Cape Henlopen transforms into fantasy spot

Looking for a fun family Halloween activity that won’t leave the littlest ones terrified until November arrives? The 20th annual Children’s Fantasy Trail at Cape Henlopen State Park will be held this weekend, Friday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 25, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The trail is a non-scary seasonal transformation of the Seaside Interpretive Trail at the Seaside Nature Center, featuring many familiar storybook characters, including Snow White, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, and Dorothy with her famous yellow brick road. Jack-o-lanterns light the way, and children are encouraged to dress in costume to “trick-or-treat” with the characters.

Because of the special 20th anniversary celebration this year, it will be the biggest trail yet.

“New this year, there will be three more characters, making the trail longer,” said Ashlie Kozlowski, park interpreter for the Cape Henlopen State Park.

Kozlowski said there will also be a tent filled with jugglers, magicians and other fun activities, as there is every year. The tent is open the whole time the trail is open, and patrons can visit it on their way either in or out. Also, on Saturday, there will be a giant pumpkin carving contest starting at 11 a.m. The pumpkins will then be spread throughout the trail, and people can vote on them. First prize is a weekend at Trapp Pond. Second prize is a 2009 annual park pass.

“It’s absolutely the most fun event of the year,” said Kozlowsi, “Some of our characters are people that grew up walking the trail. It’s a true family and community event. It really brings out the kid in your heart.”

Kozlowski said the Friends of the Cape Henlopen State Park will be on hand, selling hot dogs, soda and hot chocolate. She noted that the 20-minute-long trail is a sandy one, so children in strollers might need to be held instead.

The cost for the trail is $5 for children and adults.

For more information, visit http://www.destateparks.com online or call (302) 645-6852.

Other Halloween/fall events in the area:

• 19th Annual Sea Witch and Fiddler’s Festival – Friday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Oct. 26; Rehoboth Beach. Costume parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. For more information: www.beach-fun.com/pdf/SW08program.pdf.

• Lantern tours at the Indian River Life-Saving Station, Delaware Seashore State Park – Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24 and 25, 7 p.m. A unique, guided lantern tour of the museum led by an interpreter in turn-of-the-century Life-Saving Service patrol garb. Visitors can walk the same beach where the surfmen performed their nightly patrols more than 100 years ago, scanning the waters for signs of ships in distress. (Dress for the weather!) The program fee is $5 per person. Space is limited, so pre-registration is required. For more information, call 302-227-6991.

• Frankford Fall Festival and 75th anniversary of Frankford Volunteer Fire Company – Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008, Main Street, Frankford. Costume parade at 11 a.m., followed by fire company dedication around 1 p.m. and the festival. Trick-or-treating is from 4 to 6 p.m.)

• Johnson’s Country Market Haunted Hayride – Friday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 25, “a good scare,” starting at dusk; 37047 Johnson Road (off Route 20 near Route 54), Selbyville, Del. For children or those not interested in being scared, try the Flashlight Corn Maze on the same dates and at the same times. Food will be available. For more information: www.johnsonscountrymarket.com.

• Monsters of the Sea Day, Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes – Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monsters of the Sea Day offers opportunities to learn about the Zwaanendael Merman and other legendary sea monsters, local sea myths and maritime superstitions. Events include the telling of a Native American sea-monster folk tale at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., and a visit by Gillus the Water Monster from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Visitors will have an opportunity to have their photographs taken with Gillus, as well as to participate in sea creature mask-making and crafts. Admission to the Zwaanendael Museum is free and it open to the public. For additional information, call (302) 645-1148 or visit the museum online at http://history.delaware.gov/museums/zm/zm_main.shtml.

• Annual Selbyville Halloween Parade, presented by the Lions Club – Wednesday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m., downtown Selbyville. For more information: www.townofselbyville.com/Parade.htm.

• Spooktacular Dinner Tour – Thursday, Oct. 30, 6 p.m., Bethany Beach. Diners start off between 6 and 7 p.m. at Bethany Blues in Bethany Beach for an appetizer and a drink, travel to nearby Sedona for dinner and a glass of wine, then head off to The Parkway for dessert and top off the evening at Mango’s with entertainment, a nightcap and a souvenir T-shirt. The cost is $75, all-inclusive. For more information, call (302) 539-1200 or 537-1500.

• Trick-or-treating: Most local municipalities have trick-or-treating for children on Halloween night. Check with your town hall for exact times and age restrictions.

• World Championship Punkin’ Chunkin’ – Oct. 31 through Nov. 2. This fun and wacky annual event draws thousands to see pumpkins fly though the air. The squash are shot, thrown and catapulted by manmade machinery during distance and accuracy competitions for prizes in one of American Bus Association’s (ABA’s) Top 100 Events. For more information, call (302) 684-8196 or visit www.punkinchunkin.com online.

• Changing Colors of Fall at Cape Henlopen State Park – Nov. 15, 11 a.m. Visitors can join a naturalist on a hike to learn about the different types of leaves and why they are turning red, orange yellow and brown. Then they will return to the Nature Center to make their own leaf craft. No fee. For more information, call (302) 645-8983