Long Beach children and families can get into the spooky season spirit during this year\u2019s Howl-O-Ween Festival at El Dorado Nature Center.<\/p>\n
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine will host the annual Halloween festival at the Nature Center, 7550 E. Spring St., from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. There will be trick-or-treating along the trails and a variety of family-friendly Halloween activities, according to a press release.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur Howl-O-Ween Festival is celebrating its tenth year of bringing Halloween tricks, treats and activities along the frightfully fun trails of our El Dorado Nature Center,\u201d Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement. \u201cThis cherished event offers a unique experience \u2013 where families can celebrate the fun and creativity of Halloween while enjoying the beauty of our natural surroundings.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Howl-O-Ween Festival began in 2014. It showcases the work being done by the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department, promotes its various services and resources, and celebrates the Halloween spirit, officials said.<\/p>\n
Visitors are encouraged to get in the spirit by dressing up as their favorite ghoulish creature and enjoying a hair-raising trick-or-treating adventure through the Nature Center trails. Attendees will also be able to visit the animal education village and meet some creepy-crawling critters, and listen to spine-chilling stories from the South Coast Storytellers.<\/p>\n
The event will also feature face painting, a bouncy house, crafts for the whole family, and food truck snacks for purchase from Wetzel\u2019s Pretzels and Summer Ice Cream Truck.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowl-O-Ween at the El Dorado Nature Center is a special tradition that brings our community together to explore, play, and make memories in one of the most scenic places in Long Beach,\u201d Fourth District Councilmember Daryl Supernaw said in a statement. \u201cI look forward to seeing you there as we celebrate the spirit of Halloween.\u201d<\/p>\n
The last trail entry for the event will be at 5 p.m. Parking is free and a donation of $5 per person is encouraged at the gate to support Friends of El Dorado Nature Center, which was created to support the El Dorado Nature Center\u2019s mission of cultivating a sense of respect, understanding and stewardship of the natural world, according to a press release.<\/p>\n
Credit cards and tap pay will be accepted at the event. The last vehicle entry will be at 4:30 p.m. Pets are also encouraged to stay home.<\/p>\n