This weekend is filled with Halloween activities as the Flint RiverQuarium plans back-to-back events with Tricks and Treats and the River Zombies 5K.

Bring your little ghosts and goblins downtown for lots of spooky fun Friday from 5-8 pm as the Flint RiverQuarium and Thronateeska Heritage Center team up to present Tricks  and Treats. You’ll get twice the fun at just one price because an armband purchase at either location grants you entrance to all of the festivities, as well as a candy path of treat tables along the riverfront trail. Admission for all ages is $6 with costume or $8 without costume.

New this year, a dive show featuring underwater pumpkin carving will take place in the Blue Hole at 6 p.m. Another spooky dive show will be held at 7 p.m. A costume contest for ages 6 and under will be held at 6 p.m. at Thronateeska. A separate contest for those 7 and older will be held at 7 p.m. in the Flint RiverQuarium Imagination Theater.

Other scheduled events at the RiverQuarium include games and candy stations throughout, animal presentations, photos by the alligator alcove, a concession stand, and a tattoo station.

At Thronateeska, visitors can enjoy face painting, candy stations, a planetarium spooky walk, a pumpkin toss, a weather center with floating heads, and a witch with her bubbling cauldron.

A candy path along Riverfront Trail will connect the two facilities. The Taco Truck and Cool Scoops also will be on-site as food vendors during the event.

Saturday at 3 p.m. the Flint RiverQuarium is back with more as the River Zombies 5K run & obstacle course returns for a second year. Building on the success of last year’s event, the race is moving to the former First Tee location behind the James H. Gray Civic Center.

The move will allow space for more zombies and an increased number of more difficult obstacles. Organizers urge runners to be prepared to get muddy! Participants will navigate the course while also avoiding zombies intent on stealing their “life flags.” Last year, the River Zombies 5K had 350 participants and an equal number of spectators.

A Zom-B-Q amateur BBQ and cooking contest, sponsored by Central Monitoring, will be held on-site from 7 am-noon. Live music will be playing and vendors will be set up from 11 a.m.-7:30  p.m. Runners may pick up packets from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

The River Zombies 5K is an untimed race. Each person crossing the finish line will receive a medal. The first female and first male to cross the finish line with the most life flags left will each receive a prize. Minimum age to participate is 12 years. If under 18, parent must be present and sign a waiver.

The entry fee is currently $30.00 for individuals with teams of four receiving $5 off their total registration. Fees will increase to $35.00 each on October 15. Registration is available online at flintriverquarium.comor raceroster.com.

Sponsors for the River Zombies 5K are Procter & Gamble, Tony’s Gym, Downtown Arts Coalition, The Kattalist Creative Group, MakerSpace, and Road ID.