Spring 2024 Candlelight Hike
Friday, May 3, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Hopping Into Spring!
Join us for a fun-filled evening for the entire family! Walk several trail loops lit by torches. Watch character programs presented by UW-Stevens Point students. Enjoy snacks, explore hands-on discovery stations, and make crafts to take home.
Interested in volunteering? Find volunteer opportunities here: https://signup.com/go/dPBRHHo.
Candlelight Hike Festivals
The Friends of Schmeeckle sponsor popular Candlelight Hike Festivals at Schmeeckle Reserve every fall and spring. Each festival is based on a nature-related theme. The festivals include:
- Trails lit by torches that loop through the woods and along the lake, providing a memorable nighttime walk.
- Fun family-oriented plays presented by UW-Stevens Point students who dress as animals and other characters. Click here to view character programs from previous years.
- Discovery stations with hands-on activities to explore natural features.
- Thematic crafts, snacks, and more!
Volunteers
Volunteers are essential to the success of Candlelight Hike Festivals! Each festival requires dozens of volunteers to fill, set up, and light torches, carve pumpkins, decorate the facilities, run discovery stations and craft tables, make and sell snacks, greet attendees and collect donations, patrol the trails to ensure everyone is safe, clean up after the event, etc. Click here for more information about volunteering.
Event Information:
Parking: The Candlelight Hike Festivals are popular, so please plan ahead for parking. The paved visitor center parking lot is reserved for people with disabilties or other special needs. Overflow parking lot and street parking is allowed on North Point Drive, Michigan Avenue, and Maria Drive during the evening of the event.
Cost: A donation of $4/person or $10/family is suggested. Donation bins will be available at all main trail entrances to the event. Donations directly support future events, programs, and projects of the Friends of Schmeeckle Reserve.
No Pets: Pets are not allowed in the Reserve at any time, with the exception of service animals.
Strollers: While strollers are always welcome on Schmeeckle’s trails, they can cause congestion during the Candlelight Hike Festival due to the number of trail users.
Flashlights: The tiki torches provide enough light for comfortably walking the trails without a flashlight. However, a flashlight is recommended as a backup for darker areas or trails without torches.
For more information, please contact us.