It's not until the lights go down that Noah's Landing, a non-profit children's zoo in Harnett County, really comes alive.

Kinkajous begin to dart across branches looking for food while the Bushbaby forages next door. The capybara begins to creep into the open to graze on grass. Raccoons peer from the houses, the wolves begin to howl, and the springhare raises its ears.

Unfortunately, most visitors to the farm never get to see it.

"Most people don't realize that the majority of our animals are nocturnal," says Noah's Landing Director Dora Turner. "So the kids who visit our farm don't really see them behaving naturally."

That will change this Halloween when the farm opens its doors for the Third Annual Halloween Spooktacular, a weekend of trick-or-treating at the non-profit children's zoo on Friday, Oct. 30 from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday, October 31 from 1-9 p.m. It's the only time each year that the farm—which houses more than 60 species of exotic animals—opens its doors at night, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of the zoo's nocturnal animals.

Kids and families can come in costume and collect candy at stations next to each animal. Besides filling their treat bags, kids can chow down on edible insects at the Creepy Crawlie Diner, dig their fingers into slime at the Mad Science Lab, or take a wagon ride past the Extinct Species Graveyard. Owls will be on display from the Wildlife Rescue Center and kids can play Halloween-themed games or jump in a moonbounce.

"This event is designed to be a safe and educational alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating," says Turner. "We hope visitors will leave with their arms full of candy plus unique memories that they can't find anywhere else."

Zoo volunteers are working in the remaining weeks before Halloween to add spooky touches to the 12-acre farm, from a cobweb- strewn walkway to the African crested porcupines to mummies at the entrance to "Haunted Woods" around the wallaby and deer.

"We're going for spooky laughs, not scary thrills," says Carie Page, a volunteer who coordinates educational programs at the farm, emphasizing that the event is designed to be kid-friendly.

Visitors are encouraged to arrive at the Spooktacular before night falls, taking the opportunity to feed the zebra, llamas and donkeys before they retire for the evening and to see the zoo's primates, which are diurnal. If visitors leave, they may return on the same day with a handstamp. Advance tickets are now on sale on the zoos website for a discounted price.

Noah's Landing, which opened five years ago in Harnett County, is home to more than 60 species of animals from across the globe, including a Grant's zebra, fennec foxes and ring tailed lemurs. With an emphasis on hands-on education, the nature center offers opportunities to feed hoofstock and to see and touch many small mammals and reptiles from around the world. In addition to the Spooktacular, the zoo hosts special events for Mother's Day and Father's Day and is open on the weekends for family tours and during the week for field trips.

Admission to the event is $8 per person. All funds raised by the Spooktacular will benefit the critters at Noah's Landing, helping build new habitats and support the nature center throughout the winter months. For more information about Noah's Landing, including directions, visit: www.noahslanding2x2.com or call 910.897.NOAH

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The Noah's Landing Halloween Spooktacular

Friday, October 30: 5-9 p.m.

Saturday, October 31: 1-9 p.m.

At Gate: $8/person

Discounted tickets available online.

www.noahslanding2x2.com

910-897-NOAH

Related Links

1. http://www.noahslanding2x2.com/Halloween
2. http://www.noahslanding2x2.com/