Guide to Annual Halloween Activities in Lee County, Florida

It's time for ghosts and goblins! So all you ghouls and guys, check out these Halloween events in Lee County, Florida: Friendly Forest October 21 - October 22, 2006 Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium 3450 Ortiz Avenue, Fort Myers (239) 275-3435 www.calusanature.comLions and tigers and bears, oh my! It's trick or treat time at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium on Ortiz Avenue in Fort Myers. On Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., children can meet real live Nature Center animals and friendly forest creatures along the nature trail.

There's a special Halloween laser show in the planetarium. And this is no trick: come in costume if you want some treats. Admission to the center is $8for adults and $5 for children (ages 3-12). Admission to the planetarium show is $1per person. Halloween Express Mini Train October 16 - October 31, 2006 Lakes Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers (239) 432-2029 www.leeparks.org Take this train and you'll be riding scared. Starting October 16 and running through October 31, the train winds its way through a spooky fall landscape of pumpkin patches, fogged tunnels, animated ghosts and even the Grim Reaper. Daily train rides start at 10 a.m. (noon on Sundays). Closing times are 1:45 p.m. weekdays, 3:45 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and nightly 7 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

Tickets are $1 for children ages 1-5 and $3 for ages 6 and older. Halloween Extravaganza and Fall Festival October 28 - October 29, 2006 Lakes Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers (239) 432-2029 www.leeparks.org For fun and fright, head to the Halloween Extravaganza and Fall Festival, held in south Fort Myers at Lakes Park on Gladiolus Drive on Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29. The fall festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, with cash prizes, hayrides, carnival rides, food, children's activities, arts and crafts, and more. There's a non-scary Halloween walk from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a scary walk from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. And on Saturday night, there's a kid's costume contest at 8 p.m. at the Lakes Park Lodge. Prizes will be given for the scariest, funniest and most original costumes. Age categories are two and under, three to five, six to nine and ten to twelve.

Admission to the festival is free. Walks are $4 and the hayride is $2. Fall Kids Festival October 28, 2006 Jaycee Park, 4125 S.E. 20th Avenue, Cape Coral (239) 573-3123 For the ninth straight year, The Harney Point Kiwanis Club and the Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department scare up a good time for a good cause at Jaycee Park in Cape Coral. Kids, wear your Halloween costumes and be ready for some great trick or treating. A stage show, activity center, arts and crafts vendors, pony rides, animal displays and safety demonstrations for children will be held. Admission is free but please bring a canned food donation to benefit the Cape Coral Caring Center. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Costume Contest October 28, 2006 Veterans Park Recreation Center, 55 South Homestead Road, Lehigh Acres (239) 369-1521 Kids, dress your scariest for the Costume Contest at Veterans Park Recreation Center in Lehigh Acres! Prizes will be awarded for the scariest, cutest and most creative costumes in four different age groups.

Goody bags will be available for everyone. The costume contest runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the entry fee is $5 per person. Harvest Stroll October 29, 2006 Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers (239) 334-7419 Tour the winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, in beautiful downtown Fort Myers from noon to five p.m. You can also visit Edison's laboratory, museum and tropical botanical gardens. Enjoy music, performances, lawn games and refreshments with a haunted Halloween theme. Admission is $20 per adult and $11 per child (ages 6 to 12).