Hit All the Spookiest Spots this Month
The autumn equinox has cast those magical summer sprites back to their woodland hideaways, and something much more eerie has fallen over Wissahickon Valley Park like fog. Spooky season is here, and we know just how to spend it.
Saturdays are for plantings. October is the best time for installing natives. In the cooler months, there are fewer weeds, meaning less competition for these new saplings, and the soil is soft, making it easier for root systems to take hold before a cold winter.
These planting days are like no other volunteer day. Leave your mark this October at a Saturday service day which culminates with our Halloween Planting Day! Costumes are encouraged- this year’s costume theme is: 250 Years of Philly Jawn! Come dressed as a person, place, or thing from the last 250 years of Philadelphia history.
Planting at Red Covered Bridge
Saturday, October 10
9 AM – 12 PM
Planting at Kitchen’s Lane Bridge
Saturday, October 17
9 AM – 12 PM
Planting on the Yellow Trail
Saturday, October 24
9 AM – 12 PM
Halloween Planting at Hermitage Mansion
Saturday, October 31
9 AM – 12 PM
Discover the Wissahickon’s spookiest spots. We’re halfway through the Discover the Wissahickon hike series, with nine more chances to explore a new section of the park each weekend. The spooky Wissahickon Walk on Halloween is perfect for those looking to visit some of the creepiest locations in the park including, Kelpius Cave and Lover’ Leap.
Discover the Wissahickon: Spooky Wissahickon Walk
Saturday, October 31
10 AM – 12:30 PM
Historic Rittenhouse Town
To see all the remaining DTW hikes, visit our events page.
There are more creepy crawls to be had. Don’t miss an opportunity to soak up the magic of early autumn in Wissahickon Park on a specially themed hike.
Twilight Hike to the Hermit’s Cave
Friday, October 23
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Hermitage Mansion
Creepy Cryptids in the Cresheim
Sunday, October 25
1 PM – 3:30 PM
St. Martin’s Lane Trailhead
Autumn Alchemy: A Woodland Artist Wander
Tuesday, October 27
1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Historic Rittenhouse Town
Find gratitude on the trail. The third time’s the charm, as they say. Thanks to unfavorable weather, you have ANOTHER chance to get those steps in and check in with yourself on this wellness-focused walk with Hike+Heal and Photography Without Borders. We’ll take photos of our moments in nature and celebrate the generations that shape us—grandparents, children, and everyone in between.
Our partner, Hike+Heal, is a membership-based wellness community, so this is a great opportunity to get a taste of Hive’s programming at no cost.
Generations Community Connection Hike with Hike+Heal and Photography Without Borders
Monday, October 12
1 PM – 3:30 PM
Blue Bell Field
Fall in love with a new subject at a Valley Talk. Fall Valley Talks are here and they’re kicking off with a presentation from Tama Matsouka Wong: forager, author, weed-eater, farmer, and meadow-doctor. After this talk, you’ll view weeds in a whole new light as she shares how to turn them into delicious foods, teas, and even structures.
Into the Weeds: Foraging for Invasive Plants in Pennsylvania
Wednesday, October 21
6 PM – 7:30 PM
Valley Green Inn or online on Zoom
Raccoons caught helping us with a planting on one of the new wildlife cameras in the Park.
Julie Ellis will close this year’s series out with her talk about the park’s newly installed wildlife cameras that captured a few raccoons you might have seen on social media. Philadelphia is home to a surprising diversity of wildlife, but how do animals use the city’s green spaces, and how might their activity be influenced by habitat, development, and urban heat?
Wildlife in the City: Exploring Philadelphia’s Urban Nature Through Trail Cameras
Wednesday, November 11
6 PM – 7:30 PM
Valley Green Inn or online on Zoom
Say “hi” at upcoming FESTIVEivity. If this month wasn’t busy enough, we’re taking FOW on the road to a few events that celebrate this special season with live performances, workshops and activities for the whole family, and more!
Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts
Saturday, October 11
11 AM – 5 PM
Germantown Ave in Chestnut Hill
East Falls Fest
Saturday, October 17
11 AM – 5 PM
Ridge & Midvale Ave
Friends of the Cresheim Trail’s Fall Foliage Fest
Saturday, October 24
1 PM – 3 PM
Rail Trail corridor between Germantown and Stenton Avenues