Old Poway Park: Musicians offer free Saturday entertainment, volunteers sought for Halloween event

With the launch of the new Music in the Park program, an eclectic mix of bands will be performing live every Saturday at Old Poway Park.

Musicians have been performing from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the park’s gazebo since mid-July, said Katie O’Reilly, recreation coordinator for the city. The free weekly performances at 14134 Midland Road are expected to continue at least through the end of December.

“We wanted to have more things in the park for people to enjoy, and to make it an inviting family atmosphere, more friendly,” O’Reilly said. “It’s a good hang-out space for people to relax, sit on the patio of the Hamburger Factory, enjoy the music and do something fun.”

The time slots are being filled with a variety of bands and artists, from country and classic rock ‘n’ roll to blues, she said. The next scheduled performers are Eve on Sept. 6 and Mark Torpey on Sept. 20.

“Last week we had a blues-based band that played, the week before we had a rock band, so it’s all types of music and bands,” O’Reilly said.

Attendees can bring their own lawn blankets and lawn chairs, and get some food at the Saturday Farmers Markets held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Midland Road, she said. O’Reilly added the performances stay within noise limits.

“If you’re walking through the farmers market you’ll hear a little bit of something and then you can come down and see what’s going on,” she said. “It’s not super loud and we’re not disrupting anyone.”

Park staff are also seeking volunteers to dress as Halloween characters for this year’s Once Upon a Hallowe’en. The event is set for 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at Old Poway Park. A costume parade starts at 3:30 p.m.

The traditional Halloween event features a Haunted House along with crafts where kids can decorate a pumpkin and a trick-or-treat bag. Storytelling will also be available in the park’s Heritage House Museum and a maze will be set up in the box car lot with creepy scarecrows, said Deveree Velasco, the city’s park ranger for Old Poway Park.

New this year is a Trunk or Treat section the city is setting up in partnership with the Poway Chamber of Commerce, said Recreation Area Manager Sarah Becker.

About 50 to 60 vehicles are expected to park on Midland Road where car owners will hand out candy from their trunk to trick-or-treaters, Becker said. Nonprofits and businesses in Poway are expected to participate, she added

“They’ll decorate their cars all festive and pass out candy,” she said.

About 40 volunteers are needed to staff themed areas around the park in costume, as clowns, witches or zombies.

Additional volunteers are needed to ensure safety at the park’s railroad crossing, to help children make crafts and assist visitors to the haunted house and the Nightmare Before Christmas activity, Becker said.

The Nightmare Before Christmas will include a staged area for taking pictures of the characters Jack and Sally and a coloring activity for young children.

The Haunted House will be set up in the park’s Templars Hall from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26 through Thursday, Oct. 30. Admission is $1 per person for all ages.

During the event, the Poway-Midland Railroad will be running the train, a model train will be on display in the Great Room, and a sensory room for taking a break and relaxing will be in the Rose Room.

On Oct. 26, the movie “Hocus Pocus” will be showing on an outdoor screen in the park starting at sunset. People can bring blankets and lawn chairs.

For more information about volunteering at Once Upon a Hallowe’en visit Poway.org.