Recreation Briefs: Halloween Happenings at Pokagon State Park
Pokagon State Park will play host to its annual Halloween Happenings, Oct. 27-29. Pokagon State Park in Angola will host its annual Halloween Happenings on Oct. 27-29, starting with a pumpkin carving contest from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on the CCC Shelter Lawn. The park will host a live bird program from 1 to 2 p.m., and a show by Roz Puppets will take place at the C CC Shelter. On Oct. 29, there will be a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt at the Nature Center. Participants can vote for the best Halloween campsite on the park's Oct. 28. The U.S. will send an experienced roster of athletes to the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile, representing the final chance for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games qualification.
Published : 2 years ago by Journal Gazette in Sports
Pokagon State Park will play host to its annual Halloween Happenings, Oct. 27-29.
The annual hike on Oct 27 begins at 7 p.m. and is sponsored by the Friends of Pokagon and will take participants up to Hell’s Point.
The busiest day of Halloween weekend is Oct. 28, starting with a pumpkin carving contest from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on the CCC Shelter Lawn. Soarin’ Hawk will present a live bird program from 1 to 2 p.m., also on the CCC Shelter Lawn. At 3 p.m., the park will host a show by Roz Puppets at the CCC Shelter. This year’s story is “Little Dog’s Spooky Bone Hunt.” Trick-or-treating will begin at 5 p.m. in campground 3 and end at 6:30 p.m.
Parking will be available at the main beach lot for those not staying at the campground. Local businesses, groups, and volunteers are encouraged to set up stations to hand out candy during trick-or-treating. Call 260-833-2012 for more information.
On Oct. 29, there will be a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt at the Nature Center from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Park guests can check out the campsite decorating contest and pumpkin trail all weekend and vote for the best Halloween campsite Oct. 28. The pumpkin trail will be available Oct. 24–30. Pokagon State Park (on.IN.gov/Pokagon) is at 450 Lane 100 Lake James, Angola.
Pokagon State Park will stage its first Pumpkin Bike Trail in late October, and now is the time for those who want to show off their carved pumpkin displays along the trail to prepare.
Businesses, clubs, families, schools, and individuals are encouraged to participate.
The trail will be on display Oct. 24-30. Voting for the best design will be held during the park’s Oct. 28 trick-or-treating. The winning display will receive prizes from the park.
Participants must register with the park office. A $5 donation is suggested. Participants will supply their own pumpkins for their design. Pumpkins will be lit for trick-or-treating along the bike trail entrance to the campground, but no open flame will be allowed – battery candles only.
With the 2023 Parapan American Games representing the final chance for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games qualification, the United States will send an experienced roster of athletes to the event in Santiago, Chile. Among these athletes will be three athletes with local ties – Lisa Czechowski, Eliana Mason and Zach Buhler. The Parapan American Games will take place from Nov. 17-26.
The U.S. teams will need first-place finishes in Santiago to secure their respective berths at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. The U.S. men’s team can also qualify by finishing second to Brazil as the Brazil men’s team already achieved qualification for Paris by winning the 2022 IBSA Goalball World Championships. At the last Parapan American Games in 2019 in Lima, Peru, both U.S. teams earned silver medals finishing as runners-up to Brazil in their respective finals.
Five returning members from the silver-medal-winning women’s team that competed at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will lead the charge in Santiago. They include six-time Paralympians Lisa Czechowski and Asya Miller, three-time Paralympian Amanda Dennis, two-time Paralympian Eliana Mason and 2020 Paralympian Mindy Cook. They will be joined by Ali Lawson, a member of the 2019 Parapan American Games team that captured silver in Lima. The women’s team will be led by 2020 Paralympic Head Coach Jake Czechowski.
The U.S. men’s team is comprised of four Paralympians, including two Paralympic medalists. The roster includes four-time Paralympian Tyler Merren, two-time Paralympian Matt Simpson and their 2020 Paralympic teammates Zach Buhler of Huntington and Calahan Young. Rounding out the men’s roster are Tre’Shaun Faison and Christian King. At the helm of the U.S. men’s team in Santiago will be 2020 Paralympic Head Coach Keith Young.
Topics: Holidays, Halloween