Mid-America, Magic Springs plan fall events

Moving into the fall season, Mid-America Science Museum and Magic Springs Theme and Water Park have events and activities planned to keep visitors entertained despite the COVID-19 pandemic, while Garvan Woodland Gardens has announced new hours.

Casey Wylie, Mid-America’s director of education, said the museum is “happy to be bringing back” its Girls in STEM program in October, noting it “gives girls the opportunity to meet a real woman in a STEM career.”

The first class, “What Lives In My Backyard?”, will be at 10 a.m. on Oct. 10. Wylie said the class will focus on botany and native plants and those participating will create “seed bombs.” The girls will mix seeds on native plants together in dirt to “make balls to plant and grow.”

Wylie said the only changes to the program will be all the girls will have to wear masks, and preregistration is required so the museum can plan how to space out the

participants.

Prior to the coronavirus, it was a monthly program, but the classes will now be held quarterly with the next one on Jan. 9.

The next Home School Day, set for Oct. 16, will be themed around eyes, Wylie said, and those who attend will get to dissect a cow eye. “Cow eye dissection is one of my favorites,” she said, noting it is a good introduction to dissections.

“Not as icky, not a lot of blood,” Wylie said. “It’s simple, doesn’t require a scalpel.”

The class starts at 1 p.m. and there will be other sightthemed activities in the museum that day.

Magic Springs Theme and Water Park will celebrate the Halloween season with its new Halloweekends event in October. Halloweekends will run on Saturdays and Sundays, starting Oct. 10 through Nov. 1.

Mike Wampler, director of sales and marketing at the park, said Halloweekends was re-imagined following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Summertime during a global pandemic was new for us, just like everyone else.

We were pleased to be able to offer safe, outdoor family fun and look forward to continuing this into the fall with Halloweekends. This re-imagined fall season will provide themed activities, games, contests, fares, and fun for the whole family. Our commitment to safety in all aspects continues as we celebrate this season,” Wampler said.

There will be appearances by “Legend” the baby dragon, a Trick or Treat Trail, Pumpkin Patch and the Fright Flix Movie Trail where guests can win prizes for guessing the title of spooky movie scenes, a news release said.

“Other exciting activities can be found throughout the park, like fun inflatables, themed crafts at the Craft Row, roaming characters, a lineup of haunted games, photo opportunities, contests and more,” it said.

New activities include a catapult that guests can use to launch pumpkins at targets in a pond, a hay maze and Bumpin’ Carz 2.0. Halloween inspired foods will also be on sale including pumpkin funnel cake, Zombie Treats and beverages such as Witches Brew.

While Hot Springs National Park’s fall season will not feature many events, it is the place to view colorful fall foliage.

“The park doesn’t have much planned for the fall or Halloween. We will be updating our website with some of the best places to see the fall colors and obviously sharing those fall colors on social media and the website,” said Supervisory Park Ranger Jori Welchans.

Garvan Woodland Gardens announced Monday that, beginning Oct. 1, it will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and the Chipmunk Cafe will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Admission to the botanical garden will be by exact cash or credit card only, with members admitted free, a news release said. Members are asked to bring their membership card and photo ID for admission.

Golf Cart tours will be available on a limited basis beginning Oct. 1 for $15 per person in addition to admission.

“The Gardens continues to maintain social distancing rules and enhanced cleaning procedures throughout the property. Visitors are REQUIRED to wear face masks inside the restrooms and Welcome Center/Gift Shop. While visitors are outdoors, masks should be worn where 6-foot distancing is not possible, such as standing in line at the cafe,” the release said.

The interiors of Anthony Chapel and the Weyerhaeuser Bonsai Center remain closed to the public at this time. Restrooms at the Grooms Quarters and Brides Hall are also closed to the public.