Trick or Treat with Noah's Landing This Year

When darkness falls on October 25, the bats, kinkajous, sloth and raccoons at Noah's Landing will start to stir awake.

And for one night, the community will be invited to watch them.

The Noah's Landing Halloween Spooktacular, an annual weekend of trick-or-treating at the non-profit nature center, will take place Saturday, Oct. 25 from 1-9 p.m. and Sunday, October 26 from 1-6 p.m. It's the only time each year that the farm -- which houses more than 60 species of exotic animals -- opens its doors at night, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of the zoo's nocturnal animals.

Visitors are encouraged to dress in their silliest or spookiest costumes to take a tour of the farm, stopping at each exhibit to learn fun facts or to fill their bag wit candy from local businesses. Along the way, guests can participate in additional Halloween activities, taking a jump on the moon bounce, playing games, learning science facts in the Mad Lab, or having their stuffed friends stitched up in the Teddy Bear Clinic.

"We've wanted to create a way for local families to trick or treat that was both safe and supervised and educational," says Dora Turner, Noah's Landing director. "he Spooktacular is about spooky fun but it's also about learning."

Noah's Landing volunteers will be stationed at each exhibit to pass out candy and offer fun facts to visitors. Guests can bring carrots to feed to the hoofstock, including the zebra, llamas, and donkeys, and volunteers will be on hand to help guests touch many of the zoo's creatures, including the fennec fox, kinkajou, and skunk. The nature center's "Swamp Guide," Michael Van Riper, will also be offering interactive shows that focus on reptiles and amphibians, and owls will be visiting from the Wildlife Resource Center.