Barbara Lawlor, Peak to Peak. On Friday, what is real will become a second guess.

Who is real will become a glimpse at best.

As autumn winds roar and howl through the trees, ghostly figures will approach doors, their hands or sacks open, ready to receive the handouts. Parents lurk in the background, making sure no harm comes to the trick-or-treaters. It is Halloween in Old Town, Nederland.

Friday, October 31, is the real date of Halloween. Last Saturday, October 25, TEENS, Inc. in Nederland beat most Halloween venues to the draw, having their annual HowloweeNederland early, a free afternoon of treats and games at the teen center. And a musician. Who made dollar bills burn up and reappear.

HowloweeNederland is TEENS, Inc. tradition, and this year, all those little gremlins and princesses and mini-Vaders were able to experience the fun things to do in the newly renovated interior space of the center. Vampires flew through air, catapulting into turquoise foam, bees bounced in the kid bubble and then created colorful thingamabobs from pipe cleaners. Chili dogs and baked goods added to the the candy menu.

The red-jacketed and tall-hatted magician wove his spell over both kids and parents alike and gave moms and dads a chance to catch their breath before the energy bomb began to sizzle again.

It was just the first in many events involving costumes and candy this weekend. On Friday, the Carousel of Happiness will be the Carousel of Spookiness and all proceeds from the rides will go to Miles Pancoast and Nick Kassera, Nederland High School students who were involved in a car accident earlier this month. Miles is at Craig Rehabilitation Hospital in Denver undergoing spine therapy.

The Gilpin County Elementary School is hosting Trick or Treat Street, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and has been named the Halloween event that doles out the most candy of all. The students have a candy gathering contest to see who can conjure up the most pounds. The winning class gets a pizza party. The public gets the candy.

Along with the tricks and treats, there is a carnival in the upstairs gymnasium with games and rides and a haunted house and even a cake walk.

The Ned library is hosting a Spookorama from 4:30-5:30 this Friday (Halloween). There will be a few activities spread throughout the library:

*Healthful snacks (community room only)

*Face Painting

*Creepy Crafts

*Frightening photo book (bring your own camera)

*Bean Bag toss game with small prizes

Also our Read, Play,Grow Storytime will feature a Halloween Theme this week and will run from 10:30-11:30 on Thursday, October 30th. Kids and grown-ups are encouraged to wear a costume.

Besides Old Town, Nederland businesses make it a point to stock up on candy, handing out chocolate and candy corn and gummies and nerds and airheads by the handful.

Although the weather forecast for Friday doesn't seem to have bitter cold or snow, it does look like there will be wind and cool temps so all those wings and tiaras and capes should have backups of jackets and hats and boots. Just in case.

And for those who worry about their children's teeth and an abundance of sugar-related treats, Pediatric Dentist Dr. Elizabeth Shick with the CU School of Dental Medicine at the Anschutz Medical Campus offers the following tips to help kids, as well as candy loving adults, have a safe smile this Halloween:

Always brush before going to bed.

Sticky, chewy, gummy candies are worse for teeth because they stick in all the grooves of your molars and may cause cavities.

Sour candies are also worse for teeth because they are highly acidic which can lead to breakdown of enamel if eaten frequently

Set aside a special “treat time” for the candy each day. Kids should learn that eating candy shouldn’t be an all-day event and moderation is key.

Consider “treat time” shortly after mealtime. Saliva production increases during meals and helps cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles.

Avoid hard candy and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time.

Sugar-free lollipops and hard candies stimulate saliva, which can help prevent dry mouth, which allows plaque to build up on teeth faster, leading to an increased risk of cavities.

Sugar-free gum can actually prevent cavities as it not only dislodges food particles from between the teeth but also increases saliva.

Consider a “candy buy back”—buy back your child’s candy after a day or two by offering fun non-edible treats like Legos, puzzles, comic books, etc.