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Youthful and adult goblins have plenty to look forward to this weekend, as southeastern Frederick County residents gear up for Halloween.

From haunted houses to spooky stories to trick-or-treating, there will be fun for boys and ghouls of every age.

Haunted Landon House

returns for eighth year

This year will be the eighth annual Haunted Landon House at the historic Landon House in Urbana.

Owner Kevin Dolan said that despite the shocks, the haunted mansion is a family-friendly event. In fact, he said children tend to enjoy the scares even more than adults.

"We have more parents than kids that don't finish [the tour]," he said.

The haunted house incorporates a show and tour of the grounds of the Landon House, "combining history with horror," Dolan said.

In the show Dolan plays Johnny Reb, a Confederate soldier from the Civil War back from the dead as a terrifying ghoul. This year, the show promises a battle between Johnny Reb and the Ghost of Elvis Presley.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children younger than 12, Dolan said. All money that is raised goes toward the upkeep of the Landon House, which hosted Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's Saber and Rose Ball in September 1862. It is Dolan's wish to maintain the house so that future generations can visit it and learn about its history, he said.

But throughout October, the house becomes home to "Civil War gore." Dolan said that despite this grim moniker, parents don't have to worry about the type of graphic violence one would expect from a slasher film.

"We don't do torture," he said. "This isn't like ‘Saw.'"

He said this year, the performance and tours have been ironed out to the point that there is minimal waiting and families can socialize in a tent on the house's deck while they wait for the tour.

Shows begin at 7:30 p.m., and run tonight through Saturday night.

For those who want to keep the Halloween spirit going a little longer, the Landon House will host a paranormal conference on Nov. 21, at which participants can learn about ghost-detecting equipment, the likes of which are seen on television shows like "Ghost Hunters," and they will get to do an investigation of the house, Dolan said.

"It's like an amateur ghost hunters' convention," Dolan said.

Tickets to the paranormal conference are available at the haunted mansion event at $25 for adults and $20 for children under 12 years old.

The Landon House is located at 3401 Urbana Pike in Urbana. For more information, contact Kevin Dolan at 301-305-6600.

Library hosts activities

For younger children, the Urbana Regional Library will host a "not-so-spooky" story time at 11 a.m. on Friday.

Jennifer Joy, a story time performer with Frederick County Public Libraries, will sing songs and tell stories to the little ghosts and goblins, and though it is geared for children of 2 to 5 years of age, older and younger siblings are welcome, according to Sandra Cartagena, an employee at Urbana Regional Library.

Make trick-or-treating safe

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office suggests parents and children take certain measures to ensure safe trick-or-treating:

- The sheriff's office suggests that parents or an older, responsible child take trick-or-treaters under 12-years-old to homes in familiar areas, along an established route. Trick-or-treaters should walk on the sidewalks, and not run from house to house.

- Parents should establish a return time, and not allow children to enter the homes of strangers. Parents should also consider pinning a slip of paper to trick-or-treaters' inside pockets with their names, addresses and phone numbers in case they become separated.

- Costumes should be made of only fire-retardant materials, and should be loose enough so that warm clothes can be worn underneath. Costumes should not be long enough to become a tripping hazard.

- Costumes should be made with light-colored materials, or have reflective tape to make children visible. Parents should use facial make up instead of masks, but if masks must be used they should have nose and mouth openings and large eye holes so that they do not obstruct children's vision. Parents should carry flashlights to help children see and be seen more clearly.

- Children should not be allowed to carry sharp objects.

- Parents should inspect treats before allowing children to eat anything.