s also the night Daylight Savings Time ends, so bars will be open an extra hour.

“We gear up every year for it,” he said, “but we gear up for all kinds of special events, because Durango loves its special events.”

We’ve put together a round-up of Halloween highlights and words to the wise about the holiday in La Plata County.

Haunted houses

What would Halloween be without a haunted house? There are several to choose from, but the “Dinner with the Doctor at the House of Frankenstein” is over the top.

Organizer Joe Oullette said the house took a week and a half to install, but declined to give many details.

“The whole point is making them jump,” he said, “so I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”

But Oullette did promise between eight and 10 “live” monsters and a lot of animatronics.

Created by a collaboration of the Southern Ute Community Action Programs Youth Services – which will be the beneficiary of the proceeds – and Magic Brush, Dinner with the Doctor will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday in the new Education Literacy, Health and Inspiration Community Building at 115 Ute St. in Ignacio. Tickets are $5, and the house is recommended for ages 10 and up.

Masquerade

If a Halloween spectacle suits your fancy, then the Dark Circus Masquerade is your ticket. Local performance troupe Imaginario Circus promises aerial acrobatics, slack-line performances and contortion à la Cirque de Soleil, spokesman Steve Ward said.

The troupe has decided to dedicate the proceeds of its two performances to the Second Wind Foundation. The foundation focuses on prevention of teen suicides, and the donation will be in memory of 13-year-old Sawyer Ward, who died in May.

Ambiance will keep the crowd entertained from 7 p.m., when the doors open, with fire spinning, people aloft on stilts and live art performances until the main event starts at 7:45 p.m. both Friday and Saturday at the Powerhouse Science Center. The evening will continue with dancing to DJ Niko.

Tickets are $20 in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com or the Animas Trading Co., and $25 at the door. Attendees must be 18 or older and show identification.

Zombies

It would not be Halloween in Durango without the notorious Zombie/Monster March. All the creatures of the night will gather just before midnight Saturday at the intersection of Main Avenue and College Drive.

When asked if the march was Friday at midnight, when Halloween officially starts, or Saturday at midnight, when it ends, the response was:

“Halloween night, as in Saturday night, is the idea. But the hoard cannot be controlled!”

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/durangozombiemonstermarch.

“It is always unsanctioned and unlawful,” Shupe said. “The last few years we’ve been pretty fortunate that the marchers have cooperated when we asked them to get out of the street. They are subject to arrest if they don’t cooperate.”

An arrest would really put a damper on the holiday fun, especially since those incarcerated would be in jail an extra hour before arraignment because of the time change.

Give me some sugar

As sure as it’s Halloween, goblins, ghosts, ninjas and mini-Donald Trumps will be out in force. In addition to Main Avenue merchants, the Durango Mall and other specific trick-or-treating locations, East Third Avenue in downtown Durango is by far and away the most popular destination because of homeowners’ reputations for having the “good” candy.

“Drivers should always show caution on Halloween,” Shupe said, “not only on Third, but Main will have a lot of activity, too. Kids don’t always pay attention, so we ask parents to put them in light-colored costumes that have something reflective on them. Flashlights are helpful, too.”

Shupe also cautioned parents to check the candy before children are allowed to eat it and to not accept home-baked goods.

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Halloween Events

Friday
Opening reception: Revival of Lost Souls, Day of the Dead Show, Studio &, 1027 Main Ave., anddurango.com.
Dia de los Muertos, noon-2:30 p.m., El Centro de Muchos Colores at Fort Lewis College, 247-7654, fortlewis.edu.
Mill Street Trick-or-Treat, 3-5 p.m., participating downtown Bayfield businesses.
Halloween Trick-or-Treat, 3-5 p.m., Sunshine Gardens 32nd Street Assisted Living, 25 Sunshine Court, 385-4090.
Durango Mall Halloween, for children 12 and younger, 4-6 p.m., Durango Mall, 800 S. Camino del Rio, www.durangomall.net.
Halloween Carnival and Silent Auction, 5-8 p.m., admission is book or baked good per family, Sunnyside Elementary School, 75 County Road 218, 259-5249.
Harvest Festival, 5-9 p.m., The Education, Literacy, Health & Inspiration (ELHI) Community Center, 115 Ute St., Ignacio, [email protected], 563-4100.
Halloween Concert presented by Fort Lewis College Sinister Choirs and Zombie Band, 7 p.m., $5/$1, Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
Monster Mash, 7 p.m., $5, Mancos Valley Distillery, 116 N. Main St., Mancos, 946-0229.
Rocky Horror Show-Live On Stage, all ages show, 7 p.m., $25/$20/$18, Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave., henrystratertheatre.com.
Annual haunted house, open to children 9 and older, 7-10 p.m., $6/$3, Big Picture High School, 215 E. 12th St.
A Dark Circus Masquerade, 7 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio.
Pre-Halloween party with DJ Kaztro, 9 p.m., Moe’s, 937 Main Ave., 259-9018.
Hello Dollface presents Dia de los Muertos/All Souls Day, 9:30 p.m., Guido’s Favorite Foods, 1201 Main Ave., www.hellodollfacemusic.com/#!shows/c4iv.
Rocky Horror Show-Live On Stage, 21-and-older show, 10 p.m., $25/$20/$18, Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave., henrystratertheatre.com.
Saturday
Peanuts The Great Pumpkin Patch Express, $46-$24, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, www.durangotrain.com.
Three Springs Fall Festival, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Three Springs Plaza, www.threespringsdurango.com/events/9th-annual-fall-festival.
Be Frank Foundation third annual Frank N’ Stein Fundraiser, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Mill Street in Bayfield, befrankfoundation.org, [email protected].
Style ‘N’ Stones 11th annual Jewelry Sale, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 11317 East Animas Road (County Road 250). Nine designers will donate a minimum of 30 percent of sales to Manna Soup Kitchen in a house decorated with a Halloween touch.
“Children’s Halloween,” for children 10 and younger, 3-6 p.m., nearly 100 downtown Durango merchants, www. DowntownDurango.org/halloween, 375-5068.
Durango Funk Allstars Funky Halloween Bash, 5-9 p.m., Balcony Bar and Grill, 600 Main Ave., www.balconybarandgrill.com.
Trunk or Treat, worship service, 5:30 p.m.; trick-or-treating, 6:45 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 2917 Aspen Drive.
Zombiefest Halloween party and costume contest, 7 p.m., Moe’s, 937 Main Ave., 259-9018.
Annual haunted house, open to children 9 and older, 7-10 p.m., $6/$3, Big Picture High School, 215 E. 12th St.
Rocky Horror Show- Live On Stage, 21-and-older show, 7:30 p.m., $25/$20/$18, Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave., henrystratertheatre.com.
A Dark Circus Masquerade, 7:45 p.m., Powerhouse Science Center, 1333 Camino del Rio.
KDUR Halloween Ball, 9 p.m., $30/$25, Animas City Theater, 128 E. College Drive, durangomassive.com.
Rocky Horror Show-Live On Stage, 21-and-older show, 10:30 p.m., $25/$20/$18, Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave., henrystratertheatre.com.
This schedule has been corrected to reflect that the Style ‘N’ Stones 11th Annual Jewelry Sale is taking place in a house decorated for Halloween but not an actual haunted house.