BREC Hosts Family Friendly Halloween Events

Bluebonnet Swamp presents Haunted Hikes on Oct. 8, 15 and 22 with games and entertainment beginning at 6 p.m. and the trails opening at dark. These events are designed especially for younger children. This program is an alternative to the commercial haunted houses, which are geared more for teenagers and adults. Participants learn about snakes, insects, rats and other “creepy critters” as they stop at educational stations along the trail. Track down costumed characters to receive “treasures” then trek through the Swamp Graveyard to our Education Building for Carnival Games and Spooky Storytime. No scare tactics are used during this program, and participants are welcome to come in costume if they choose. All participants should bring a flashlight and because this program runs at night, an adult must accompany all children. The fee is $6 per person and free for those age 2 and younger. For more information, call 225-757-8905 or email swampevents@brec.org.

Let’s do the time warp at BREC’s Movie in the Park: Rocky Horror Picture Show on Oct. 9 from 8-10 p.m. at Greenwood Community Park! Patrons ages 18 and older are invited to bring your blankets and chairs for a special outdoor screening of this classic. Only watching the movie is just one option. Bring toast, toilet paper and rice and experience the show. Costumes are welcome. Special door prizes and activities will be held prior to the start of the movie. The screening will be held toward the back of site, follow the lips. For more information, email recreationevents@brec.org.

Happy Halloween racers! Join us for the Hooper Halloween Trail Run, a race that is simply too spooky to miss, on Oct. 9 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Hooper Road Park. Racers can choose to participate in the 1-mile Fun Run or the 4-mile Competitor’s Loop. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in the 4-mile Competitor’s Loop. The fee is $35 per person, ages 8 and older. To register, visit webtrac.brec.org or email outdooradventure@brec.org for more information.

Hop on your broom and get ready for this month’s Adaptive Sunshine Social– Cast a Spell in partnership with Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge. Teens and adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities are invited to join the party on Oct. 15 from 6-9 p.m. at the Milton J. Womack Park ballroom. There will be a dancing, disc jockey, door prizes, fun, refreshments and of course, socialization! Please register by the Wednesday before the day at brec.org/adaptiveregistration. For more information, call visit brec.org/adaptive or email molly.orr@brec.org.

As darkness falls, so does the spookiness. Come visit – if you dare – as Highland Road Park Observatory celebrates Spooky Spectrum, its annual family-friendly tribute to the bizarre and freakish, on Oct. 16 from 6-10 p.m. We’ll delve into the eerie side of astronomy, physics and aeronautics. Be warned, we want to make you think! For more information, call 225-768-9948 or visit brec.org/observatory.

Join us for a ghoulishly good time at BREC’s BOOvie: Movie in the Park from 5-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 16 at Zachary Community Park and on Oct. 30 at Howell Community Park. Come out dressed in your favorite costume for a children’s village of fall themed activities including arts and crafts, music, costume contest and more. Followed by a spooktacular movie in the park. For more information, email recreationevents@brec.org.

BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo invites participants to Boo at the Zoo, a merry-not-scary trick-or-treating extravaganza Oct. 16-17 and 23-24 from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. (grounds close at 5 p.m.) Participants should wear their best costumes and enjoy a day at the Zoo to celebrate fall in Louisiana. This year, instead of treat stations, we will have various animal enrichments for guest viewing and each child in attendance (ages 12 and under) will receive a pre-filled treat bag as they exit the Zoo. For more information, visit brzoo.org.

Join BREC Art and BREC Dog Parks for Trick & Treat Dog Costume Contest and Art Unleashed on Oct. 22 from 5-9 p.m. at Forest Community Park! Bring your four-legged friends and families to a Friday night for some fang-tastic fun, free for all ages and breeds! Enjoy live music, local art and makers, dog adoptions, local pet vendors, food, art, kids’ activities and of course the infamous Halloween dog costume contest. BREC Art in conjunction with BREC Dog Parks will raise awareness for local dog shelters and adoption agencies as well as an appreciation for local art and BREC community Parks. If you’d like to participate in the event as an art vendor, pet vendor or want to register for our costume contest all forms can be found at brec.org/artunleashed. For more information, email jpoulter@brec.org.

Bring the whole family and join us at Jack-Eaux-Lanterns from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 at Zachary Community Park and on Oct. 27 at Greenwood Community Park. Activities will include pumpkin carving and painting. For more information, email monica.porras@brec.org.

Get into the Halloween spirit with our Pumpkin Paddle Parade, an exciting competition of “float” decorating on Oct. 28 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Milford Wampold Memorial Park! You design and decorate a canoe in Halloween décor and then parade in front our judges for the chance to win fabulous prizes! The fee is $10 per kayak or stand-up paddle board. To register, visit webtrac.brec.org or email outdooradventure@brec.org for more information.

Get your costumes ready! Come out and enjoy an evening filled with family fun and entertainment as BREC, Ochsner Health and the BREC Foundation host Full Moon Fete + Trunk & Treat at Forest Community Park on Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. You don’t want to miss this SPOOKendous event featuring movies, live music (Peyton Falgoust Band), a Trunk & Treat Trail, character visits, giveaways and more! Ochsner Health will also also Covid-19 vaccinations during this event. Donations will benefit recreation programs supported by the BREC Foundation. In addition, Participants may donate 5 canned goods at this event for entry into a special prize drawing. For more information, email recreationevents@brec.org or visit brec.org/fullmoonfete.

For more information on any of these spooky Halloween events or any other October events, visit brec.org/thismonth.