This week

Chestatee War Eagle Marching Band Halloween Chili Cook-off, Gainesville. Sample chili and cast your vote for the winner, best costume and display. 7-9 p.m. today. Chestatee High School Cafeteria, 3005 Sardis Road, Gainesville. $5 admission. 770-532-1162.

Gainesville High School Homecoming Parade, Gainesville. 6 p.m. today. Downtown Gainesville square. Free.

HallowSCREAM Vampire Ball, Gainesville. For middle school teens. Parental registration required. 6-9 p.m. today, East Hall Community Center, 3911 P. Davison Road, Gainesville. $10 at the door. 770-535-8280.

Stadium of Screams, Lawrenceville. Admission includes a scary movie. Choose between scary and not-so-scary "haunts." 7 p.m. to midnight today-Sunday. Gwinnett Braves Stadium, 2500 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville. $13-$35. 770-995-6285.

Howloween Costume Contest, Oakwood. Benefits the Hall County Humane Society. Bring your pet into Pet Pleasers Bakery, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today-Saturday, to enter it in the contest. Prizes awarded Monday. Winners featured on bakery's Web site. Pet Pleasers Bakery, 4324 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood. 770-534-3843.

"A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of James E. Mathis Sr.", Oakwood. Learn about Mathis, who helped to establish what is now Gainesville State College, The Chicopee Area Parks Commission, Elachee Nature Science Center and The Northeast Georgia History Center. Reception following program. 1 p.m. Friday. GSC Quadrangle adjacent to the Dunlap/Mathis Building, Gainesville State College, 3820 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood. Free. 678-717-3836 or sjones@gsc.edu.

Haunted Hospital, Demorest. Haunted hospital and activities for kids. 7-10 p.m. Friday. Getman-Babcock residence hall, Piedmont College, 165 Central Ave., Demorest. 706-768-2400.

Halloween Party and Dance, Clarkesville. 8 p.m. Saturday. Georgia Heritage Center for the Arts, 157 Mary St., Clarkesville. $10. 706-754-5989.

Spooktacular Contra Dance, Sautee. Costume dance. Cage Free String Band will perform, Charlotte Crittendon will call dances. No potluck before dance. 9 p.m. to midnight Saturday. Sautee Nacoochee Center gym, 283 Ga. 255 N., Sautee. $8, $7 for SNCA members, $4 students, kids age 7 and younger free with adult.

Haunted pasture, Mount Airy. Eleven-acre haunted pasture. Saturday. D.R. Taks Farm, 1344 Blair Road, Mount Airy. $6 in advance, $8 night of event. 706-768-5212.

BBQ lunch, Oakwood. Pork, bread, slaw and baked beans. Benefits New Beginnings Baptist Church building fund. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. New Beginnings Baptist Church, Ga. 53, Oakwood. $6 per plate. 770-654-6579.

Halloween Swim Clinic, Gainesville. Brenau University Swim Team. Swimmers must be at least 4 years old and able to swim 25 yards of freestyle. Costume contest, pizza party after swimming. Register by Monday. Bring swim suits, goggles, caps, towels, water bottle, granola bars, fins, snorkels, paddles & kick board. 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Saturday. Brenau Fitness Center, 500 Washington St., Gainesville. 770-538-4687.

Buck and flatfoot dance classes, Clarkesville. Six classes. 7-8 p.m. Mondays through Dec. 7. The Georgia Heritage Center for the Arts, 157 Mary St., Clarkesville. $60 for six classes. 706-348-7542 or jringlis@windstream.net.

Ballroom Dancing, Gainesville. Lanier Dance Club. Learn the waltz, foxtrot, swing, shag, hustle and other dances. Line dance lesson, 6:30 p.m.; regular dance begins at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Gainesville Civic Center, 830 Green St. NE, Gainesville. Line dance lesson costs $5; regular dance is free for your first visit. 678-450-9078.

Good News Clinic 2009 Fundraising Dinner, Gainesville. Katie Deal Wright will perform. 6 p.m. Tuesday. First Baptist Church banquet hall, 751 Green St. NW, Gainesville. 770-297-5040.

Upcoming

Cars for Kids Car Show, Dahlonega. Benefits Rainbow Children's Home, Lumpkin County Family Connection and Class of 2015. Registration, 9 a.m. to noon, show until 4 p.m. Nov. 7. Lumpkin County Middle School upper parking lot, 152 School Drive, Dahlonega. $20 show car entry; free for spectators. 678-878-5016.

Ongoing

Southern Living Idea House tours, Dahlonega. Tour the house featured in August's Southern Living. Decorated for Christmas. Benefits the United Way of Dahlonega/Lumpkin County. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 20. Achasta, 150 Birch River Drive, Dahlonega. $5. 706-867-1660.

Beginning Mainstream Square Dance lessons, Gainesville. Lakeshore Squares square dance club. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mondays. First Presbyterian Church, 800 S. Enota Drive, Gainesville. First three lessons free. $3. 404-372-6707. 

Toastmasters, Gainesville. Improve your public speaking skills. 5:45-6:45 p.m. Mondays. Downstairs radio production room, Jacobs Building, Brenau University, 340 Green St., Gainesville. Free. 678-469-2777 or gainesvilletoastmasters@yahoo.com. 

Old-fashioned square dance, Hiawassee. 7 p.m. Mondays. Senior Center, 48 River St., Hiawassee. Free. 706-896-1060 or info@townshistory.org.

Tasteful Tuesdays, Gainesville. Get a taste of food, drinks or services from downtown businesses. Noon Tuesdays. Downtown Gainesville square. Free.