The flint RiverQuarium and Thronateeska are getting community into the Halloween sprit with their annual event, Tricks and Treats. Families are encouraged to dress in their best costumes, bring a reusable treat bag, and join the family-friendly festivities on Oct. 20 from 5-7 p.m. Families will trick or treat along the Riverfront Trail between the Flint RiverQuarium and Thronateeska. Event is $7 for adults, $6 for children, and free for members to any Artesian Alliance organization (Chehaw Park & Zoo, Flint RiverQuarium, Thronateeska).

There will be lots of fun games, palm oil safe candies and prizes outside along the path. Explore the Flint RiverQuarium and discover what lurks beneath the waters of the Blue Hole as they host a spooky dive show for guests.

The Artesian Alliance makes a conscious effort to use products made with sustainably sourced or palm oil free ingredients. Many everyday products consumers use are created with palm oil. These are items such as snack foods-especially confections containing chocolate- and cosmetics from mascara, shampoo, and lipstick to household essentials like laundry detergent. The production of unsustainably sourced palm oil leads to deforestation, rendering habitat loss for a wide variety of animals such as rhinos, sun bears, clouded leopards, tigers, and orangutans just to name a few.

Guests can make simple changes at home or in their daily lives that cause a positive impact globally. The Artesian Alliance encourages guests to download the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Palm Oil Shopping Guide App.

“Events like Tricks & Treats are the perfect opportunity to learn with guests how we can work individually and partner as a community to create a better tomorrow for animals locally, nationally, and internationally,” said Education Manager, Ashleigh Kelly. “Conservation action is at the heart of who we are and what we do. Guests are eager to learn how they can get involved and make small changes today that can lead to a better tomorrow.”

Guests who participate in Tricks & Treats will also have the privilege of being the first to preview Thronateeska’s newest exhibit installation, Mayan Ruins. In this exhibit, guests learn about the indigenous Mayans of Mesoamerica. The Mayan people are known for developing a multitude of inventions and their forward thinking that inspired many modern innovations such as the calendar system, agriculture, written language, astronomy, mathematics, the concept of law and order within civilization, and even introduced chocolate to the rest of the world.