East Bako Night Market’s Halloween Town in East Bakersfield is back for its third year, offering a variety of activities and attractions for all ages. It features a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, tractor rides, gem mining, carnival games, and food vendors. The masterminds behind this festive event Adriana and Juan Mercado, pride themselves on providing a little something for everyone. “Over the years, I’ve been seeing that Halloween is like dying down,” Mercado said. “I wanted to bring the spirit of Halloween back, and then also bring something to the east side.”
“Gem mining is actually something new,” Adriana said. “We give the children a little bag filled with sand and actual little crystal gems, and they just get to find the little gems.”
The event also includes a spooky area with outdoor movies, a scarecrow maze, axe throwing, and an Oogie Boogie snowball fight. Juan Mercado, credited with many of the creative ideas, has also designed a haunted trail, which is the main attraction. “Every year we try to change the theme up,” Juan said, though he kept this year’s horror movie theme a secret.
Admission to the pumpkin patch is $5 and includes a small pumpkin, while the haunted trails ticket is $20 and includes entrance to Halloween Town. The event is open Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 3 to 10 p.m. It will also be open on Oct. 30 and 31 for a Halloween trick-or-treat event. Halloween Town is located at 6328 East Brundage Lane in Bakersfield.