Experience geese, ghouls, bats and more at Horicon Marsh in October
Contact(s): Liz Herzmann, DNR wildlife conservation educator, 920-387-7893
HORICON, Wis. - If you are looking to put some spook in your step this October, there is no better place to be than at Horicon Marsh.
Check out the family-friendly Invasion on the Marsh for a "haunted" tour at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center's new Explorium or join Department of Natural Resources staff for bat books and crafts during Stories at the Marsh. Or, see bats in person at Bats LIVE! Horicon Marsh is your one-stop shop for this and many other events in October.
Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 6-7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Where are the Geese and Cranes?
Drop in throughout the day to find out where the storied Canada Geese are and learn about their history at Horicon. This is an informational booth and staff can answer questions. No set programs are associated with this weekend.
Saturday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Horicon Marsh Archaeological Festival
Buckskinners encampment, atlatl throwing, fire-starting, artifacts, a drum circle, expert speakers, vendors and more!
Thursday, Oct. 18, 10-11 a.m. - Stories at the Marsh: Bats
Come learn about the benefits of this flying mammal through stories, activities and a craft. Best for ages 1-10.
Saturday, Oct. 20, 5:30-8:30 p.m. - Invasion on the Marsh and the Horicon Haunted Marsh Tour
There is no better place to enjoy "fangtastic" October than at Horicon Marsh! The Horicon Chamber of Commerce and Friends of Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center are uniting to present two unique, spooktacular events on October 20: Invasion on the Marsh and the Horicon Haunted Marsh Tour. Although these events are free, a donation of $5 per person is strongly suggested.
Invasion on the Marsh: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Families are invited to "creep it real" with their best costume as they join forces with DNR staff to keep wicked invasives from taking over the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center's hair-raising exhibit, the Explorium.
The evening's frightful festivities won't be limited just to the Explorium. Join us in making batty crafts, playing games by moonlight, and other eerie activities. Enjoy a spider egg cookie or poison apple during a ghoulish bake sale held to support the Friends of Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center.
Invasion on the Marsh! tours will depart at designated times. Space is limited, and slots open on the day of the event will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. All tour participants must check in at the front counter upon arrival; please arrive 10 minutes early.
Participants can pre-register on Eventbrite at: https://bit.ly/2CXNy0A (exit DNR).
Horicon Haunted Marsh Tour: 5:30-8:30 p.m.
With the help of our volunteers, the Indermuehle trail will transform into the place of your spookiest nightmares. With more monsters released every hour, audiences will startle their senses as they courageously brave the haunted woods and are rewarded with a sweet treat.
A kid-friendly "light fright" will take place 5:30-6:30pm, before dark. Older audiences are invited to a scarier, spine-tingling walk 6:30-8:30pm. Participants are not required to pre-register for this walk on the 0.8 mile Indermuehle trail.
Questions? Interested in volunteering?
For Invasion on the Marsh, please contact Liz Herzmann or Erinn Kronebusch at 920-387-7877 or email at elizabeth.herzmann@wisconsin.gov. For Horicon Haunted Marsh Tour, please contact Horicon Chamber of Commerce at 920-485-3200, or email at writeus@horiconchamber.com.
Tuesday, Oct. 23, 7-8 p.m. - Bats LIVE!
Come nose to nose with a fruit bat at the Horicon Marsh Visitor & Education Center! Did you know that bats account for 20 percent of earth's mammal diversity? Worldwide, these superheroes of the night sky are responsible for worldwide pest control, seed dispersal, and pollination among other benefits.
Locally, Horicon Marsh provides a summer foraging feast for bats and sits on the doorstep of the state's largest bat hibernaculum, Neda Mine. While white-nose syndrome (WNS) has decimated Wisconsin's bat population there are still actions you can take to help bats and to help DNR scientists learn about WNS survivors.
Jennifer Redell, DNR bat biologist, will teach about the importance of these amazing animals and will be accompanied by live bat ambassadors, including a fruit bat native to Africa!
The Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center is located between Horicon and Mayville on Highway 28. For a detailed list of all Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center special events, please visit the Friends of Horicon Marsh website at www.horiconmarsh.org [EXIT DNR].
For more information regarding Horicon Marsh education programs, contact Liz Herzmann, DNR wildlife conservation educator, at 920-387-7893.