When the sun goes down Thursday, neighborhoods throughout Santa Cruz County will be crawling with zombies, witches, ghosts, superheroes, princesses and topical news references. All will have one simple demand: Candy, please.

However, not everyone will be waiting until sundown to get started on their candy hauls. This Halloween will have plenty of daytime trick-or-treating opportunities throughout the county. Below is just a sample.

The earliest such opportunity will be along Pacific Avenue. The main thoroughfare of downtown Santa Cruz will be partially closed, as business owners and employees don their best Halloween costumes and hand out candy. The event is sponsored by the city of Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Police Department. The trick-or-treating runs from 2 to 5 p.m.

Elsewhere in Santa Cruz, trick-or-treaters can make their way over to the Santa Cruz Wharf where businesses will hand out candy bars and other sweet treats. Additionally, there will be photo booth overlooking the Monterey Bay and a Great Pumpkin Hunt Wharf trivia game where trick-or-treaters can find five pumpkins hidden throughout the wharf, each featuring a trivia question to answer. The answers can be turned into participating businesses and redeemed for prizes. The event is 3 to 6 p.m. at 21 Municipal Wharf.

Another option is always the Capitola Mall, already decorated with skeletons, spiders, jack-o’-lanterns and even skeletal mermaids in its fountain. However, come Thursday evening, the mall will get even more in the Halloween spirit with its annual trick-or-treat. There will be a spooky photo booth, face painting station and free treat bags for kids while supplies last. The event is 4 to 6 p.m. at 1855 41st Ave., Capitola.

Even the Santa Cruz Mountains will get in on the Halloween fun. The Boulder Creek Business Association will transform downtown Boulder Creek into Trick-or-Treat Street. Downtown merchants will dish out candy as costumed figures roam the sidewalks. The business association will have a table in front of the sheriff’s substation, where Beaker from “The Muppets” is expected to make an appearance. There will be traffic control volunteers at the intersections and sidewalks for the duration of the event. The highway will not be closed, so trick-or-treaters are encouraged to limit the places to cross. Crossing at Forest Street is not allowed. Crossing the highway is only permitted at Lomond Street and the intersections of Highways 9 and 236. The event is 5 to 7 p.m. along Central Avenue.

Finally, for those who like trick-or-treating to feel more like a game, Scotts Valley has that covered with the annual Halloween Treasure Hunt. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., people can pick up a map at Togo’s and go to participating businesses to receive free treasures. The event is sponsored by the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce. Togo’s is at 266 Mt. Hermon Road.