Tuesday, October 22, 2019 4:00 am

Living in Halton we’re blessed with incredible scenery and it’s never more stunning than in the Fall. We love to drive through the escarpment to enjoy the colours, but it’s even better when we’re driving to one of the many local scenic parks.

One of our favourites all year round is Mountsberg Conservation Centre. I’m a big fan of places that are interactive, and Mountsberg has lots to see while you’re enjoying the fresh air. They also have a number of popular events year-round including the Halloween event. Being huge fans of this particular holiday, we had to check it out. Here are some of the highlights from our excursion.

Spooktacular Halloween

When we visited, the Halloween event was running (also running Oct. 26-27). This is perfect for young kids. The main activities were face painting (kids can choose Halloween-themed symbols), colouring, and the spooky barn. They also have wagon rides every 30 minutes.

The Haunted Barn was very thoughtfully decorated - there were no lasers or jump scares, but some really neat scenes, including a skeleton in a lab and some fortune tellers. There was also a projection with dancing skeletons which was silly and fun. Keep in mind that a couple of the displays might be a little too scary for very little ones. It's recommended for ages five and up, but is also fine for some younger kids. Our two-year-old didn't really get it, so she was fine, but some of the bigger kids were a bit spooked.

If you can't make it to the Halloween event, Mountsberg also has a number of seasonal events throughout the year, including their popular Christmas Town (which unfortunately is a pre-registered event, where tickets are assigned via a lottery) and their Maple Town. We love visiting the sugar bush in the Spring and enjoying some pancakes with fresh maple syrup.

Learning About the Birds of Prey

Mountsberg is home to a variety of raptors that can’t be released into the wild due to injury, having been raised in captivity or having imprinted on humans rather than their own species. It’s a unique experience being able to see the birds up close in their outdoor enclosures. While we didn't take part in the show this time, but the 20 minute presentation is a great way for kids to learn about the different raptors (ancestors of dinosaurs!) from the experts.

Campfire Fun

For those of us that live in urban areas, it’s not often that you get to enjoy a real camp fire and while this one wasn’t a true blaze, it will still comforting on a chilly Fall day. You’re allowed to bring in your own snacks for roasting or you can buy s’more kits for $1.50 each and they provide roasting sticks.

Play Barn

This was definitely one of the highlights because kids just love having lots of open space to run around, and the ship-shaped play barn offers some really run play equipment, including climbing ropes (that are even better for swinging) and a zipline-style glider. It's nice that it's indoors while still being open to the elements so that you can duck in there if it starts to rain.

Good to Know Before You Go:

• The Conservation Area is open from 8:30 - 7pm daily

• The Halloween Spooktacular is running Saturday and Sunday, and is included with park admission

• Admission is $7.75 for adults 15-64, $6.75 for seniors, $5.50 for children 5-14 and children 4 and under are free

• You can also visit any other Halton park that same day with your admission receipt

• Dogs are allowed in the Conservation Area but are not permitted near the birds of prey

• Mountsberg offers a gift shop with snacks and drinks, plus a nice selection of gifts - some handmade