M-K-T's free Halloween warm-up this Saturday

If you're looking for a low-key way to get the kids into the Halloween spirit before the big night, M-K-T has a free family event that fits the bill. The 7th annual Hike, Bike & Fright Fest runs this Saturday, October 24, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at M-K-T, the warehouse-turned-retail-and-dining destination at 600 N Shepherd Drive in the Heights. It's built to be kid- and dog-friendly, so it works as a warm-up rather than a full-blown haunt.

The center of the afternoon is the free Trick-or-Treat Trail, which you can walk, bike or roll through. It winds past a long list of the shops and restaurants that make up the property, with stops for sweets and treats along the way. The trail is easy to reach from the Heights Hike & Bike Trail, which runs right past M-K-T, and you can pick up a map at the trailside community tent or the Building 1 Courtyard DJ booth. Parking is free and first-come, first-served.

Around the trail, there's a steady rotation of things to catch. Dave and Jake Rangel perform magic and illusions across the property from 2:00 to 2:20, then put on a live show with a saw-in-half illusion on the Trailside Lawn from 2:30 to 2:50. DJ M-Cue and a deadpan Addams Family-style character keep things moving sitewide from 2:00 to 5:00, while Dreamland Entertainment brings out a larger-than-life spider on stilts and a rag doll on roller skates from 2:00 to 4:00. If you're into the occult, Amber Ambrose does five-minute tarot readings on the trail from 2:00 to 4:30 on a first-come, first-served basis, and AndyRoo leads a Halloween singalong on the lawn from 3:00 to 3:45.

A few of the trail stops add something extra. Beauty Shop Heights has a spooky coloring activity and allergy-friendly treats, Tutu School Heights does balloon art, and Semper Laser is raffling off laser hair removal sessions. The full list of stops reads like a directory of the property: Anjouil's, Burdlife, Buckle Bunny Hat Bar, Chloe Dao, The Doll House, La La Land, Pippa & Pearl, Suitshop, Body20, Honeychild's Sweet Creams, Lululemon, Mala Sichuan Bistro, Mendocino Farms, Myx Blend Bar, Tight Squeeze Acai Bar, Da Gama Canteen and Rakkan Ramen, among others. There are complimentary trail beverages and treats while supplies last, and for the adults, Eureka Heights is providing free beer to anyone 21 and over, with A Force of Nature handling hydration.

It's worth knowing a couple of practical things before you go. The event runs rain or shine, though some of the performances and attractions are weather-permitted, so a little rain might thin out the lineup. Because so much of the action happens on the lawn, bringing a picnic blanket or a few lawn chairs is a smart move. And if you're planning to bike or skate over, the Heights Hike & Bike Trail makes it easy to roll right up to the front door.

For context on the place itself, M-K-T is a collection of old warehouse and industrial buildings in the Heights, now home to more than 30 retailers and restaurants across four acres of green space. The trail it sits on follows part of an abandoned Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad bed, which is where the name comes from in the first place.