The Orange County Market Place will provide a range of fun activities for kids and adults at Halloween, and will add more holiday season shopping days to its customary weekend schedule at the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center.

Events at the popular Market Place are among the highlights of fairground attractions during the last quarter of the year. During the Market Place's annual Trick or Treat Festival youngsters in costume will get a free treat from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31.

To get Halloween celebrants in the proper mood, the annual Hearse, Bug and Monster Classic Car Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., including the 10 a.m. hearse processional through Costa Mesa streets with radio personality Dr. Demento as grand marshal. Dr. Demento also will perform two shows in the Automotive Road of Dreams Museum, entry to which is free with Market Place admission.

The Market Place will add holiday season shopping days on the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 26, and Monday, Dec. 20. Admission is free both days and hours are 7 a.m.-4 p.m. with free parking. On its regular Saturday and Sunday business days, admission is $2 for ages 13 and over and free for those 12 and under.

During the holidays, Santa Claus will stop at the swap meet, and there will be other Yuletide entertainment. The Market Place offers thousands of products and holiday gift ideas, including many handcrafted items. Call (949) 723-6660 or visit the website at www.ocmarketplace.com for more information.

The flavors, sights and sounds of ancient Persian and modern Iran will be on display Oct. 2 and 3 at OCFEC in the annual Persian Festival. The Persian harvest celebration attracts 20,000 visitors to see colorful dances, Persian arts and crafts, ancient sports, musical performances and taste exotic foods. Proceeds will fund future Mehregan celebrations, scholarships and cultural events. Admission is $20 for adults; children under 10 are admitted free.

Law enforcement personnel will leave their motorcycle seats and mount bucking broncos and Brahma bulls in the National Police Rodeo from 6 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 9 in the Grandstand Arena, an event to benefit the Special Olympics. The contestants will include firefighters and FBI agents as well as police officers, sheriff's deputies and highway patrolmen. Ticket prices range from $10 to $35.