Halloween Art and Nature Festival

The Halloween Art & Nature Festival is a free, family-friendly  event inviting all children and families to celebrate Halloween and Louisiana's special natural surroundings through art, music, food, and science—all on Brandon Ballengée's 25-acre nature reserve and eco-educational campus. This year's theme is "The Deep" (to be interpreted as you please: deep sea life, deep cultural roots, deep botanical roots, deep traditions). Special guests will include special effects artist Chuck Varga—the official Neptune, King of the Coney Island Day Mermaid Parade; Walter Sandifier III, Spy Boy of the Beautiful Creole Apache Mardi Gras Indian Tribe from New Orleans, and New Orleans Playwright Lisa D'Amour. 

Workshops include "Creatures from the Deep" makeup effects; S.T.E.A.M. activities with Mermaidens, "Deep Explorations Activity Book"-making ; preserved deep-sea specimens drawing; DIY Aquanaut Costume and submarine sculptures; geothermal energy outreach; sustainable seafood cooking; and more. Not to mention countless fascinating installations, exhibitions, and performances (mythical aquatic creatures, anglerfish disco balls, fossilized nano-planktons, mangificent megalodons). Plus, trick or treating, of course. Live music performances will be curated by Laura Huval of Sweet Cecilia and food will be provided by Chef Colt Patin and his students from the Culinary Institute in Baton Rouge. Registration is required, but the event is free. 10 am–4 pm. Details at atelierdelanature.org/events.