Lake Metroparks, supporters prepare annual Candy Land attraction
Nov. 12—Lake Metroparks' Candy Land Gone to the Birds attraction will return on Nov. 18, offering visitors a life-sized version of the Candy Land game board and other activities throughout the holiday season.
It will be located at Penitentiary Glen Reservation, 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road, Kirtland.
Visitors will be able to look at various habitat displays as they move along the board, which will also include a slide and a wild bird clinic-themed area.
The park district will also offer a craft, indoor and outdoor scavenger hunts, coloring pages and refreshments, according to an event brochure. Snowshoeing and the outdoor nature play area will also be available, weather permitting.
This year's theme will be similar to previous years, but with a different craft, a different scavenger hunt and a focus on blue jays, added Assistant Chief of Interpretive Services Caitlin Ambrose.
In the weeks ahead of the attraction's opening, park district staff have been joined in their efforts to set up the game board by employees from Dollar Bank and Lubrizol.
"With having Dollar Bank and Lubrizol here, it just makes the process run a lot smoother, and it's just extra hands, extra people that are really willing to help," said Ambrose.
Lubrizol Community Engagement Specialist Joe Edger was among the company's employees who showed up to help on Nov. 8. He said that company employees set up trees, placed gifts under the trees and helped assemble the board's habitats.
"It's just a way to get Lubrizol out, get our employees active and giving of their time so we can make Lake County better," he added.
According to a news release, the free Candy Land Gone to the Birds attraction will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Nov. 18 to Jan. 1, though it will be closed on Nov. 23, Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Dec. 31.
The brochure added that as part of the attraction's Wild Weekends, visitors on Saturdays can partake in a campfire and s'mores from noon to 3 p.m. and animal chats at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Meanwhile, visitors on Sundays can see wildlife meet-the-keeper chats at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.
Train rides will also be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. on Dec. 2, weather permitting.
