With Halloween just around the corner, I’m getting ready for another year of “Death by Chocolate.” And I’m not talking about trick-or-treat bags overflowing with Hershey miniatures; I’m talking about the now infamous desert usually served at the annual House of Scotland Lawn Program. It’s so popular, in fact, visitors are advised to grab some first before it runs out.

Once again, the House of Scotland’s Lawn Program falls just before Halloween—this year on Sunday, October 25—in recognition of the fact that the spooky holiday’s traditions originate in the Celtic festival of Samhain. But rather than finding folks dressed as ghosts and goblins, lawn program guests will enjoy a fetching display of Gaelic costumes and Highlander tartans.

As always, the House of Scotland Pipe Band, the Cèilidh Band (featuring traditional Celtic instruments), and the Highland Dancers will entertain guests while they nosh on meat pie, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad, sticky toffee pudding, and the aforementioned “Death by Chocolate.”

Not to be outdone, the House of Turkey serves up their own yummy lawn program the following Sunday, November 1. And lastly, the ever-popular cultural smorgasbord of canine treats, known as the House of Pacific Relations “Sampler,” closes out the 2009 Lawn Program series on November 8 with something for every breed.