Tomorrow, participants in a spooky Hobgoblin Hike, along a lantern-lit trail at Alum Spring Park, will discover a bat cave, dungeon and several scary skit stations.

A list of child-oriented events coming up in the Fredericksburg area

Date published: 10/19/2006

today

Princess Wishes, George Mason University Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. Disney on Ice presents the tales of seven inspiring princesses: Ariel, Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Jasmine, Aurora and Mulan. Tinker Bell makes a special guest appearance. Runs through Oct. 22. Tickets available through Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticket master.com, or by phone at 703/573-7328.

tomorrow

Creepy Crawly Carnival, Massad YMCA, 212 Butler Road, Stafford . A safe and imaginative experience for all little ghosts and goblins and their families, with carnival games, face-painting, moon bounce, hayride and a haunted house. 7-9 p.m. Haunted area $3, carnival $2, haunted hayride $1. Runs again Saturday. (The event also will run Oct. 27-28 at the Spotsylvania YMCA, 5700 Smith Road.) 540/371-0622, fam ily-ymca.org.

Hobgoblin Hike, Hugh Mercer Elementary School, 2100 Cowan Blvd., Fredericksburg. The hike, for families and kids of all ages, includes entertainment and a five-minute bus ride to Alum Spring Park, where guides will lead small groups along a magical, lantern-lit trail (not stroller friendly) that includes a bat cave, dungeon and various skit stations. Walk through a graveyard and hear storytelling with Judy Farlow in the pumpkin patch. Costumes welcome. 7- 9 p.m. $5/person, advance sales only. Rain date: Saturday. Tickets available at Dorothy Hart Community Center, 408 Canal St., Fredericksburg. For details, call Linda Bailey at 540/372-1086.

Family Entertainment Series, Stafford County Parks & Recreation, Rowser Building, 1739 Jefferson Davis Highway, Stafford. Entertainment by "Count" Turley the Magician. 7 p.m. $3 in advance, $4 at the door. For details and ticket availability, call 540/373-8192.

Fall Family Fun Night, Spotswood Baptist Church, 4009 Lafayette Blvd., Fredericksburg. Illusionist and comedian Glenn Strange entertains children in preschool through fifth grade. 7 p.m. Free. (A hot dog supper is available for $1.50 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.) 540/898-0757.

saturday

Seussical , Riverside Center Dinner Theater, 95 Riverside Parkway, Stafford. Children's Lunch 'n' Show Theater musical based on the Dr. Seuss stories. Lunch 1:15 p.m., show 2-3 p.m. $14 for lunch and show. Runs through Nov. 11. 540/370-4300.

Date published: 10/19/2006