Dinosaur Hill’s Halloween Hoot, originally uploaded by FatherDalton.
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, October 21, 22 and 23, Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve in Rochester, will present its ever-popular Halloween Hoot.
For the 30th year, families will enjoy a crisp fall evening walking through a forest lit with luminaries and populated with many familiar (and some not-so-familiar) characters from favorite children’s stories, films, TV shows, and fairytales. Groups of 25 people will enter the woods every 10 minutes, for a 45 minute guided walk through the nature preserve, stopping along the way to view a series of short skits. This program is designed to be a fun, humorous, very slightly haunting approach to nature that is perfect for families with young children, scout groups, October birthday parties, etc.
“The Hoot is one of the area’s oldest and finest family-friendly Halloween events”, states Rita Becker (Dinosaur Hill’s Administrative Assistant), and is now an official Rochester tradition! Many families return year after year, and some of our pre-teen and teen actors remember coming to the Hoot with their families when they were little. Young attendees should wear their costumes and bring a small trick or treat bag and expect a few little surprises!” You never know who you’ll meet on the trail during the Hoot; this year our ever-popular Paint Creek Pirates will be circus performers! Kids should also keep their eyes peeled for Charlie Brown & the gang, Puss & Boots, the Story Witch, the Little Engine that Could and much more!
“The Hoot is an especially fun event because the whole community gets involved,” says Becker. Decorative pumpkins are carved by elementary school students, skits are written and performed by high school and middle school theater club and service club members, and local high school students guide groups into the woods and assist with clean-up.
Tickets are $7.00/person, and must be purchased in advance. This event usually sells out, so buy your tickets early! Admission fee includes cider & donut, guided walk with skits, and campfire with entertainment. You may purchase tickets in person at Dinosaur Hill, or through the mail. For instructions on how to order tickets through the mail, or other information, call Dinosaur Hill at (248) 656-0999, or e-mail at events@dinosaurhill.org.
