It's finally October, which means that several television networks are starting to premiere some spooky programming for the month of Halloween.

Sure, most of it isn't as treasured as the holiday programming in December, but if you're into science-fiction, horror and thrillers, it doesn't get much better than this.

The website TV Tango always compiles comprehensive lists for everyone's holiday viewing pleasure. Here are a few highlights for this spooky season:

• The Syfy channel started a special 31 Days of Halloween countdown on Oct. 1. Throughout the month, look for scary movies interspersed with some of the channels regular programming, such as "Ghost Hunters" and Syfy original movies. For a complete calendar, visit www.syfy.com/31days

• Food Network is serving up "Halloween Wars" marathons this weekend (6-11 p.m. and midnight-2 a.m. on Saturday, 2-6 p.m. Sunday), leading up to the season two premiere at 9 p.m. Sunday.

• TV Land will be showing Halloween specials of some of your favorite shows throughout the month, including "Roseanne" (10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Saturday) and "That '70s Show" (1:30 a.m. Monday).

• Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will host a "Night of Classic Horror" marathon every Wednesday throughout the month, starting with classics such as the 1963 version of "The Haunting" and the 1960 version of "13 Ghosts" from 8 p.m.-6 a.m. starting Wednesday, Oct. 10.

• On Saturday, Oct. 13, enjoy an AMC Fearfest beginning at 6 a.m. with "Pet Semetary," followed by "Pet Semetary Two" and a "Walking Dead" marathon. Fearfest continues the rest of the month, so keep tuning in for great horror films like "Friday the 13th" (8 p.m. Oct. 15), "Rosemary's Baby" (9 a.m. Oct. 17), "Halloween" (8 p.m. Oct. 22) and "From Dusk Till Dawn" (8 p.m. Oct. 25).

• Oh yeah, and the third season of the zombie-hit "The Walking Dead" premieres at 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14 on AMC.

• ABC Family's "13 Nights of Halloween" kicks off on Oct. 19 with "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" at 1 p.m., followed by "The Mummy," "The Addams Family" and "The Addams Family Values." The Halloween-themed programming continues through the end of the month. Don't forget the mid-season Halloween episode return of "Pretty Little Liars" at 8 p.m. on Oct. 23 (Bonus: it's followed by "Hocus Pocus" at 9 p.m., perhaps one of the best Halloween movies ever made).

• And if there is only one Halloween program you watch during this wonderful month, you better make it "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." Unfortunately, there are no TV listings yet but rest assured it will air on or around Halloween.

Katie McCarthy, features writer, can be reached at kmccarthy@ledger-enquirer.com or 706-571-8515. Visit her blog at ledger-enquirer.com/junkfood for more commentary.