Hike through a bat cave, explore a bone yard in the woodlands or check out a pumpkin trail at these three nature-inspired, family-friendly, Halloween events this weekend.
HOWLoween: October 20
Enjoy the sights and sounds of nature’s creatures at HOWLoween in the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center’s outdoor garden from 6 – 9 p.m. on Friday, October 20.
This free Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) event is open to all ages. Visitors can explore nature stations with HOWLoween themes including, Birds of Prey, Track or Treat, the Bone Yard, the Bat Cave, games, crafts and indoor nature exhibits. Participants can enjoy s’mores and acoustic music around a campfire. The center’s outdoor garden offers prairie, woodland and wetland areas with native plants and trees in their autumn colors. Visitors can also see indoor nature exhibits.
The Discovery Center is located at 4750 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO, and is just a few blocks east of the Country Club Plaza. For more information, call 816-759-7300, or email [email protected].
GLOW Jack-O-Lantern Festival: October 20 – 21
Take the kids to see hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins and pumpkin sculptures along a one-mile, self-guided walk through the heart of Powell Gardens. Visitors can stop along the way for children’s activities, hayrides, a fire-pit, hospitality stations with wine, beer and nonalcoholic beverages, food vendors and a demo and display tent featuring master pumpkin carver Rudy Garcia and his creations.
Activities begin at 4 p.m. and the pumpkin path is open from 6 – 10 p.m. on Friday, October 20 and Saturday, October 21.
For admission information, go to Powell Gardens. It is located at 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, Kingsville, MO.
Hoots and Howls: October 21 – 22
Take a hayride around the Kansas City Zoo, watch the animal pumpkin smash and enjoy spooky, not scary, activities at Hoots and Howls on October 21 – 22.
Hoots and Howls is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday for the regular price of zoo admission. Kids can pedal a tractor, navigate a hay bale maze and have their face painted like a favorite animal. There will be a DJ sing-along, rides on the Scare-o-cel and a chance to create a wild craft.
For more information, visit the website KC Zoo, 6800 Zoo Drive, Kansas City, MO.