Our house is in full Halloween preparedness mode. The festival fall wreath is hanging jauntily on the entry door, pumpkin spice candles have been placed serendipitously about the living room, and the front yard is sporting our cute little DIY ghosts. We are definitely ready for the spookiest time of the year.

While you’re decking the halls with fake cobwebs and gorging yourself with fun-size Snickers, keep this in mind: The “holiday season” is already gearing up.

Yep, like it or not, the season of festivals, parties, school pageants, parades, science fairs, sporting events, and multiple family get-togethers is upon us. Suffice to say, from now until the end of the year you’re going to have to be much more selective with the bounty of seasonal activities that have suddenly popped up.

With that in mind, here are a passel of out-of-the-ordinary events that will ease you into the seasonal marathon ahead. You have to pace yourself, you know.

Sneak in one last movie under the stars for the season this Thursday night at Strauss Square. The outdoor venue in the AT&T Performing Arts Center will be screening the delightfully quirky animated feature, “The Triplets of Belleville.” As an added treat, the film’s Oscar-nominated score by Benoit Charest will be recreated live as the movie is shown on the big screen. Get one free child ticket with every adult ticket when you purchase online. Just select “Buy 1 Adult, Get 1 Child’s ticket” option in checkout to claim the offer.

If you thought ballet was all Sugar Plum Fairies and dancing snowflakes, think again. LakeCities Ballet Theatres’ production of ‘Le Ballet de Dracul’a is the classic story of the famous vampire told with dancing gypsies, bats, vampire brides and Dracula himself. In short, this ballet does for Halloween what ‘The Nutcracker’ did for Christmas. Kids can dress in Halloween costumes and participate in a drawing to be held at intermission during each performance. For even more scary fun, check out the pre-performance workshop on October 14 at 12:30 p.m. for kids, ages 9 and older. The children will have a chance to wear stage make-up and dance with Dracula’s Brides. The workshop is free with the purchase of a performance ticket. To RSVP for the workshop send an email to [email protected] by October 12 if you’re interested. There are only three performances this weekend at the Medical City Lewisville Grand Theater, so don’t wait to get your tickets.

Check out the 8th Annual Bonnie & Clyde Days in Pilot Point this Saturday for a fun historical adventure. The town was a location for one the bank robbery scenes in the 1967 movie “Bonnie and Clyde” and to commemorate their moment in the film history, a festival is held annually to reenact the filming of the famous bank robbery scene. The featured event, complete with gangsters, police and old-timey cars, happens at noon and 3 p.m. Festival goers can also enjoy a classic car parade, a soapbox car challenge, pie-eating contest, kids activities, and a free concert on the square with Brave Combo headlining.

Looking for something extra special to do this Saturday? Join Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park and KERA for Be My Neighbor Day. At this very special event, you and the littles can take part in community-based service projects like assembling toiletry and craft kits and making get well cards. Families will also be able to explore Dallas Heritage Village, watch Daniel Tiger episodes, and meet Daniel Tiger and Katerina Kittycat up close and in person. The event is free, however, families are encouraged to bring items like gloves, hats, and scarves for our North Texas neighbors who need it most.

Take in some extra fall fun this weekend at the Family Night Campout at Bethany Lakes Park in Allen. There will be pumpkin carving, games, and a movie in the outdoor amphitheater followed by a  night hike. Setup for tents and sleeping areas begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, and will end at 9 a.m. the next morning.  The cost is free for 2 years and under and $10 per individual with a $60 family cap.