Photo by Deb Gau Some Cottonwood residents have really gotten into the Halloween spirit this fall. Last week, a whole graveyard of spooky decorations could be seen outside the historic Norseth-Larsen House on East Main Street

MARSHALL — Halloween is coming up next week, but many area communities are getting the celebrations started early. This weekend, a variety of Halloween and fall-themed events are planned for both children and older participants.

Lots of opportunities to go trick-or-treating will be kicking off this weekend in Marshall. Several trunk or treat events will be starting at 2 p.m. Participating downtown businesses will also be open for trick-or-treaters. Kids and families should look for signs posted at businesses, signaling a trick-or-treat stop.

The Lyon County Museum in Marshall will be holding a Family Fun Day on Saturday with non-scary activities like make and take crafts, and a pumpkin scavenger hunt at the museum. Children should dress in costume to receive a treat bag.

Other events going on this weekend range from spooky to family-friendly, like planetarium star shows and Residence HALLoween at Southwest Minnesota State University. The SMSU Planetarium’s Halloween-themed show “Spooky Space” will be on Friday and Monday night at 7 p.m. The event will include the “Fright Light” laser light show, and the SMSU Chemistry Club will provide liquid nitrogen ice cream after the Friday show.

Seating for the planetarium shows is limited to 60.

ResHALLoween also returns on Saturday afternoon. The SMSU Residence Hall Association will have themed houses, treats and activities for kids from pre-K through grade 6. Admission for the event will be a non-perishable food item or $1 per child donation, to benefit the Kitchen Table Food Shelf and Mustang Market. Organizers said non-ticketed parking will be available around campus, and on the south side of Birch Street.

For a scarier Halloween event, the Haunted Tower at the MERIT Center is also coming back on Friday and Saturday. If they dare, groups of visitors can make their way up the levels of the center’s training tower. The first floor is kid-friendly, but each floor after that is recommended for visitors age 15 and up, Marshall Community Services said. Reservations for the event are required. Participants can register online with MCS.

Halloween events are also being held in area communities, both over the weekend and on Halloween itself. Trunk or treat events are planned in communities including Cottonwood, Minneota and Tracy.