Treats or thrills
Kids will have all sorts of safe options for trick-or-treating and scary fun tonight
Costume-clad kids will be looking for Halloween treats today, while parents will be looking to keep their kids from dangerous tricks.
There are a number of places in the Albuquerque area where kids can go to trick-or-treat in safety, and maybe even learn something.
The Bernalillo County Fire Prevention Bureau offers a few tips to keep kids safe: Check costume labels to make sure they are made from fire-retardant materials; have children carry a flashlight after sundown; adults should supervise lighting candles for jack-o’-lanterns; and parents should accompany young children on their rounds and check all candy before consumption.
Bernalillo County Fire Department crews will be handing out candy to trick-ortreaters, while supplies last, at all of its stations between 5-8 p.m. today. “Operation Boo”
also gives children the chance to see and meet firefighters. For a list of county fire station locations, go to www.bernco. gov/Fire-Districts.
Albuquerque Fire Rescue will host the “Otherealm” haunted house at Fire Station No. 5, 123 Dallas NE, from 5-9 p.m. Visitors will join an AFR firefighter as he searches for his missing crew inside the fire station, which has been taken over by the “Otherealm.”
The haunted house is recommended for children ages 12 and older. Children under 12 will not be admitted without an adult. However, the fire station will also have a fun and safe area where families and younger children can play games or activities, interact with local AFR firefighters and APD officers, and collect candy treats.
Children can trick-or-treat in the warmth and safety of Coronado Center as merchants pass out treats from 6-9 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to bring canned food donations to benefit Joy Junction homeless shelter.
For a real scare, the ABQ BioPark will host “BOO at the BUGarium” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kids will be able to get up close to arthropods, stick their hands in a tub of superworms, cuddle a caterpillar, touch a tarantula and more.
At 2 p.m., kids can stop by the Aquarium to watch the annual Underwater Pumpkin Carving event in the Ocean Tank.
Both events are included with regular admission to the BioPark at 2601 Central NW.
Dragon Lights Albuquerque and Dragons House of Horror, are offering a free trick-or-treat Halloween experience from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Expo New Mexico, 300 San Pedro NE. Kids 15 and younger accompanied by adults can visit a haunted house, while performers dressed in Chinese cultural costumes will hand out candy alongside a 40-foot dragon lantern, a 20-foot shark lantern and other exhibits.