The El Dorado Nature Center prepares to open its gates for the Howl-O-Ween Festival. In a statement obtained by the City of Long Beach, the event promises to be an enchanting evening filled with Halloween-themed festivities set among the lush backdrop of one of Long Beach's treasured natural settings. Taking place on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 2 to 6 p.m., the festival is now in its tenth year, enchanting visitors with a bewitching blend of treats and nature-inspired tricks.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson extolled the virtues of the festival, saying, "This cherished event offers a unique experience — where families can celebrate the fun and creativity of Halloween while enjoying the beauty of our natural surroundings." Celebrating Halloween in this way, with trick-or-treating along the trails, is an invitation to don capes and masks in lieu of the scenery usually adorned by the natural denizens.
At the event, children and adults alike can weave through the Nature Center's trails for trick-or-treating, commune with some less-than-cuddly critters at the animal education village, and partake in a series of bone-chilling tales courtesy of the South Coast Storytellers. While with their faces being painted, craft-making, and bounding about in the Opossum Patch, prudence calls for visitors to have their last trail entry by 5 p.m., with the festivities drawing to a close as shadows grow long.
Adding to the merriment, Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw remarked on the festival's importance, "Howl-O-Ween at the El Dorado Nature Center is a special tradition that brings our community together to explore, play and make memories in one of the most scenic places in Long Beach." The echoes of laughter and gleeful shrieks are surely to join the symphony of the festival, amidst the crunching of leaves and the whisper of the trees.
Complementing the eerie elegance of the occasion will be culinary temptations from Wetzel’s Pretzels and Summer Ice Cream Truck, whose nourishing fare will be available for purchase. As the event is family-oriented, the four-legged family members are advised to stay at home to cater to the comfort of all attendees. Free parking is a boon for early birds, with last vehicle entry at 4:30 p.m., and while there's no admission fee, a suggested donation of $5 per person will go to support Friends of El Dorado Nature Center.
For those in search of a spirited soiree this Halloween, the Howl-O-Ween Festival at El Dorado Nature Center is calling. More information can be found by reaching out at 562.570.1745 or visiting the Nature Center's webpage. Embark on this adventure and make new memories whilst the veil between worlds is thin, but the festive spirit is as substantial as ever.
