Ghosts and goblins celebrate Halloween in County parks

(Maricopa County) This Halloween season, the County parks are celebrating by offering several creepy and whimsical events. Why not grab your mummy, hop on your broomstick and fly on over to one of the hair-raising festivities being offered on Saturday, October 29? We’ll leave the jack-o’-lantern on for you!

·         FANGtastic Fall Festival. Forget about Saturday morning cartoons! Beginning at 10 a.m., White Tank Mountain Regional Park staff will kick-off four hours of storytelling, face painting and parading for youth between six months and 12 years-of-age. So don your favorite costume and come prepared to parade in front of the judges for spookatular prizes from Chick-Fil-A, the Phoenix Zoo, Chili’s Wildlife World Zoo and much more. All ghosts, ghouls and goblins are welcome.

·         Haunted Horse Ride at Sunset. Who says Halloween is just for people? This is a great opportunity for horses and riders to show off creative costumes and have fun on the trails at sunset at San Tan Mountain Regional Park. Prizes for the best dressed horses will be awarded at 5:15 p.m. to kick-off the ride. Spectators are encouraged to join and show support for their favorite four-legged ghoul. All riders are required to sign in/out, bring two sources of light and riding helmets with them.

·         Trick or Treat Special. Not into tricks this Halloween season? No problem, Lake Pleasant Regional Park has an unBOOlievable treat planned for you! Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center will be on site from 3 – 5 p.m. with an exciting live display of creatures that reside in the Sonoran desert. Then, as dusk begins to fall, the stage will be set to release a rehabilitated owl back into its natural habitat.  This is a magnificent sight if you haven’t had the opportunity to witness a release!

·         Not So Scary Flashlight Hike. Continuing on with the Halloween theme, Lake Pleasant Regional Park’s Ranger Terry has planned a “No So Scary Flashlight Hike” after the trick or treat special. At 7 p.m., he’ll begin rounding up all of the warlocks and witches at the visitor’s center for a guide hike into a wooded, naturally spooky area in the park that features a couple of added tricks and treats. The little ones may scream as Mother Nature scares them with the crackle of brush and sounds of wildlife in the vicinity but they’ll be excited to see the treasure at the end of their destination.

For additional information on the festivities, fees and park locations, visit www.maricopa.gov/parks.

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