The night lit up with the glow of carved Jack o' lanterns, each different and some carved into works of art.

“The wind outside nested in each tree, prowled the sidewalks in invisible treads like unseen cats. Tom Skelton shivered. Anyone could see that the wind was a special wind this night, and the darkness took on a special feel because it was All Hallows' Eve. Everything seemed cut from soft black velvet or gold or orange velvet. Smoke panted up out of a thousand chimneys like the plumes of funeral parades. From kitchen windows drifted two pumpkin smells: gourds being cut, pies being baked.” – Ray Bradbury, The Halloween Tree

Remember to roast the pumpkin seeds after the Jack o' lantern is carved and the stub of a candle is lit within. Round up the Halloween treats and recall neighbors of long ago who rewarded trick or treaters with a full-size Tootsie roll, Reese's cups, Snickers bars, Hershey chocolate bars with almonds, Three Musketeers. They knew us, we knew them – and it was a lot of fun. Walking around familiar places after dark, toting a pillowcase full of goodies while dressed up.

Less desirable (sorry, this is personal preference) were the bags of chips, Smarties, Dum Dums lollipops (although the root beer ones were choice). And one woman may have been surprised by her costumed visitors as she gave out a small bag filled with somewhat stale cookies. Still, she responded to the doorbell ring and she tried, that's what counts. Things are different now. Maybe it's me, but life seems more crass and rudeness more common. The bar for common decency has been lowered by so-called adults who should set a good example, but believe the rules of civilization just don't apply to them. We all know the same four-letter words and hatespeak, but may have been raised to a standard for civility or taught it in school at each level. Or learned rules and regulations while in service for the armed forces. Many people choose to do the right thing.

Back to Halloween, a night of community and treats, dress up. Costumed characters, skeletons and ghosts, hats and spooky garb, creativity in action. (No fair visiting neighbors just to reap candy – that's pure greed and why people turn off their lights nowadays.) Find your own fun or make some happen – candy/caramel apples may be not politically correct anymore, but it's possible to still enjoy that first bite.

Some options for trick-or-treating elsewhere, your choice of themes:

Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, ongoing through Nov. 6, Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence, Rhode Island. Nighttime display of 5,000 illuminated jack-o-lanterns all along the zoo’s wetlands trail. More than 100 of the pumpkins are carved into works of art. Note: Due to popularity, there are timed ticket entries for Saturday and Sunday nights. As a result, tickets for these nights will be available for purchase only online. So, Monday through Thursday, 5:30 to 10 p.m.; weekends, at time slot for which tickets were purchased online. Admission: Monday-Thursday: $15; $12, ages 2 to 12. Friday through Sunday: $18; $15 for children.

Masques on The Banke: An Equestrian Enchantment, Monday, Oct. 31, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friesans perform at Halloween theme family-friendly event at Strawberry Banke in New Hampshire. Doors open at 5. Tickets $8 (younger than one, free). Tickets will be available at the door.

Spirits at Stowe: An Otherworldly Tour, Monday, Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m., Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, 77 Forest St. Hartford, Conn. Tour Stowe's home in the dark and learn about 19th century spiritualism and the paranormal. An interpreter will tell stories about the famous author and describe unexplained events from past and present, all conducted in the dark by flashlight. Visitors will learn about the five reported deaths in the 1871 Gothic Revival home where Beecher-Stowe lived and wrote for 23 years. Appropriate for ages 12 and older. Fee is $18 per person. For information call (860) 522-9258.

While out at dusk, look overhead for bats feeding on insects – and appreciate these flying mammals.

“Halloween is good time to dispel myths about bats,” said Jenny Dickson, a supervising biologist for the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Wildlife Division. “Rather than harbingers of doom, they are a key part of healthy ecosystems and provide tremendous economic benefits to agriculture and forestry through their insect control abilities.”

Here are a few interesting facts: Bats are not flying mice. They are the only mammal capable of true flight and are more closely related to primates (and people) than to rodents.
Bats do not get caught in people’s hair. They are adept fliers and rely on sensitive sonar (echolocation) to navigate night skies. Bats that swoop near people are after insects like mosquitoes and moths. Bats are not blind. They have good eyesight, but rely on echolocation to master night flight. Worldwide there are more than 1,300 species of bats; Connecticut has only nine native species.

“Learning more about bats and the important role they play in healthy ecosystems would be a great Halloween ‘treat’ for this beleaguered group of animals,” added Dickson. “Knowing why bats matter is an important first step in efforts to address this unprecedented mortality caused by white-nose syndrome.”

For more about bats, visit the National Park Service page to see the range of 50 different species and work being done to help them throughout the U.S.

More listings for family fun and country places to visit and enjoy on our “Let's Go • Ag” events page.

Five little pumpkins sitting on a fence;
The first one said, “My it's getting late.”

The second one said, “There are witches in the air.”
The third one said, “But we don't care.”

The fourth one said, “I'm ready for some fun!”
The fifth one said, “Let's run and run and run.”

“Wooooooo” went the wind,
And out went the lights.

And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.