Stepping Out

Spirited adventures showcase the best of fall

Venture forth for some seasonal fun

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The colors of the season will soon reach their peak, along with the spooky — and not so spooky — antics that are a prelude to the candyfest that awaits us at the end of the month.
Whether you want to explore some autumn vistas or enjoy some of this month’s many festivals and Halloween-related activities, there’s plenty to do this weekend (and throughout the month), including spotting a few ghouls lurking nearby. Here’s a roundup of where to go.

Spooky Fest
Creatures of all kinds inhabit the woods, and ghosts and ghouls come out to play at Tanglewood Preserve, home to the Center for Science Teaching and Learning (CSTL), in Rockville Centre. The event, which takes over the preserve beginning Saturday, and runs weekends through Oct. 30, has become a popular event for area families.

Each year the festival offers a spirited fun-filled slate of activities on the preserve’s 17 acres, both scary and not so scary, to appeal to all ages and fright levels. The wooded paths throughout the preserve are transformed for Halloween, with eerie lighting, special effects and characters along the way. Everything is perfectly spooky and somewhat scary. Creatures of all kinds inhabit the woods; the strange and beautiful will await visitors along the eerie paths.
The choice is yours whether to seek out some spooky thrills or not — or stay safe. This time of year, the preserve’s woods are definitely haunted, as those who venture along the scary walk will find out. This quarter mile hike through the woods is not for the faint of heart. Each October, according to CTSL lore, the abandoned cemetery in the woods comes to life and a group of hikers who have entered the woods have not returned. Visitors can venture into find them, or what’s left of them. Zombies spring to life and are in search of their favorite food — brains.
“For someone who likes a good scare,” says Frank DiGiovanni, CSTL’s special projects administrator, “this is for you. The creatures do their job of scaring people quite well. And for something even scarier, try the Maze of Zombies. We do it differently each year. It’s very dimly lit and there are zombies lurking in the shadows everywhere. It will leave you screaming for your life. And believe me, I’ve heard people screaming in terror.” There is only one way out of the maze, by the way.
Of course, this is a family event, so there are all sorts of less ghoulish activities for the kids. A not-so-spooky walk is offered for younger children, where everyone will meet friendly Halloween characters. Butterflies, friendly ghosts and happy scarecrows will greet the younger set. There are also 40 or so live animals to see (CSTL’s permanent residents) — snakes, turtles, goats, owls, and other creatures. Eerie lights and sounds fill the exhibit hall to make it festive and spooky for this family-focused Halloween
adventure.
Other activities include make holiday-themed arts and crafts, and the return of the Mystic Den, with a fortuneteller and face painting. And be on the lookout for a band of “Merry Monsters” who wander through the courtyard.
And, of course, costumes are encouraged. “We want the little ones to have a fun Halloween experience and be able to walk through the woods if they want,” says DiGiovanni. “Spooky Fest is not just about being scared, it’s a family event for all ages. There’s something for everyone.”
Find out what’s lurking in the woods, beginning Oct. 15, 6:30-9:30 p.m.; also Oct. 22-23 and Oct. 28-30. Admission is $15, $10 for non-spooky attractions only. Center for Science Teaching and Learning at Tanglewood Preserve, 1 Tanglewood Rd., Rockville Centre. (516) 764-0045 or www.cstl.org.

Gone Fishin’
Families and junior anglers always enjoy the Fall Fishing and Children’s Festival, presented by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s I Fish NY program at Hempstead Lake State Park. The annual event, on Saturday, continues to offer a variety of fishing and non-fishing activities.
“The Fall Fishing and Children’s Festival is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and learn something about the great sport of freshwater fishing,” says DEC Regional Director Carrie Meek Gallagher. “The festival combines the opportunity to fish with children’s activities to guarantee a fun outdoor experience.”
A fishing license is not required to participate. The day features fly-fishing instruction, casting practice, fish cleaning services, with loaner rods and free bait available. Additionally, a display area is set up by I FISH NY, Trout Unlimited and DEC’s Environmental Education staff, among other fishing and environmental organizations.
There’s much more than just fishing throughout the day. Other activities include pumpkin decorating, the Raptor Project show and face painting. Kids will enjoy the casting contest where participants can catch a pumpkin or “hook” a prize. In addition, hundreds of brook and rainbow trout will be stocked prior to the event in South and MacDonald ponds.
The festival takes place at MacDonald and South Ponds at Hempstead Lake State Park, Rockville Centre. (631) 444-0283 or (516) 766-1029.

Halloween Fun Fest
Molloy College’s great lawn is the setting once again for a fall spectacle, next Saturday, Oct. 22, with that all-important haunting that goes on this time of year. The community event, now in its fourth year is hosted by the Madison Theatre, with participation by Molloy students and Rockville Centre community organizations.
The event features a haunted house, pumpkin decorating patch, mask making, a magic show, and cupcake decorating, along with a bounce house, among other activities.
The community joins together with Molloy’s student clubs for this lively festival, celebrating the harvest season and Halloween.
“It’s an enjoyable day for the entire family,” says Angelo Fraboni, the Madison Theatre’s artistic director. “We have a lot of activities that parents can enjoy with kids. Our goal is to give everyone a safe place to have some Halloween fun. And our students really enjoy being involved in this.”
Of course, a haunted house awaits those families that dare to entire. Actually a Haunted Tent, created by Molloy Performing Arts Club students, it takes an even scarier tone, during the evening, from 7-11 p.m.
Kids are invited to go trick or treating around campus and participate in the Halloween parade, a festival tradition, at 3 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to best costumes.
The Rockville Centre Lions Duck Pluck fundraiser is also part of this year’s festival.
Put your costume on and get in the Halloween spirit, Saturday, Oct. 22, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. General admission is free, with fees for certain activities. Madison Theatre at Molloy College, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 323-4444 or www.madisontheatreny.org .