The Longboat Key Club and Resort hosted an afternoon of Halloween fun at their Pumpkin Carving Luncheon held Sunday, October 24, at the Harbourside Grill.

The Kids, Cats and Cupcake Carnival, which featured a petting zoo, moon bounce, cupcake decorating and games galore, was held Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Cat Depot.

Thousands of residents from throughout the region flooded the East County for a weekend of fall fun at the Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival Oct. 23-24. The festival featured everything from live music and entertainment to games and, of course, the famous pumpkin patch. The festival will be open for one more weekend, Oct. 30-31.

Decorated from head to toe in all shades of pink, hundreds of East County residents laced up their tennis shoes and gathered at the Sarasota Polo Club for the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K walk Oct. 23. Following the walk, participants enjoyed a survivor reception and brunch.

Mote Marine Aquarium's Night of Fish, Fun & Fright event took place Friday, Oct. 22. Children and adults came dressed in their best Halloween costumes, ranging from pretty princesses to witches to bumble bees and scary vampires.

The Thunder faithful came out it in full force for The Out-of-Door Academy's first on-campus Homecoming Oct. 22. ODA hosted a family picnic at the Upper School before heading to Thunder Stadium for the game against Southwest Florida Christian Academy.