With temperatures cooling down, Stetson University will celebrate the changing season with its annual Fall Festival on Friday, Oct. 28.

Alongside the festival, The Gillespie Museum will host its annual Mostly Green Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 29.

The Fall Festival will take place Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Hollis Center with many different activities for children, students and adults to celebrate the season.

“The Fall Festival is an opportunity to celebrate the fall season with friends and families,” said Colleen Price, director of wellness and recreation at Stetson University. “There will be some activities that are typically associated with Halloween; however, our hope is that the overall theme will be more focused on the wonders of the entire season.”

The festival will offer safe trick-or-treating, a costume contest, petting zoo, inflatables, free food samples and live entertainment. Price also said there will be more than 20 carnival-like booths with a lot of prizes to give away.

The Fall Festival is free and open to anyone throughout the DeLand and Stetson community.

“It has become a tradition that Campus Life and Student Success hosts the Fall Festival each year in collaboration with student organizations, university departments, and community partners,” said Price. “By working together, we can create a safe and interactive environment on campus for everyone to engage and showcase their fall spirit.”

On Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Gillespie Museum will host its eighth annual Mostly Green Halloween and celebrate the fall season through science, including hands-on activities and scientific experiments exploring the mysteries of plants and animals, according to the museum.

Activities will include a Sandhill Scavenger Hunt, Professor McGonagall’s Potions Lab, Mineral Mysteries, crafts, activities, and light refreshments and treats. Mostly Green Halloween is free and open to the public. Costumes are encouraged.

-Rhiannon Boyer