A Spring Peeper, one of the costumed animals that will educate of its life at the Audubon Community Nature Center’s enchanted forest. Submitted photo

The Audubon Community Nature Center will be hosting a night of magic and fun that nobody will want to miss.

The enchanted forest will be taking place on Friday, Oct. 4, and Saturday, Oct. 5. The event will contain a host of animal performers in costume along the trails. The performers will use this opportunity to provide information about the various species in a fun and entertaining way. The performers have the collective goal of engaging the child’s imagination and even making them laugh a bit, according to senior nature educator Katie Finch.

The event will begin sending out the first group around 6 p.m. and the last will be sent at 8 p.m. Groups will go out roughly every 10 minutes between those times and will last about 40 minutes each, said Finch. Event staff welcome halloween costumes but note that the event will occur regardless of weather conditions. Due to this, staff recommend long-sleeve shirts, pants, close-toed footwear, and insect repellant. Following the walking portion of the event a campfire will be available for guests to enjoy with snacks and drinks available for purchase. The Nature Center will also contain crafts, live animals, and various exhibits to get lost in. Among the exhibits will be the new inclusion of an interactive bee display as well.

Tickets for the event will not be available at the door and ticket availability is limited, according to Finch. Tickets for the event must be booked in advance for a specific time either by phone or through the website. Tickets start at $14 for adults, $10.50 for Nature Center members and children aged 3 to 15, and free for all children under 2 years old.

“We’re always looking for different ways to get people outside and having fun experiencing nature and it’s really fun to give the opportunity to do so at night,” said Emma Roth, nature educator and animal care specialist. Roth went on to note that it was important to the organization to “do it in a way that feels safe for the kids, and exciting.”

Volunteer Coordinator Sharon Tefft noted the continued need for volunteers for the event, and for the Audubon in general. Cleanup crews, trail guides, and an additional craft table monitor for the event are among the necessary volunteer work. Staff hopes to see some more offers of volunteer assistance to be able to aid with these essential duties.

The Audubon is located at 1600 Riverside Road, and holds hours of entertainment for all guests. Visitors can enjoy the arboretum and play space, hike the roughly five miles of trails for free from dawn to dusk, and view a host of exhibits inside the Nature Center Building. The nature center is open to guests Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Nature center members, along with SNAP/EBT card holders, receive free admissions to the building, while non-members may receive free admissions on Sundays.

For any further information contact 716-569-2345 or visit AudubonCNC.org.