Top 10 things to do on Big Island for Oct. 10-16: Let the spooky season events begin, plus fall fun and more

The spooky season is upon us and some of the first events on the Big Island celebrating it are coming up this weekend.

Action 4 Animals Hawai‘i is hosting its Howl-O-Ween Hustle on Sunday at Volcano Golf Course in Volcano Village, with lots of puppy activities, a dog walk, prizes a canine costume contest and more planned.

The Great Pumpkin Give-Away is the same afternoon at Puna Kai Shopping Center in Pāhoa. It will be a fun family outing to pick your perfect pumpkin from this year’s patch — while supplies last, of course — to take home and creatively carve or deftly decorate and get ready for Trick-or-Treat Time.

Be sure to stick around after gaining that gorgeous gourd though. The shopping center has some more fall festivities planned for keiki with several surprises and crafts.

Other fall fun is on tap this weekend, including Oktoberfest 2024 in Kea‘au hosted by VFW Post and Auxiliary 3830, which will feature the first Weiner Dog Nationals, and the 5th annual Waimea Fall Festival with live entertainment, a pumpkin patch, Selfie Suite photo booth, indoor and outdoor keiki games and activities, a craft sale, community information booths and exhibits and lots of great food.

Both are on Saturday.

If those autumnal affairs don’t pique your interest, there are other events such as Truck Fest, a drag race showcase at the Hilo Dragstrip, and the 2024 E Mālama Mau I Ka Hula Festival at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

That’s just to name a few.

Check out our top 10 things to do on the Big Island for Oct. 10-16 now.

No. 1 — Truck Fest (Hilo, Oct. 12-13)

When: Gates open at 7:30 a.m. both days

Location: Hilo Dragstrip, 2295 Ho’olaulima Road

Join the Hawai‘i Drag Racing League for a weekend of burning rubber, rumbling engines and exciting drag races that will get you revved up and on your feet cheering on your favorite racers.

Several programs will be featured, including Truck Class, Bracket Racing, Motorcycle Class, Mini Bike/Moped Class, Junior Dragster Class and Time Sessions, as well as the Harry Kerr High School Drags. All entries are welcome in these racer-friendly drags.

The event is alcohol- and drug-free. Entry fee is just $10; keiki 10 years old and younger are free.

For more information, contact Keith Aguiar Sr. at 808-960-1095. You can also follow the Hawai‘i Drag Racing League on Facebook and Instagram.

No. 2 — Oktoberfest 2024 (Kea‘au, Oct. 12)

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: Herbert C. Shipman Park, 16-510 Old Volcano Road

Who needs to go all the way to Germany for the world’s largest beer festival and traveling carnival when there’s a fun-filled family day with the same name right down the road that has a beer garden, bratwursts and hot dogs, live music by Gringo Starr and even the ultimate weiner dog races?

Join VFW Post and Auxiliary 3830 for great food, drinks, games for adults and keiki and more. All are welcome. It’s a day you don’t want to miss, especially if you think your Dachshund has what it takes to steal the spotlight. Register them for the first Weiner Dog Nationals to showcase their speed and style. There will also be Doxie costume and talent contests, adding to the fun.

Click here for more details about the Weiner Dog Nationals or to register your pooch. For additional information about Oktoberfest 2024, contact Trisha Erbschloe at 573-832-2225 or dachshundraces@gmail.com. You can also visit the event’s website.

No. 3 — The return of BARK Rangers (Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Oct. 12)

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station (Kahuku Unit located near the 70.5-mile marker on Highway 11 in Kaʻū)

The national park announces it’s paw-ficial. The BARK Ranger program — which has proven to be particularly pupular — is coming to the Kahuku Unit. Those who attend Saturday’s event with their canine friends can take the BARK Ranger pledge in Kaʻū.

BARK is an acronym for the first letters in each of the following phrases: Bag your pet’s waste, Always leash your pet, Respect wildlife, Know where you can go. The program is part of the Healthy People Healthy Parks Initiative.

Attendees at Saturday’s event will join BARK Ranger Sting and his human Park Ranger Dean for the program’s indogural event in Kahuku.

You can download and print your certificate and bring it with you or fetch one at Kahuku. Sniff out the new Bark Ranger merch (Kahuku Bark Ranger bandana and Bark Ranger badge) from the Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association online store if you really want to be a top dog.

No. 4 — 5th annual Waimea Fall Festival (Waimea, Oct. 12)

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: Spencer K. Schutte Waimea District Park, 67-1315 Ala ʻŌhiʻa Road

Plenty of autumnal affairs and seasonal sights await those who attend this year’s free fall fest full of family fun that’s sure to have something for everyone to enjoy, rain or shine.

Live entertainment will be featured throughout the day. There will be a pumpkin patch, Selfie Suite photo booth, indoor and outdoor keiki games and activities, a craft sale, community information booths and exhibits and lots of great food.

All food, craft and activity sales are cash only, with the exception of all-day wristbands for outdoor inflatables, which are $25, and indoor keiki zone activities, which are $15. You can purchase wristbands for the outdoor inflatables in advance online.

Proceeds from the festival benefit participating local sports teams and clubs, nonprofits and businesses, as well as provide sports equipment sponsorships through Waimea Athletics for community youth programs. For more information, including full lineups of entertainment, food, craft vendors and community organizations participating, click here.

No. 5 — 2024 E Mālama Mau I Ka Hula Festival (Hilo, Oct. 12)

When: 4:30 p.m.; doors open at 3:30 p.m.

Location: Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, 323 Manono St.

The community is invited and encouraged to come out and show its support for the Big Island’s elementary, intermediate and high school keiki and ʻōpio dancers as they show off their hula skills in this competitive setting.

