Fall TarantulaFest and Barbecue

Saturday, October 2, 2010

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Come to the fourteenth annual Coe Park TarantulaFest and rub elbows (so to speak) with some of our fuzzy, friendly eight-legged guests of honor.  The event is held at the headquarters campground, which has breathtaking views across the ridges and canyons of the backcountry. The day will be filled with games, contests, entertainment, and enlightenment.  And don't worry if you're arachnophobic.  Several tarantulas will be invited to the event, but they're going to stay in peripheral areas where people can come to visit them. If you have a meal ticket (which must be bought in advance), you can sit down and enjoy great home-cooked food at our barbecue.

Activities:    Go on a leisurely nature walk with a volunteer naturalist and search for tarantulas on the move Hold a tarantula and have your picture taken by a friend or by our TarantulaFest photographers Participate in games and contests Enjoy live music by The Tarantulas, a band of musical Coe Park volunteers and friends Hang out at our kids' activities table and create TarantulaFest keepsakes The Barbecue:   Tickets for the barbecue must be ordered in advance. Tickets will go on sale starting around mid-August 2010. (Keep in mind that tickets often sell out well before the event, so be sure to order your tickets early!) Our home-cooked food is served from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. in the headquarters campground.   You can choose from the following meals. Santa Maria Style Steak Dinner $15 Marinated Chicken Dinner $15 Gardenburger Vegetarian Dinner $8 Grilled Hot Dog Dinner $5 All the meals come with ranch-style beans, tossed green salad, and grilled French bread. Proceeds from the barbecue go to the Pine Ridge Association, the nonprofit organization that works hand in hand with Coe Park staff to keep the park up and running.   Beverages:   Our beverage booth opens at 10 a.m., and we'll be selling bottled water, soda pop, fruit juice, draft beer, and wine.  Parking:   The state charges a day-use parking fee of $8 per car.  Please carpool to help us save parking space.