On two crisp autumn evenings this October, the woods of northwest Philadelphia will glow with lantern light, the scent of s’mores, and the chatter of woodland creatures – both real and imagined.

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education’s beloved “Halloween Hikes and Hayrides” returns on Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. each night, offering families a festive way to celebrate the season while supporting environmental education.

This year’s event promises all the classics – crafting stations, hayrides through peak fall foliage, s’mores by the fire, and Halloween movie screenings under the stars – plus some exciting new additions, like a Pumpkin Path that will transform a woodland trail into a glowing gallery of jack-o-lanterns.

“It’s a wonderful tradition,” said Mae Axelrod, The Schuylkill Center’s director of communications. “People tell us they come back year after year because it’s become a family tradition.”

Axelrod notes that Halloween celebrations have been a part of The Schuylkill Center’s 60-year history, with the Halloween Hikes and Hayrides event taking place for roughly two decades. The larger Halloween celebration is now in its 40th year, having evolved over time and officially added hayrides about a decade ago. Today, it remains one of the Center’s largest annual fundraisers, drawing hundreds of attendees each year.

Not-so-spooky fun for all ages

Axelrod describes the evening as “family-friendly, not-so-spooky,” giving guests all the Halloween atmosphere without being too scary for young children. Visitors can fashion magical, artistic creations at craft stations, roast marshmallows, take a classic tractor-pulled hayride, and chat with costumed nocturnal animals – brought to life by local collegiate theater students from schools like Temple University.

On the popular Forest Friends Hike, guests are invited to bring flashlights and meet characters like foxes, raccoons, and possums along a guided trail. Kids can ask them questions (“Why do you play dead?” “What does a fox really say?”) and learn about their real-life counterparts in a fun, theatrical way.

The hayrides, meanwhile, wind through the Center’s 365-acre preserve, offering a spectacular view of autumn’s peak colors and perhaps a glimpse of some real nocturnal creatures along the way.

Back near the main grounds, children can leap into a massive pile of leaves, lovingly raked together by the Center’s volunteers. “It’s classic outdoor fun,” Axelrod said.

A New Glow: The Pumpkin Path

Adding a new layer of magic this year is the Pumpkin Path. Visitors are invited to bring their own carved pumpkins – no candles, electric tea lights will be provided – to help light up the night.

The Center will transform the Widener Trail into a living jack-o-lantern gallery, showcasing creative carvings from the community. Participants who sign up to display a pumpkin will even save $5 on their ticket purchase.

Pumpkins must be carved (not painted) and chemical-free to protect local wildlife. Guests can pick them up at the end of the night or leave them behind for composting.

Volunteers bring the magic to life

The event wouldn’t be possible without its dedicated volunteers – about 20 each year – who help with everything from decorating to ticket sales to serving snacks. Volunteers even receive a complimentary ticket to the event.

Claire Allen, of Oreland, volunteered for the first time last year, selling tickets and handing out pretzels and popcorn while dressed in a flowing cloak and Mardi Gras beads – a nod to her Louisiana roots. She worked alongside a woman and a 10-year-old boy, enjoying the intergenerational spirit of the volunteer crew.

“It was almost like stepping into the scene of a movie,” Allen recalled. “The autumn weather was perfectly crisp, there was a little fog as the sun went down, and the kids really felt like they were part of the show.”

Allen remembers the joy of seeing children in costumes ranging from princesses and superheroes to a giant inflatable T-Rex. This year, she hopes to help with the craft stations or ride along on the hayride to assist families.

A Philadelphia-area resident since 2019, Allen began volunteering at The Schuylkill Center through its native gardening program as “a way to meet people” when she was new in town. “The women in my family are all gardeners, and I was getting into it more myself,” she said.

Allen describes the Halloween event as “festive” with “a really good vibe,” and said the Center “really comes to life during the event.”

Halloween Hikes and Hayrides will be Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24–25, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road, Roxborough. Tickets: $20 for members, $28 for nonmembers, $33 for walk-ins. Children 3 and under are free. Online ticket sales end Thursday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. Each ticket includes a s’mores kit for roasting by the fire. Food trucks, snacks, hot chocolate, and drinks from Yard’s Beer Garden will be available for purchase. Tickets can be purchased at schuylkillcenter.org/halloween-hikes-and-hayrides. Interested volunteering can help decorate on Oct. 21 or sign up for a volunteer shift on Oct. 24 or 25. Volunteers receive a complimentary ticket. For information, visit schuylkillcenter.org/volunteer.