Halloween in the Regional Parks

Spooky Sunol Open House and Scavenger Hunt

Halloween is almost here, and several East Bay Regional Parks will anticipate the costumed cavalcade with a variety of spooky-themed but non-frightening programs. For starters, there will be a Spooky Sunol Open House from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29. Staff will show the visitor center’s live reptile, amphibian and arachnid ambassadors, including Lumpy the gopher snake. Visitors who wish may join in an optional bat fly-out viewing. Wear warm clothes; bring drinking water, and a mug for hot chocolate or apple cider.

Sunol also plans a self-guided scavenger hunt from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30. Stop by the visitor center, pick up a scavenger hunt guide, and search for creepy critters and eerie landscapes. Return to the center, tell what you found, and get a treat. Or you can drop in at the center any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. the same day for a variety of Halloween activities and a mug of apple cider. Costumes are encouraged at these programs. All ages are welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Sunol Regional Wilderness is located at the end of Geary Road off Calaveras Road about five miles south of I-680 and the town of Sunol. There’s a parking fee of $6 per vehicle; the programs are free. For information, call 510-544-3234.

Spooky Scavenger Hunt

There’s also a spooky scavenger hunt planned on Sunday, Oct. 30 at Del Valle Regional Park south of Livermore. Stop by the visitor center between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., obtain a scavenger hunt guide, and venture out in search of Halloween in nature. Return to the center for a treat. Costumes are encouraged; adult participation is required. Del Valle Regional Park is at the end of Del Valle Road off Mines Road about nine miles south of Livermore. There’s a parking fee of $6 per vehicle; the program is free. For information, call 510-544-3146.

Halloween Hijinks

Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont will host “Halloween Hijinks” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30 with naturalist Mindy Castle. There will be three ten-minute puppet shows starting at 11 a.m. Apple cider pressing is at 11:30 a.m. Making costumed clothespin dolls is at 1 p.m., and Halloween games start at 2 p.m. Ardenwood is located at 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard, just north of Highway 84. The programs are all free; admission fees apply. Parking is free. For information, call 510-544-2797.

The Creatures of Crab Cove and the Ocean Trash Monsters

“The Creatures of Crab Cove and the Ocean Trash Monsters” is the theme of a Halloween celebration from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  on both Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 29 and 30, at Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda. Learn why Halloween is the spookiest night of the year for the animals inhabiting the Bay, craft some Halloween decorations, and join the search for Ocean Trash Monsters. And Family Nature Fun Hour activities at Crab Cove from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30 include helping bay critters and adding to the center’s trash monster. Wear your costume for a special treat. Crab Cove is at 1253 McKay Ave. off Alameda’s Central Avenue. For information, call 510-544-3187.

Spooky Creatures on Display

No specific Halloween-themed programs are planned at the Environmental Education Center in Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley. But you can still stop by to see the live and spooky creatures on display. The center is at the north end of Tilden’s Central Park Drive, accessible via Wildcat Canyon Road or Canon Road in Berkeley. For information, call 510-544-2233.

Whether it’s Halloween or any other day, there’s always something interesting going on in the East Bay Regional Parks. For the full story, visit www.ebparks.org/things-to-do online.