Kids invited as crafts, critters and curiosity come together (at a socially-safe distance) at Helen Woodward Animal Center
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (Oct. 2, 2020) – Have no fear, critter-loving kids won’t have to miss Helen Woodward Animal Center’s spookiest and most adorable event of the year. With top safety precautions in place, families can still enjoy festive crafts, cute and “creepy” critter encounters, a mini-pumpkin patch, a spooky maze and much more! This year, there are even more opportunities to get in on the fun. The Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Festival kicks off tomorrow, Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and runs every Saturday in October!
The Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Festival is one of Helen Woodward Animal Center’s most unique events combining Halloween-themed crafts for kids, trick-or-treat stations, animal meet-and-greets, and a journey through The Perilous Path – a brand new spooktacular maze experience. Guests are invited to dress in costume for this family-friendly event which is an opportunity to safely get into the fall spirit
The best part of the Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Festival is the hands-on animal encounters. To get little goblins into the Halloween spirit, kids will meet cuddly Humane Education Ambassadors like the miniature horses or goats, and they will also learn about and interact with our animal friends considered on the spooky and slithery side, like snakes or lizards and millipedes or Madagascar hissing cockroaches. Hand sanitizer will be used between each animal encounter.
“This year has been spooky in so many other ways and that’s why we’re so excited to welcome families back to our popular Howl-O-Ween Harvest Family Festival and have some fun,” explained Humane Education Manager Haylee Blake. “We’re looking forward to providing a safe place for kids to learn about our cute creatures but also our ‘creepy’ critters and why they’re an important part of our world as well.”
To ensure the safety of visitors and staff, groups are limited to six people and all members of the party should arrive together. Groups will be led by one crew member wearing PPE and will explore all the various activities at Howl-O-Ween Harvest during a-one-hour time slot. The price for groups is just $48 and all funds go directly to support the orphan pets and programs at Helen Woodward Animal Center. Registration is required and can be completed here. Festival dates are Saturdays, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 with time slots available between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more information on Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Howl-oween Harvest Family Festival, call 858-756-4117 x 318 or visit www.animalcenter.org.
Complete COVID-19 Safety Precaution and instructions include:
- We will check temperatures and give a short health questionnaire at check-in. Please stay out of direct sunlight or warm environments to avoid incorrectly high temperature readings.
- This year’s event will be more structured than previous years. You must pre-register for a one hour time slot, during which one of our staff members will lead you through the activities and animal encounters. Walk-up registrations are not permitted.
- Group sizes are limited to 6 people and groups must arrive together. You will remain at least 6 ft. apart from the other groups for the duration of your one hour time slot.
- Masks are required and must be worn at all times. (This excludes children under the age of 2.)
- The event will take place completely outdoors.
- No activities will involve running or too much movement.
- Participants will be given hand sanitizer directly before and after each animal interaction.
- We will clean and disinfect all areas prior to and after the event.
- Please refrain from attending if you or anyone in your household has a fever or displays symptoms like coughing, sore throat or headache.
**Protocols are subject to change. Reach out to us at education@animalcenter.org if you have any questions or concerns.