There is a taste of fall in the air and certainly in any "Things To Do" calendar you’ve seen lately, but the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Spooktacular is one fall event you must do. While I’ve lived in town for many years, I’ve never actually experienced this event for myself and so I took the opportunity to do so over this past weekend - opening weekend as it was for this event.

My son is at that wonderful age where he wants to experience everything, even if he doesn’t fully understand it all. So, he, dad and I invited another family from out of town and we all set off through Pumpkinville, the welcoming town, if you will, for Spooktacular. The sight of hundreds (maybe thousands) of pumpkins all lit up gets you right into the spirit. There are friendly Jacksonville Zoo staff and volunteers dressed in non-scary costumes along the path and candy stations for the kids as you walk along.

Once you enter the Range of the Jaguar exhibit area there’s a huge dance floor set-up and a DJ spinning popular music and Halloween tunes. Kids and adults were jumping and dancing - my kind of Friday night dance party! This area also has a haunted house of sorts and while we skipped it - not sure if it would be too scary for the little guys - I’m sure it would be the perfect amount of spooky fun for kids a bit older. The zoo has definitely thought about entertaining all ages with this event and there really is something for toddlers, tweens, adults and anyone in between.

The Spooktacular path continues to wind, taking guests through another dance party in the Kids Park, a land of pirates, one of fairies and even friendly trolls under the bridge. You must catch the trolls when they break out into a dance number. Hilarious! The zoo has even set up a carnival in The Great Lawn with bounce houses, games and tons of other fun.

Be prepared to brave the crowds. While Spooktacular generates a mass of visitors and residents alike, I give the Jacksonville Zoo a loud round of applause for their organization of this event. Everything from parking to winding through the Spooktacular path was well orchestrated and not frustrating for a second.

Spooktacular continues this weekend - Thursday, Oct. 29 through Saturday, Oct. 31. Here’s a tip - buys tickets in advance online at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Web site and save a few bucks! 

This really was a good time, and I can’t wait to go again next year.