With familiar Halloween traditions up in the air right now, the Hopkinton Center for the Arts and Enter Stage Left Theater are determined to provide some wicked fun for the community with a couple of events celebrating the All Hallows Eve holiday.

Prior to the pandemic, ESL Theater, in collaboration with the HCA, held an annual Wicked 5K Road Race with participants dressing up in costumes on race day. However, because such races are not permitted to take place right now, the organizations put their heads together to put a new twist on this year’s race.

The Wicked Run to $5K Virtual Race is a costumed run, walk, (or even dance) that aims to not only celebrate the spirit of Halloween but also help to raise funds for ESL Theater and the HCA.

Interested families or individuals can sign up at no cost online to be part of the event’s fundraising team.

“Then, on Halloween, you can dress up in your costume and walk or run or dance the 5K around your neighborhood,” explained HCA co-executive director Kelly Grill. “But we want to make it clear that you don’t have to run or walk to fundraise.”

Anyone who raises $250 or more will be entered into a drawing to win a pair of AirPod Pro wireless earbuds. The virtual race’s premier sponsor is Unibank.

Not a runner but still want to have some fun on Oct. 31? Why not take part in the HCA’s town-wide Halloween-themed scavenger hunt.

Anyone who signs up for the scavenger hunt will be emailed a list of locations in town around 6 p.m. on Oct. 30. Those locations might be various Hopkinton landmarks, businesses, or ghostly sites such as a graveyard.

Then, on Halloween Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., participants will travel to each location and take pictures in front of each site. When finished, come to the HCA to show staff those pictures to receive a bag of candy. Even sweeter? All those who complete the scavenger hunt will be entered to win a $100 gift card from Amazon.

Grill said there is no age limit to take part in either the 5K or the scavenger hunt.

“We want people and families of all ages taking part and having fun,” she said.

A Halloween costume contest will also be part of the events. So, everyone is encouraged to post photos of themselves to the HCA Facebook page all dressed up. Prizes will be awarded.

Like all organizations, Grill said the HCA is having to think outside the box to keep events moving forward and the HCA open.

“We’re finding ways to do things. It’s definitely a challenge, but we have to be creative these days,” she said.

Approximately one month ago, the boards of directors of the HCA and ESL Theater made the decision to merge the two organizations in an effort to bring together each other’s resources.

Now the HCA’s staff is assisting ESL, and HCA members receive benefits such as discounts to ESL performances and other participation fees.

“It’s been in the works for quite a while,” Grill said of the merger. “It just works better if we’re all under one organization; many saw us that way anyway. We have great synergy together. It’s really a win-win for everyone.”

For more information on the scavenger hunt and Wicked Run to $5K, including signing up to take part, view hopartscenter.org. For questions, call 508-435-9222.