The public is invited to come out to enjoy the Halloween Spooktacular at Cuivre River State Park. The event will take place from 12 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the park. Family-friendly activities including hayrides and programs featuring live animals often associated with Halloween will take place. This event is free and open to the public.
The Cuivre River Halloween Spooktacular festivities will kick-off with "Lunch with a Bat" at the Camp Sherwood recreation hall. Kirsten Alvey-Mudd, founder of Missouri Bat Census, will present a program about bats featuring several live bats native to Missouri.
In the afternoon, guests can take part in a fun and informative, naturalist-led afternoon hayride. Halloween hayrides are available by reservation only, as space is limited. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For reservations, call (636) 528-7247.
The event will conclude with "Wings of the Night" at the campground amphitheater in the evening. Educators from Raptor Rehabilitation Project will bring live owls and other special bird of prey guests.
All visitors are encouraged to wear costumes and participate in a costume contest; prizes will be awarded for best costumes. Prize winners will be announced after the Wings of the Night program. For visitors camping in the park, there will be a campsite decorating contest and trick or treating for kids. For visitors not camping in the park, a shuttle will be available from the beach parking lot to the campground.
Cuivre River State park is located just east of Troy on Highway 147. For more information about the event, call the park at (636) 528-7247. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.