Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1510246
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM October 25 - 31, 2023 UCW 15 KATHLEEN RAMSEY,Staff Writer. COMMENTS? editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. EVENT Boo-tanical Garden returns with lights, goblins, fun for all by KATHLEEN RAMSEY e botanical garden has been taken over with colors of orange, black and even purple. Strings of lights hang overhead, walkways are lit by strings of twinkle lights. Lights bounce off the pumpkins that hang and the ghosts must have wanted to join them. In a larger more open area stands a very tall and seemingly happy jack-o-lan- tern among large displays of lights. e folks at Cape Fear Botanical Garden are getting ready for a spook- tacular time — an event sure to draw out all those ghosts, goblins, monsters, creepy-crawlies and of course, some- times the scariest of the bunch — kids. "Halloween at the Boo-tanical Garden is one of our main fundrais- ing events for the year, so it not only provides our community with safe, fun and natural places to explore during the event itself, but helps support the mission all year round of connecting people to their natural environment through touring the grounds, partici- pating in education events, volunteer- ing and more," said Beth Hess at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Hess and others at CFBG are gear- ing up for another Halloween at the Boo-tancial Garden. is year's "dance party" themed event is presented by Cape Fear Valley Health. e outdoor, walk-through, interactive experience will take place Oct. 26 through Oct 29. Hess said the members at CFBG hope attendees will get quality time with family and friends. "ere is truly something that people of every age will enjoy during the event — whether it's trick-or-treat- ing, light displays, spooky stories, the Jack-o-lantern lawn, the dance party, skeletons dressed as famous musical acts or any of the other attractions, it will be a spook-tacular time," she said. is year will also bring thousands of lights, light displays, candy stations, a costume contest, dance party, a rep- tile display, bone digging for kids and food and beverages for all. e garden will also welcome leashed dogs on Oct. 26 for the event. Other special features will include extra candy stations on Oct. 26 and spooky stories and songs on Oct. 28. Food and beverage may vary by night. Hess said they expect around 5,000 people total across the four nights, which is about the same as last year's numbers. "is is an area tradition and Fayetteville favorite," Hess said. e event will be open from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on ursday, Friday and Satur- day. On Sunday the event will be open 4:30 to 9 p.m. Advanced tickets are available, ranging from $7 for kids ages 3 to 10, $10 for members and $12 for non- members. Candy stations will require event goers to bring their own bags and flashlights are recommended for those attending in the evening hours. For more information visit www.cfbg.org or call 910-486-0221. Health Department to hold Vax Your Pet, Vax Yourself clinic a STAFF REPORT e Cumberland County Depart- ment of Public Health will hold a "Vax Your Pet, Vax Yourself " event Saturday, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Health Department, located at 1235 Ramsey St. in Fayetteville. Residents may bring their pets in to receive rabies vaccinations and while there, humans can receive COVID-19 and flu vaccines at no cost. Appoint- ments are not required. Walk-ins are welcome. During the event, organizations will also distribute free items and informa- tion about programs and services. e Cumberland County Public Library, Department of Social Services, WIC, and the Public Health education team will participate. ere will be a prize raffle for $100 pre-paid cards every hour. You must be present to win. Vax Your Pet Rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats will be $5 for each animal. North Carolina Law states "the owner of every dog and cat over four months of age shall have the animal vaccinated against rabies." To remain properly immunized, a dog or cat must receive two rabies vaccinations one year apart, then one vaccination every three years thereafter. Dog and cat owners in Cumberland County who have not vaccinated their pet in ac- cordance with this law are subject to a $100 civil penalty. While at the clinic, owners must keep dogs leashed and cats in separate carriers or boxes. Owners may be held responsible for any damage their pet causes at the clinic. Cash is the only accepted method of payment. Please bring exact change to pay the $5 per animal fee. Please do not bring rolled coins. Checks, debit and credit cards will not be accepted. Vax Yourself Free flu shots are available to ev- eryone regardless of insurance status. Participants will not be billed for flu vaccines. Participants will complete a short registration form when they arrive to the clinic. If insured, a copy of insurance cards will be made, and the insurance company will be billed. Children 18 and younger can receive a free flu vaccine through the Vaccines for Children program. Anyone ac- companying a minor must show proof of custody. COVID-19 Vaccinations e Department of Public Health administers Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations. Vaccines are free regardless of insurance status. e Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention recommends the 2023–2024 updated COVID-19 vaccines. •Everyone aged 5 years and older should get 1 dose of the updated Pfiz- er-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious ill- ness from COVID-19. •People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get additional doses of updated CO- VID-19 vaccine. •Children age 6 months to 4 years need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be up to date, including at least 1 dose of the up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine. Test Yourself e Cumberland County Public Health Sexually Transmitted Infec- tions express clinic will be open during this event with confidential testing for HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and other STIs. Testing is free, regardless of insurance status. Call 910-433-3600 to schedule an appoint- ment. For more information about Cumberland County Department of Public Health programs visit cum- berlandcountync.gov/departments/ public-health or call 910-433-3600. Boo-tanical Garden, local family-friendly favorite, returns Oct. 26 through Oct.28 (Photos courtesy Cape Fear Botanical Garden)