The region will get a little spookier over the weekend as several towns hold Halloween-themed events.

Norway will hold its fourth annual Halloween Festival on Friday, sponsored by local businesses, the Norway Recreation Department, the Norway Memorial Library and Norway Downtown.

The festival runs from 2 to 5 p.m. Activities include a scavenger hunt that will begin and end at the library, trick-or-treating, fortune telling, raffles, games and costumed characters.

Norway Recreation Director Deb Partridge said 37 businesses are participating in the event, and hopes that the number of people attending will increase from 450 last year to 500.

For more information, contact the library at 743-5308 or Partridge at 743-6651.

The traditional open mic night at the First Universalist Church in Norway will take place as a Halloween Bash. The event costs $3, with sign-up at 6:30 p.m. and the event starting at 7 p.m.

“The format will be the same, but people will be welcome to come in costumes,” said Heather Pierson.

Pierson said the open mic night, which takes place on the last Friday of the month, has been Halloween-themed in October for the past five years it has occurred. Participants are not required to dress in costume or have a Halloween-themed piece, however.

For more information, contact Pierson at 935-4505 or [email protected].

On Friday and Saturday, haunted hayrides will be held at Bessey Field on Paris Hill Road in Buckfield from 7 to 10 p.m. Rides will cost $5 and benefit the Buckfield High School Class of 2008. A bake sale will also be held at the field.

On Saturday, the McLaughlin Garden in Paris will hold its eighth annual Witches Brew Tea Tasting from 2 to 4 p.m.

“This year we’ve revamped it, pun intended, to be more of a tea workshop and tea tasting,” said Executive Director Michael Desplaines.

Desplaines said Stacy Sahin, a master tea blender from the Victoria Inn in Bethel, will be on hand as five blends are sampled, including the “McLaughlin Gardens Paris Blend” made specially for the organization.

Desplaines said some of the tea servers will be dressed as witches. Participants may dress in costumes, but are not required to. Preregistration is required for the event due to limited seating at a cost of $12 for members, $15 for nonmembers, and $8 for nonmembers under the age of 12. For more information, phone 743-8820.

On Saturday, Otisfield will hold a free Fall Fright Night from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Otisfield Community Hall. The event will include costume and pumpkin carving contests, entertainment, games and refreshments. For more information, phone Stacey Tibbetts at 743-2539 or 461-3372.

On Tuesday, the Hamlin Memorial Library will hold a Halloween party for children under the age of 12 from 4 to 5 p.m. The event will include the reading of Halloween stories, costume activities and refreshments.

On All Hallows Eve, Oct. 31, the Waterford Library will host an open house from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The Norway Rehabilitation and Living Center in Norway will hold trick-or-treating for children ages 11 and younger from 6 to 7 p.m.