Big Bear Lake Village Scarecrow Festival
(photo courtesy of http://www.bigbear.com/)
BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. – This year Halloween is on a Saturday, which makes it an ideal time to get away with the little tykes for a grand “trick or treat” extravaganza in the mountains. On Halloween night, Big Bear Village becomes extensively decorated with jack-o-lanterns, cobwebs, flying bats, strobe lights, and other gadgets and gimmickry to create a “frightfully” fun Halloween experience. New this year is a unique display of scarecrows scattered throughout Big Bear Village that adds to the festive atmosphere.
The streets of Big Bear Village shut down and transform into a massive gathering of goblins, ghouls, witches, princesses, super heroes and presidential candidates. More than 100 village merchants hand out thousands of dollars worth of candy and other goodies to “trick or treaters.” Village merchants created this event to ensure a safe and secure environment for families to enjoy the holiday together. Halloween festivities in the Village are scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. and finish at about 9 p.m.
“Our Halloween celebration is gigantic! Most importantly it’s in a perfectly safe environment for everyone in the family to enjoy!” said Big Bear Visitors Bureau Director of Operations Rebecca Hrabia. “Halloween is on a Saturday this year, so it’s a great opportunity for families to make an entire weekend out of it.”
After getting a bag load of candy from Big Bear Village merchants, retreat to one of Big Bear’s cozy cabins for a cup of hot cocoa. “Trick or treaters” and their parents can unwind next to the fireplace to sort the variety of Halloween goodies.
Another option is Boo in the Zoo at Big Bear Alpine Zoo from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Come in costume to trick or treat amongst the animals, visit the pumpkin patch, or play fun games to win prizes. A highlight is watching resident animals get Halloween treats. Cost is standard zoo admission prices.
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Halloween Weekend Getaway
Big Bear also has some special treats for those who want to put a little more fright into their Halloween night, which includes the Monster Bash at the Cave. The ghoulish event includes live music, ticket giveaways to the Cave’s concert series, drink specials and a costume contest with cash prizes. Halloween Monster Bash starts at 9 p.m. This is a 21 and over event. Admission is free. Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest gets into the festive spirit of Halloween with lots of fun contests and giveaways including a grand prize of $1,200 for the best costume.
The next day after the little ghosts and goblins have all cleaned up, take an adventure into the wilderness to experience Big Bear’s spectacular display of fall colors. From October to November, Mother Nature adorns Big Bear’s surrounding forest with shades of amber, crimson, copper and gold. Big Bear’s fall season is ideal for those who want to escape for a day or take a mini-vacation to experience the splendor of Big Bear’s autumn hues.
Other fall activities include a visit to the Big Bear Alpine Zoo to see wildlife up close and personal, or a visit the Big Bear Discovery Center to see exhibits and learn more about nature. For a little more spark try Big Bear Speedway, which gives guests an opportunity to race karts around a track at top speeds against the clock. Fishing is always a great family outing too, especially when junior reels in a bigger fish than dad. The brisk autumn air tends to keep folks inside at night, providing a great opportunity for families to bond around a board game or popcorn and a movie.
To find out more about Halloween in Big Bear, make lodging reservations or request a free Visitors Guide log on to www.bigbear.com or call 800-424-4232.