Posted by Lisabeth Tunell

Fans of Durant Nature Park's popular, family-friendly Halloween Trail should be aware that this year there is a change in the way thing will be done....you must first register!

If you want to go Oct. 24 or Oct. 25 at either 6:00,6:45 or 7:30 p.m. arrival times then pre-registration is required. Registration closes for the Oct. 24th trail Oct. 21st  and ends for the Oct. 25th event Oct. 22nd. Last year and since its inception, started by former city naturalist John Conner's 22 years ago, the event has drawn hundreds of people to the North Raleigh nature park off Durant Road. Park official decided to require pre-registration after having to turn people away at the door last year. They are trying to avoid that because last year some were upset. "We don't like to disappoint people, " Park manager Karen Berry said. "We might have had to turn a few people away before, but I don't remember  it being quite the scene that it got to be last year."

The event includes concessions, arts and crafts, hayrides from the parking lot into the activities, and opportunities to see snakes and learn about other woodland critters but the highlight is the trail....Guides lead groups through a series of skits, including one about spiders and another about the magic of owls. It ends at a campfire and magic show followed by a hayride back to the parking lot. Children ages 5,6 and 7 probably would enjoy the event the most but younger children have fun with most of the other activities. They are recommending that you only enter at the south entrance, off Gresham Lake Road.

To register go to the city's Website at parks.raleighnc.gov and click of "RecLink on the left hand side of the page or go to any city of Raleigh community center or Durant Nature Park to sign up. For more information about the event, or if you are interested in volunteering, call park personnel at 870-2871.