Time for some Halloween fun at East Bay Parks
SAN FRANCISCO EAST BAY (Oct. 26, 2021) — If you are looking for some not especially spooky Halloween-themed activities that you and your kids will enjoy, look no further than the East Bay Regional Parks, where the naturalists have scheduled several family-friendly activities.
At Sunol Regional Wilderness in southern Alameda County, naturalist Kristina Parkison plans a session with “Not So Creepy Critters” from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30 at the park’s visitor center.
Toads and snakes have a bad reputation, but Kristina will explain how they play important roles in healthy ecosystems. The visitor center has several of the critters in residence.
The program is drop-in, free of charge, and no registration is required. Sunol has a parking fee of $5 per vehicle.
The park is located at the end of Geary Road off Calaveras Road, five miles south of I-680 and the town of Sunol. For information, call 510-544-3249.
Spooky Scavenger Hunt
Del Valle Regional Park south of Livermore plans a nature-themed “Spooky Scavenger Hunt” between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31. Drop by the Rocky Ridge Visitor Center any time during those hours, pick up a scavenger hunt list to complete, return and tell naturalist Alex Collins about your adventures. Costumes are encouraged.
The program is free, and no registration is required. Del Valle has a parking fee of $6 per vehicle. For more information, call the Sunol Wilderness phone number.
Del Valle Regional Park is at the end of Del Valle Road off Mines Road, about nine miles south of downtown Livermore.
Pumpkins and witches
At Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont, naturalist Mindy Castle will lead three Halloween-themed programs on actual Halloween, Sunday, Oct. 31. All are drop-in, with no registration required. Ardenwood’s entry fees apply. Once inside, the programs are free.
First, you can enjoy a show from 10:30 to 11 a.m. featuring the farm’s handmade puppets. It’s a Halloween take on a classic tale: “Three Little Witches.” They will perform multiple shows.
After that, from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m., meet Mindy at the Ardenwood granary to create and dress up your own Halloween doll, made from clothespins as they did back in the 19th Century.
And from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. it’s pumpkin playtime. Mindy will lead Halloween farm games in the farmyard.
You can find the park at 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard, just north of Highway 84. The farm and its activities recreate life on a prosperous 19th century estate. For information, call 510-544-2797.
Beautiful Brunches
It’s not necessarily Halloween-themed, but naturalist Kevin Dixon will lead another in his series of “Beautiful Brunches” hikes from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31 at Morgan Territory Regional Preserve in eastern Contra Costa County.
Meet Kevin at the park’s staging area on Morgan Territory Road. Bring your favorite food and drink, wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes, and plan for a two-mile hike.
Morgan Territory offers beautiful views of Mt. Diablo and the Central Valley. There’s abundant wildlife and a rich history.
You can park for free and they charge no fee, but you must register for the brunch. To register, call 888-327-2757 and select option 2.
You can always something fun and interesting to do in the regional parks. For a full listing of events, visit the website, www.ebparks.org.
Ned MacKay writes a regular column about East Bay Regional Park District sites and activities. Email him at nedmackay@comcast.net.