Missouri State Parks for some spooktacular Halloween fun

Saturday, Oct. 28: Fall Fun Event at Wallace State Park

Join the Wallace State Park team for their annual Fall Fun Event. Meet at the campground amphitheater for all programs. Contestants are reminded to keep decorations family-friendly and safe for people and wildlife. Visitors are encouraged to walk through the campgrounds from 7 to 9 p.m. Park team members will serve treats to everyone. Wallace State Park is located at 10621 NE Highway 121 in Cameron. The day’s activities are:

10 a.m. – Find the Pumpkin!

1 p.m. – “The Day Shift.”

7 p.m. – Halloween Campsite Decorating and Pumpkin Carving/Decorating Contest judging and awards.

Saturday, Oct. 28: Halloween in the Park at Echo Bluff State Park

Come out to Echo Bluff State Park for a fun-filled afternoon and evening of spooky and exciting activities. Grab-n-go craft bags will be available across from the Check Station starting at 2 p.m., while supplies last. All campers participating in the camper decorating contest and everyone participating in the cabin door decorating contest must turn forms into the check station no later than 3 p.m. At 5 p.m., the trick-or-treating parade begins at the cemetery. The day’s final event will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the fire pit across from the check station, where contest winners will be announced. The night program will follow. Guests are invited to bring a chair, candy and a good campfire story to tell. If guests have musical instruments, they are encouraged to bring those to play. Echo Bluff State Park is located at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive in Eminence.

Saturday, Oct. 28 through Sunday, Oct. 29: Babler’s Halloween Weekend at Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park

Join in the Halloween weekend celebration! Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park is located at 800 Guy Park Drive in Wildwood.On Saturday, the fun starts in the park’s visitor center.

10 a.m. – Crawling Creepers.

2 p.m. – Slither Me Timbers.

4-8 p.m. – Trick-or-treating at the Visitor Center.

8 p.m. – Any camper wanting to participate in the Halloween decorating contest will be rated by a panel of judges.

On Sunday, meet in the visitor center at 10 a.m. for a program about bats, Missouri’s only flying mammal.

Saturday, Oct. 28: Halloween Hootenanny at Washington State Park

Come out to Washington State Park for the Halloween Hootenanny. The day kicks off at 8 a.m. with a breakfast fundraiser, followed by games and crafts, a raffle, a costume contest, a campsite-decorating contest and trick-or-treating. This event is sponsored by the Friends of Washington State Park. More information is available by calling 636-586-5768. Washington State Park is located at 13041 State Highway 104 in De Soto.

Saturday, Oct. 28: Spooktacular Stargazing at Thousand Hills State Park

Come out to Thousand Hills State Park and explore the night sky. Park team members, along with Truman State University faculty and Adair County Public Library representatives, will be on hand to help guests learn about the night sky. Several telescopes will be set up, but everyone is welcome to bring their own telescopes, chairs and binoculars. The program will begin at 6 p.m. at the park’s Point Shelter. Thousand Hills State Park is located at 20431 State Highway 157 in Kirksville.

Saturday, Oct. 28: Halloween Hike at Stockton State Park Meet at the park’s Nyblad Trail trailhead in the East Campground at 7 p.m. for a guided night hike. Guests will begin prowling down Nyblad Trail while learning how to call for owls. At the end of the trail in the West Campground, hikers can choose to continue through the West Campground to admire the decorated campsites or to follow park team members back down the trail to the East Campground. Lanterns will be available for those who do not bring flashlights. The event is free and open to the public. Parking is not available at the trailhead, but is available at the shower houses and near the duplexes. Stockton State Park is located at 19100 S. Highway 215 in Dadeville.

Saturday, Oct. 28: Public Halloween event at St. Francois State Park Everyone is invited to partake in some Halloween fun starting at 5 p.m. with a costume contest. At 6:30 p.m., members of the public can start trick-or-treating in the park campground until 8 p.m. The best-decorated campsite award will be announced at 8 p.m. St. Francois State Park is located at 8920 U.S. Highway 67 N in Bonne Terre.

For detailed information on any of these activities, please visit mostateparks.com/events. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.