MERCEDES — It’s going to be a night full of dinosaurs, activities and science for both young and old.
The Estero Llano Grande State Park is hosting its 10th annual Spooky Science Festival for Halloween.
This year, families can bring their children for an evening of fishing, a spooky park tour and a chance to learn about dinosaurs and see live reptiles.
“This year we are focusing on dinosaurs because we have alligators at our park,” said Javier de Leon, Estero Llano Grande State Park superintendent said. “They have been in existence for millions of years.”
He said some people believe birds evolved from dinosaurs and there are a lot of connections that can be made between the two.
He said it’s kind of Halloween related because it’s a spooky festival.
“It’s a fun event with lots of activities and there is an educational component to it,” de Leon said.
There will be fishing for kids and we are going to be teaching archery skills so kids can learn how to shoot bows and arrows.
“We are going to be having a dinosaur show,” de Leon said. “And organizations from around the Valley will be participating in the event.”
He said the Valley Nature Center, South Texas History Museum, IMAS and World Birding Center will be at the event offering learning activities and information.
“Big events like this bring people out to the park that have never been to the park before,” de Leon said. “It really exposes a lot of new people to the park.”
He said if they have fun at the event, families come back and try to enjoy the park and find the alligators on their own.
There will not be tours to Alligator Lake because the park is expecting many people to attend and they don’t want to disturb the alligators.
He said there will be food vendors and activities all around the boardwalk.
Children will be fishing out on a large outdoor tank and will receive a lesson on how to fish.
“It’s something neat for the family to do,” de Leon said. “It’s a good opportunity to get people outside to enjoy themselves and learn about nature.”
WHAT: Spooky Science Fest
WHERE: Estero Llano Grande State Park, 3301 S. International Boulevard Mercedes
WHEN: Saturday Oct. 22, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
COST: $5 per person
