Fontana Park hosts Halloween events on Saturday

HAZLETON — Give your Halloween celebrations a whole different look and get more out of the costume than an hour of trick-or-treating. Dress your tricksters up early and head out to Fontana Park on Saturday for a day that is less about candy and more about fun.

Trick-or-treat with the Animals is back by popular demand. At 9 a.m., help carve some creative pumpkins and then fill them with tasty and nutritious treats for Fontana Park's resident raccoons, foxes, bison, ducks, coyote, bobcat and rabbits in the Wildlife Display. When all pumpkins are created, participants will go through the animal exhibit to place pumpkins in each animals’ enclosure for treats that are a trick to get into. Watching as each animal figures out the best way to get inside is the highlight.

Please dress to be outside for 1 1/2 to 2 hours during the creation of the treats and the delivery to each animal’s enclosure.

This is a popular program and preregistration is required to ensure adequate materials; be sure to get preregistered early. With large participation numbers, organizers may create extra pumpkins and reserve some pumpkin treats for future feedings. Register at www.buchanancountyparks.com under the ‘Public Events’ tab.

After a morning of treating the critters, enjoy a picnic or a nature walk on your own and then join organizers for the Pumpkin Plunge anytime between 1 and 3 p.m. Bring small (less than 8 inches diameter or even better, mini pumpkins) to slingshot them into Fontana Lake. Larger pumpkins don’t fling as far, so keep it smaller. There will be a limited number of pumpkins available for use for those who may forget their pumpkins.

Floating targets will be in place for participants to compete for bragging rights of best pumpkin plunger! Hit the special target for a prize. The slingshot is heavy duty and smaller kids will need help from an adult. Be ready to take photos or videos, as this can be very entertaining.

After flinging, participants will get to paddle out to retrieve their pumpkins. All pumpkins — whole or in pieces — must be retrieved from the lake. Participants are welcome to bring those retrieved pumpkins back and try again.

As there is just one slingshot, organizers also will have tables set up and materials available for decorating pumpkins while you wait — flinging a face can only add to the fun.

Preregistration is requested, but not required, for the afternoon Pumpkin Plunge. For questions about either of these Halloween activities, call (319) 636-2617 or email mmaas@co.buchanan.ia.us.