BATON ROUGE, La – The Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC) will host several Halloween events throughout the month of October at various parks and facilities throughout the parish. These events will be safe spaces for children and families to enjoy holiday themed activities and treats. We ask that all patrons please be prepared to observe social distancing regulations for the safety and security of all patrons and staff.
BREC will host Howell-O-Ween at Howell Community Park on Oct. 10 from 7-9 p.m. Participants are invited to come dressed in their favorite costume and join us for a SPOOKTACULAR evening filled with excitement including character visits, refreshments, music, a trick-or-treat trail and more.
BREC Art and BREC Dog Parks will jointly host the annual Trick and Treat Dog Costume Contest and Art Unleashed at Forest Community Park on Friday Oct. 16 from 5-9 p.m. Enjoy live music, local artists, pet vendors, food and activities for all ages and breeds. To register for the dog costume contest or to apply to be a vendor visit brec.org/artunleashed.
Join BREC at the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center in-person or online for two exciting weekends of Haunted Hootenannies! On Saturday Oct. 17 and 24, the swamp will open for extended hours from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. for some traditional Halloween fun. On Friday Oct. 16 and 23, join the swamp via Zoom from 6-7 p.m. for exciting animal presentations led by nature experts like Dr. Nathan Lord from the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum talking about creepy crawlies and Leslie Lattimore from Wings of Hope Wildlife Rehabilitation! Cost for either day is the normal price of admission. For more information or to register for the Friday night zoom chats, visit brec.org/swamphalloween!
BREC’s Baton Rouge Zoo invites participants to Boo at the Zoo, a merry-not-scary trick-or-treating extravaganza on Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25 from 9:30 a.m.-4 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 younger) will receive a pre-filled treat bag as they exit the Zoo. For more information, visit brzoo.org.
Bring the whole family and join us for a special pumpkin carving and painting event as BREC hosts Jack-Eaux-Lanterns on Oct. 28 from 5-7 p.m. at Zachary Community Park. The price $10 for EBR Residents and $12 for Out-of-parish residents and registration fee includes the pumpkin and supplies. Parents/Guardians must be present. For more information, email monica.porras@brec.org.
Get into the Halloween spirit with BREC's annual Pumpkin Paddle Parade, an exciting competition of "float" decorating! You design and decorate a canoe, kayak or paddle board in Halloween decor and then parade paddle along Milford Wampold Memorial Park's University Lake. Our judges will select the best dressed floats for fabulous prizes on Oct. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Don't have a kayak? No problem! BREC Outdoor Adventure crew will happily supply you with a kayak or paddle board for just $10. For more information, visit brec.org/outdooradventure.
Get your costumes ready! Come out and enjoy a day filled with family friendly entertainment as BREC hosts Full Moon Fete – Movie in the Park at Airline Hwy. Park Fairground on Oct. 31 from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. This all-day event will feature 5 popular Halloween themed movies the entire family will enjoy. This event includes a drive thru trick or treat trail, character visits, food vendors, music, give-a-ways a costume contest and more. Drive-in slots (limited) or walk up spots will be available. This event is free and open to all ages. For more information or a complete list of movies/showtimes and Trick or Treat Trail times, email recreationevents@brec.org or visit brec.org/fullmoonfete.
Are you the ghost with the most? Is the something strange in your neighborhood YOU? Time to show us your monster mash – enter our online costume contest today!
How to Enter: Send us a photo of you in your costume in a message on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram with your name and costume title by Oct. 24.
Voting: All entries will be posted on the BREC Facebook page on Oct. 26. The 3 photos with the most likes win. Voting ends at noon on Oct. 30.
Prizes: Winners and prizes will officially be announced 3 p.m. at Full Moon Fete – Movie in the Park on Oct. 31 (Airline Highway Park) – come out and show off your costume.
For a complete list of contest rules, visit brec.org/costumecontest.
For more information on any of these events, call 225-272-9200 or visit brec.org/Halloween.