This is lighthearted holiday fun that should appeal to a variety of interests," said Kathy Hohenadel, describing Halloween Happenings. "If your interests include cars or art or competition, this event has something for you."

Halloween Happenings will take place on Sunday, Oct. 25, in and around the Columbia Market House, 15 S. Third St., from 3 to 8 p.m.

Coordinated by Create Columbia, a nonprofit that promotes Columbia as a creative and vital community, the festivities will provide an opportunity for spooky fun for people of all ages.

"The committee brainstormed ways to invigorate our Halloween House Tour held in previous years," said Hohenadel, treasurer of Create Columbia and a member of the Halloween Happenings committee. "When all the ideas were shared, we decided to merge them together. The result is this year's Halloween Happenings."

Inside the market house, multiple artists will demonstrate their talents around a Halloween theme. Donna Gearhart will share how she creates Halloween decorations. Julie Lehmer will create and sell Halloween-themed jewelry. Artist Katie Bupp will demonstrate making linocuts with pink pearl erasers, and Brenda Hartman will paint masks. Kim Morrow will coordinate an interactive art stand that involves the attendees, and some of these artists will work collaboratively on bean art during the event.

Food will be available in the market house for purchase while supplies last.

Just outside the market house, a Halloween Car Show will be held on Third Street between Cherry and Locust streets, which will be closed to traffic for the event.

"Anyone is welcome to enter their favorite mode of transportation into the car show," Hohenadel shared. "A completed registration form and (a) registration fee are required. Viewing of the cars is free, but attendees who wish to vote must purchase a ticket package."

People who purchase tickets may cast their vote for their favorite car and will also have a chance to win a prize. The car show will run from 3 to 5:45 p.m., with the winner announced inside the market house at 6 p.m.

Halloween Happenings will also include a decorating contest. In August, Create Columbia invited Columbia residents to enter their properties in the contest. Twenty sites will be decorated for the holiday, and people who purchase tickets will be given a list of addresses to view and vote upon. Voters will drive by each property to view decorations on the front of each location, and organizers recommend completing the tour between 5 and 7:45 p.m., when it's darker outside to enjoy the maximum effect of the displays. Participants should return to the market house to cast their votes for their favorite by 7:45 p.m., and the winner of the Halloween Decorating Contest will be announced at 8 p.m.

As a bonus, all ballots for the Halloween Car Show and the Halloween Decorating Contest will be combined, with one name drawn from all those who voted during the day and one gift certificate awarded to the winner.

There is a charge to purchase a package that includes a ballot for the car show and the decorating contest, and family packages of three ballots for each contest will also be offered.

Ticket packages may be purchased at the Columbia Market House on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 4 to 6 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 25, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Tickets may be reserved ahead of time by calling the Create Columbia event line at 223-246-7271, and prepaid ticket packages may be picked up at the market house on the event date. Cash, check, credit card or Venmo may be used to purchase tickets.

There is no admission charge to enjoy the activities inside the market house.

This event is made possible through sponsorships by the Columbia Fraternal Association, the Columbia American Legion Post No. 372, Foresters of America No. 235 and Kleen-Rite Corp.

For more information on the Halloween Happenings, visit http://www.createcolumbia.org or search for "Create Columbia" on Facebook.