Local Museums Offer Halloween & Harvest Fun in October!
Oct 04, 2014 07:32AM ● By Brenna Mc Gowan
In addition to its fascinating Gold Rush past, the Sacramento area is
rich with an amazing array of state-of-the-art museums and historic
sites that offer visitors the chance to explore California’s fine art,
history, science and wildlife treasures all year long.
In October, many of the 30 members of Sacramento Association of Museums (SAM) are offering fun Halloween and harvest-related events and activities sure to get guests in a festive spirit, including:
In October, many of the 30 members of Sacramento Association of Museums (SAM) are offering fun Halloween and harvest-related events and activities sure to get guests in a festive spirit, including:
“Going Batty” at the Discovery Museum Science & Space Center – October 4 & 5
This
weekend the Museum is highlighting some infamous creatures of the night
-- BATS! Families are invited to explore some of the science behind
these nocturnal mammals. A special bat display will be set-up for this
weekend only and children may assemble a “bat clip” craft to take
home. For more, visit thediscovery.org.
Art Mix/Monsters Ball at the Crocker Art Museum – October 9
If
you are a zombie-loving, vampire-cheering, dark-side guru, join in the
fun at Art Mix/Monsters Ball! Revel in four-on-four creature feature
soccer matches in the Living Dead Cup presented by the Lady Salamanders,
share your signature shriek in a scream-tastic showcase by the
Sacramento Horror Film Festival, mingle with Zombies, do the
Frankenstein, join in on ten-minute flashlight art tours and more! For
details, visit crockerartmuseum.org.
Ghost Tours at the Sacramento History Museum – October 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 & 25
Visitors
to Old Sacramento can journey back in time to hear ghostly tales and
spooky stories as they walk through the history-rich streets and re-live
19th century lore. Entertaining yet knowledgeable tour guides will take
daring and inquisitive guests through Old Sacramento’s infamous locales
to experience a bit of the dark side of California’s history. For
more, go to historicoldsac.org.
“Souls of the City” Events & Activities Presented by the Sacramento History Museum – October 11 thru November 1
In
honor of “Day of the Dead” activities celebrated each year in Mexico
and in major cities around the world, Sol Collective and the Historic
Old Sacramento Foundation have teamed up to present a series of
community workshops and special activities that showcase the traditions
and/or demonstrate how to create some of the special items used in “Day
of the Dead” celebrations. The effort culminates with a Dia De Los
Muertos Celebration on November 1. For more, visit historicoldsac.org.
“Spookomotive” Train Rides at the Railroad Museum – October 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 & 26
All
aboard for some Halloween fun Old Sacramento style! California State
Parks and the California State Railroad Museum are proud to offer
diesel-powered “Spookomotive” train rides aboard a whimsically decorated
train crawling with spiders, cobwebs and cornstalks while staffed with
an entertaining “skeleton crew.” Also, discounted “combo”
Halloween-themed train rides and river cruises are offered twice per
day. For more, visit csrmf.org.
“Pumpkin Science” at the Discovery Museum – October 11 & 12
Visit
the Discovery Museum Science & Space Center to celebrate the season
for Jack-o-lanterns! Family-friendly stations will be set up so
visitors can learn more about this festive squash plus kids ages 12 and
under can craft a paper pumpkin to take home as fall décor. For more,
visit thediscovery.org
3rd Annual Monster Bash at the Sacramento Children’s Museum – October 18
Visit
the Sacramento Children’s Museum for a night of ghoulish fun at the 3d
Annual Monster Bash! Gear up for Halloween by wearing your best costume
and come play the night away at the Museum! They’ll have a DJ,
dancing, refreshments, photo opportunities, a “haunted hallway,” and of
course - Museum play. For more information, visit sackids.org.
28th Annual Safe & Super Halloween: The Adventures of Percy Jackson at Fairytale Town -- October 24, 25 & 26
Guests
are invited to enter the mythological world of Rick Riordan’s “Percy
Jackson and the Olympians” for three nights of trick-or-treating and
family fun at Fairytale Town! Young heroes can go on a quest to Mount
Olympus to see the infamous Olympian Zeus and visit the lair of
Polyphemus the Cyclops, the replica Parthenon, the Oracle of Delphi and
Medusa’s garden and much more. Plus, kids can enjoy trick-or-treating at
17 candy stations, too! For more, visit www.fairytaletown.org
The Haunted Fort at Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park – October 24 & 25
For those interested in a ghoulishly unique experience, check out the fifth
annual “The Haunted Fort” at Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park (SHP).
Once again, the historic site will offer a special Halloween program
based in fact but with a decidedly creepy twist. Daring visitors will
go on guided lantern-lit tours through the darkened rooms and hear
unusual and intriguing tales of how some of California’s early pioneers
perished throughout history. For more, visit www.suttersfort.org.
Count Watts’ SPOOKtacular at the Roseville Utility Exploration Center – October 25
Visitors
to the Roseville Utility Exploration Center can meet Count Watts and
discover ways to save energy. Guests can take a thrilling walk through
the Phantom House, carve a pumpkin, then round out the day with crafts,
face painting and prizes. For more, visit http://www.roseville.ca.us/explore/workshops_and_events/exploration_events.asp
Trick-or-Treating in Old Sacramento – October 25
Trick-or-treating
will be held through the streets of Old Sacramento once again this
season. Last year more than 40 Old Sacramento merchants and museums
participated in the fun! The Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum is a
great place to start as maps and bags are available for interested
participants. For more, go to www.scoe.net/oldsacschoolhouse.
Trunk-Or-Treat at the California Automobile Museum – October 26
Only
at the California Automobile Museum can guests enjoy the unique
experience of Trunk-or-Treating out of the back of rare and vintage
classic cars from the early 1900s to present day. Tour guides in costume
will hand out candy to junior superheroes and princesses as they
explore the museum and engage in a myriad of fun activities! For more,
visit http://www.calautomuseum.org/event/trunk-treat-2/
Wee Halloween at the Crocker Art Museum – October 29
Celebrate
the "wee" in Halloween with this fright-free alternative to
trick-or-treating! Families will start by decorating treat bags before
being guided in small groups through the galleries. Along the way, they
will encounter gentle surprises in the form of music, poetry, and dance,
and receive a non-candy treat at the end of each performance. The
delightful Halloween stroll will end with a delicious celebration. For
more, go to www.crockermuseum.org,
Boo at the Zoo at the Sacramento Zoo – October 30 & 31
Two
nights of ghoulish family fun, rain or shine! Kids can safely
trick-or-treat around the lake at 25 different candy stations. Other
activities include magic shows, costume dance party, ghoulish games, and
lots of family fun. You can also ride the Spooky Train or Creepy
Carousel for an additional fee. Please note: Only the front half of the
Zoo will be open during this event. The spookiness is appropriate for
children under 10 years of age. For more, visit www.saczoo.org.
To stay connected to Sacramento Museums, “like” them on Facebook at Facebook.com/SacMuseums, follow them on Twitter @SacMuseums or visit the website at SacMuseums.org.
Post information and picture courtesy of Sacramento Association of Museums.
Post information and picture courtesy of Sacramento Association of Museums.