Halloween may officially be on Oct. 31, but some local organizations are getting the jump on the holiday and bringing spooky fun to Oxford this weekend.

Tonight, the Oxford Police Department and Oxford Housing Authority will open the doors to their haunted house that will be open through Saturday night.

The organizations have worked for several days to turn the OPD Training Building into a scary Halloween delight.

The haunted house will have several guides to take attendees through various “haunted” scenes. Tickets for entry are $3 a person and all proceeds go to the Oxford Peace Officers Association. For younger kids, there will be a designated area with face painting and games. The kid activities are geared towards children 8 and under and admission is $1.

In efforts to continue building relationships with Oxford residents, the Oxford Police Department fosters community engagement by hosting and participating in events geared towards the inclusion of all community members.

“We’re just seen as the authority figure and nobody wants to be around the authority figure, so events like these humanize us and make us seem like we’re just like everybody else,” says Chief of Police Joey East.

“We get to know the community and bond with them and spend time with the families and their kids, and I think it builds a good trust and good relationship with the community.”

For more information, follow OPD on Twitter @OxfordPolice and Facebook or call the Oxford Police Department at 662-232-2400.

Historical ghosts

The spirits will walk again in St. Peter’s Cemetery on Friday.

However, these spirits are not the house-haunting kind, but rather actors portraying several of Oxford’s notable, albeit now deceased, citizens.

Guests will be greeted in line by L.Q.C. Lamar and then led through the cemetery where the “spirits” will mix theater and history to tell their life stories.

The bi-annual fundraiser for the Cedar Oaks Guild will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday at the cemetery.

There will be two performance tours. The first tour begins at 5:30 and the second tour at 7:30. Those attending should arrive 15 minutes prior to their selected tour time. Parking is available at St. Andrews Methodist Church and Bramlett Elementary.

The event is the largest fundraiser for the guild that helps support the Cedar Oaks mansion.

At this year’s event, actors will portray past Oxonians, Molly Turner Orr McElroy, Blind Jim Ivy, Sara Isom, Theora Hamblett, Judge CB Howry, James Moorman Howry, PE Matthews, Molly Barr, Della Davidson and Motee Daniels.

Some of the local actors include Kay Barksdale, Henry Clarke, Carolyn Lott, Lynn Wells, Robert Khayat, David Bell, Chasity Nicole, Toni Coleman and Mike Bridge.

Tickets will be $15 and available for sale at The Powerhouse or online at: http://spiritsofoxford16.bpt.me. A limited amount of tickets will be on sale at the gate as available.

Those attending the event walk through the cemetery where actors will be located throughout, some near the actual graves of whom they are portraying. The actors will give monologues about their character — about their lives, life in Mississippi during their lifetime and contributions to Oxford.

“We are very excited about our ‘spirits’ and actors for 2016 and think they will appeal to many different groups and visitors in and around Oxford,” said Marianna Ochs, one of the event chairs.

Other planned events

The 27th Annual Haunted Forrest and Goblin’s Egg Hunt will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 26 and 17 at Avent Park. The event is put on each year by the Oxford Park Commission along with help from the University of Mississippi Park and Recreation Management Association. The Admission is $5 and adults must accompany children under 10.  The Goblin’s Egg Hunt will be Oct. 27 at 6: p.m. sharp on the Ball Field at Avent Park. The Hunt is designed for children ages 4-8. All children must be in costume, and don’t forget to bring baskets! For more information contact Mike Young at the Oxford Park Commission at 662-232-2391 or via email at mikeyoung@oxfordparkcommission.com.

On Oct. 28, the Magnolia Montessori School will hold its second Historic Halloween party starting at 4:30 p.m. at the community pavilion on the corner of Bramlett Boulevard and University Avenue.

There will be live music by The Wilburs. Admission is $10. Free admission for children under 2 and parents.

Events will include pumpkin painting, bouncy slide, cupcake walk, carnival games, face painting, popcorn, a photo booth, archaeological dig and more. Food and drinks will be available. Family-friendly costumes are encouraged.

On Oct. 29, the Yocona Harvest Festival will begin at 6 p.m. At the Yocona Community Center on Highway 334.

There will be games, prizes, concessions, costume contest, cake walks and a chance to win a hand-made quilt donated by the Yocona Homemakers. Door prizes will be given away every 30 minutes. There will also be an auction. Admission is $1 per person.

Oct. 30, the Fall for the Kids Day will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. At the community pavilion on the corner of Bramlett Boulevard and University Avenue. Join RebelTHON for a day filled with fun, games, candy and Halloween surprises for the kids. Watch performers, meet the Rebelettes and enjoy food and fun for all.