Ku‘ehu Mauga will emcee this year’s festival.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Merrie Monarch Festival office, located at 865 Piʻilani St. in Hilo, while supplies last.

No. 6 — Howl-O-Ween Hustle and Donation Yard Sale (Volcano Village, Oct. 13)

When: Noon to 3 p.m.

Location: Volcano Golf Course, 99-1621 Piimauna Drive

Happy Halloweenie! Come out for the golf course’s Second Sunday Mākeke and be sure to put your puppy in their Halloween costume best for this spooky season celebration.

There will be lots of puppy activities, a dog walk, prizes, plus a donation yard sale and you can even find your canine companion a feline friend, or one of your own, through the kitty adoptions. You also can get your dog licensed if the furball isn’t already, and don’t forget about the costume contest!

There’s so much fun planned on the sunny side of Volcano, you won’t want to miss it. For more information, contact Action 4 Animals Hawai‘i at a4ahawaii@gmail.com.

No. 7 — The Great Pumpkin Give-Away (Pāhoa, Oct. 13)

When: 2 to 4 p.m.

Location: Puna Kai Shopping Center, 15-2714 Pāhoa Village Road

This is your chance to pick out the perfect pumpkin for free from this year’s pumpkin patch, while supplies last, during the third installment of this Puna event that helps families get ready for Trick-or-Treat Time, leaving enough time to be creatively carved or deftly decorate.

After you and your brood peruse the patch and gain your gorgeous gourds, stick around on the shopping center’s grassy area for even more fall fun with surprises and crafts planned for all the keiki who attend.

It is sure to be a fun family afternoon in Pāhoa. For more information, contact Puna Kai Shopping Center at 808-731-6679.

No. 8 — 8th annual Praise & Worship Concert (Kailua-Kona, Oct. 13)

When: 4 to 7 p.m.

Location: Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area Event Pavilion, 75-5560 Kuakini Highway

It’s finally happening! Beyond 4 Walls Kona is bringing unity with an invitation to enjoy an evening of praise and worship hosted by Akua’s Automotive and several churches and community groups.

This free concert will feature New Hope Waikōloa, Hope Chapel Kona, Living Stones Church and S&V (Sefa and Victoria Mikaele). The event also will include activities such as face painting, a photo booth and prizes. Heavenly Hula Ministry will showcase its hula.

It promises to be a wonderful evening of music, food and fellowship. For more information, visit the Beyond 4 Walls Kona website.

No. 9 — Auditions for “A Christmas Carol: The Musical” (Hilo, Oct. 13-14)

When: 6 p.m.

Location: University of Hawai‘i at Hilo old gynmasium, 200 W. Kāwili St.

Hilo will be visited by three ghosts this holiday season to teach cranky old miser Scrooge and the entire community the true meaning of Christmas by taking them on a journey through the past, opening their eyes to the present and foretelling the future in a musical retelling of this Charles Dickens classic produced by Hilo Community Players.

All the familiar roles are available, including Scrooge himself, Mr. Cratchit, Tiny Tim and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. You can even audition to be Scrooge’s former business partner Marley, who comes back from the grave to warn his friend of the fate that awaits him if he doesn’t change his ways.

Come expecting to dance, sing and read from the script. Prepare at least 16 bars of a song of your choice. Bring sheet music; a pianist will be provided. The use of tracks is not permitted. Arrive before audition start time. Resumes and headshots are encouraged by not required. You only need to attend one audition day.

Show dates are Dec. 6-22. For more information, visit the Hilo Community Players website.

No. 10 — Mike Love & The Full Circle live (Hilo, Oct. 16)

When: 6 p.m.; doors open at 5 p.m.

Location: The Crown Room, Grand Naniloa Hotel, 93 Banyan Drive

Get your groove on with this O‘ahu-born conscious roots rock reggae singer-songwriter as part of his Leaders Tour, promoting his newest album released in July. The album features songs such as “Dark Days,” “We Are One,” “Temptation,” “It’s Gonna Be Alright,” “Blue Skies” and others.

Love will be joined by special guests Tavana, Sound Destroyer and Ydine.

Tickets are $35 in advance and can be purchased online. All ages are welcome to attend.

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Want to check for yourself what’s going on around the island?

We admit. We can’t fit everything going on each week in our top 10. So here are websites for some popular Big Island venues that you can peruse to discover other events, activities, shows, festivals or workshops that pique your interest.

• Aloha Theatre, Kealakekua: https://apachawaii.org/
• Blue Dragon Tavern, Kawaihae: https://www.bluedragontavern.com/
• Donkey Mill Art Center, Hōlualoa: https://donkeymillartcenter.org/
• East Hawai‘i Cultural Center, Hilo: https://ehcc.org/
• Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
• Hilo Town Market, Hilo: https://hilotownmarket.co/events
• Hilo Town Tavern, Hilo (on Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100041333509786
• Honoka‘a People’s Theatre, Honoka‘a: https://www.honokaapeople.com/
• Kahilu Theatre, Waimea: https://kahilu.org/
• Keauhou Shopping Center, Kailua-Kona: https://keauhoushoppingcenter.com/experience/
• Kona Commons, Kailua-Kona: https://www.konacommons.com/events
• Lava Shack, Pāhoa (on Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/lavashackpahoa/?hl=en
• Lyman Museum, Hilo: https://lymanmuseum.org/
• MyBar Kona, Kailua-Kona: https://www.mybarkona.com/
• Palace Theater, Hilo: https://hilopalace.com/
• University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Performing Arts Center, Hilo: https://artscenter.uhh.hawaii.edu/
• Volcano Art Center, Volcano: https://volcanoartcenter.org/
• Wailoa Center, Hilo: https://www.wailoacenter.com/
• Willy’s Hot Chicken, Kailua-Kona: https://willieshotchicken.com/