Orange Beach, Ala. — (GSN) — Gulf State Park between Orange Beach and Gulf Shores, Alabama, features a full lineup of family-friendly Halloween events across late October, combining environmental education, outdoor recreation, and festive trick-or-treating.

Trek or Treat at the Learning Campus

On Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the Learning Campus at Gulf State Park hosts its annual Trek or Treat event at 20249A State Park Road. Admission is free and open to all ages.

• Educational & Spooky Activities: Features live animal encounters, creepy crawly composting displays, mystery sensory stations, and ancient bones and artifacts.
• Entertainment & Games: Families can participate in science shows, spooky story time, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, photo opportunities, and riptide readiness safety demonstrations.
• Conservation Partners: The Alabama Coastal Foundation hosts interactive tables sharing updates on sea turtle conservation and oyster shell recycling.
• Costumes & Dining: Costumes are encouraged. After campus activities wrap up, families can head to nearby Woodside Restaurant for live music, lunch, and a candy buffet.

Spook Walk along Pendergrass Trail

On Friday, October 30, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Gulf State Park holds the Spook Walk on Pendergrass Trail near park headquarters (20115 State Park Road).

• Festive Trail Stations: Offers trick-or-treating stations, a scavenger hunt, Monster Mash dancing, and candy along a Halloween-decorated path.
• Family Accessibility: Paved trails allow easy navigation with strollers or wagons.
• Registration: Event admission is free, but participants must register online in advance to assist park staff with candy counts.

Halloween Critters of the Night

On Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., the Gulf State Park Nature Center (22120 Campground Road) presents Halloween Critters of the Night.

• Nocturnal Adaptation Exploration: Tailored for participants ages 8 and older, the session introduces live animal ambassadors while highlighting nocturnal wildlife adaptations.
• Admission: Online registration is required, along with a $3 program fee.

With interactive educational exhibits, scenic trail walks, and close encounters with nocturnal wildlife, Gulf State Park offers an abundance of spook-tacular choices for families seeking coastal Halloween fun.