Haunting at the Museum
From the UA News Center | The Alabama Museum of Natural History and Gorgas House Museum are teaming up to provide Halloween fun for all ages through Haunting at the Museum Oct. 24-28.
The Alabama Museum of Natural History will offer spooky scavenger hunts through Smith Hall during normal hours of operation throughout the week. The museum will host an after-hours event Oct. 26 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. that will include children’s stories, crafts, mad scientist experiments and more.
General admission is $5 for adults, $3 for K-12 students and free for children 5 years old and under. Families with kids in costume are free during the week. The after-hours event is free for all.
The Alabama Museum of Natural History is housed in Smith Hall, located on the UA campus at 427 Sixth Avenue.
The Gorgas House Museum will provide free haunted tours sharing the spooky stories associated with the home. Haunted tours will take place throughout the week from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Admission to the Gorgas House Museum is free and Halloween costumes are encouraged.
The Gorgas House Museum is located on campus at 810 Capstone Drive.
Afternoon at the ArBOOretum
From the UA News Center | Frightful flora and fauna will not just be the stuff of campfire tales during the Afternoon at the ArBOOretum Oct. 29. The grounds of The University of Alabama Arboretum will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. for this free event where people of all ages will learn about sinister critters and plant life native to Alabama.
“We will have education stations set up where people can learn about Halloween-themed biodiversity in Alabama,” said Dr. Michael McKain, curator of the UA Herbarium. “We want kids to see just how cool their state is.”
Attendees can also take part in “Sounds of the Night,” a crowd favorite where those scary noises echoing through the trees are identified as harmless — or not.
Guests can also participate in shadow puppet crafts and traditional Halloween festivities.
“Everyone is welcome to wear a costume if they want to and we’re bringing back our biggest draw again, the Trick or Treat Trail,” said McKain.
As part of the Trick or Treat Trail, attendees can walk the pathways of the Arboretum where jack-o-lanterns filled with candy will be posted along the way.
The event, which started in 2017, continues to grow each year starting with around 100 attendees and growing to around 400. Organizers are planning for 600-plus attendees this year.
Visit the Arboretum’s Facebook page for more information.