What an exciting week it’s been so far! With the election coming closer, there’s plenty of community engagement to take part in. And that’s not all — local events and activities continue to crowd up the calendar. Don’t miss out on the fun! For details, check out these Best Bets.

BEST NIGHT OUT AT THE COLLEGE BET: Join Dr. Jeff Meyers, History professor at Kachemak Bay Campus for “Night Out at the College: Our Community and the National Election” on Friday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. at KBC’s Pioneer Hall. This free event includes a round-table discussion covering the election from the perspective of Homer area locals and information on how the national election reflects who we are as a community. Materials about the election are available at the KBC library. For more information, call 907-235-1608. 533 E. Pioneer Ave.

BEST BARN DANCE BET: Homer’s monthly Barn Dance returns to the SPARC on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 7:30-10 p.m. David Stutzer calls to live music from the Spit City Slickers. Contra, square and circle dances will be called, as well as mixers and waltzes. All ages and skill levels are welcome! Instruction provided, no partner necessary! Entry is $10, please bring clean, soft-soled shoes. 600 Sterling Highway.

BEST CREEPY CRITTER CELEBRATION BET: Join the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center on Oct. 25-26 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. to learn about some not-so-spooky animal species, including bats, spiders, owls, wolves, ravens and more! Activities will include a creepy critters discovery lab, “spooky species” exhibits, and an interactive scavenger hunt. Last admittance is at 8 p.m. This event is family friendly and costumes are encouraged. 95 Sterling Highway.

BEST CHILD FIND SCREENINGS BET: Ninilchik and Anchor Point Child Find Developmental, Vision and Hearing Screenings will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 29 by appointment only for newborns up to age 5 (not yet in kindergarten). Learn more about your child’s speech/language development, early learning concepts, fine and gross motor skills, hearing and vision. These free screenings are completed by the Sprout Infant Learning Program and the KPBSD Child Find Program. Anchor Point screenings will be held at Chapman School from 9-11 a.m. Ninilchik screenings will be held at Ninilchik School from 1-3 p.m. For more information, contact Kelli at 907-260-5148.

BEST ROTARY HEALTH FAIR BET: Rotary Health Fair Blood Draws are right around the corner! Quick, easy and discounted blood screenings are available through Nov. 1 at Community Christian Church. Regular blood testing is one of the most effective ways to keep track of your overall physical well-being. Being tested at routine intervals and discussing your results with a provider not only gives a snapshot of your current health, but helps to show important changes over time and determine what’s normal for you, making it easier to catch potential problems early. Find more information and book an appointment at rotaryhealthfair.org. 3838 Bartlett St.