Mortimer’s Monstrous Halloween
Did You Know? OAKWOOD LAKES STATE PARK IS OPEN YEAR ROUND.
When district park supervisor Becky Graff started at Oakwood Lakes State Park in 2015, she was impressed by the number of successful annual events they were putting on. One type that was missing, though, was a Halloween celebration in October. “I’ve started Halloween events at both the Big Sioux Recreation Area near Brandon and Richmond Lake Recreation Area near Aberdeen, and felt Oakwood Lakes State Park near Bruce would be a great place to start another one,” she recalled. In 2016 they held the inaugural Mortimer’s Monstrous Halloween , which kicked off with a ribbon cutting for a new playground that had been donated by a local family. The day was a hit, and has continued to grow and change throughout the years. This year’s come-and-go event is October 31 from 2-5 p.m. Some of the fun activities guests can take part in include trick-or-treat tables sponsored by area businesses, a Skeleton Scavenger Hunt , spooky crafts, and face painting. Surrounding community members and families come time and again to get festive with park staff. The team tries to come up with something new “every year or two,” and recently added trolley rides through the park and an apple slingshot, which were hits. The Skeleton Scavenger Hunt is one of Graff’s favorites.
“We dress life-sized skeletons up as if they’re participating in the different activities you can do in the park and set them up along a trail,” she explained. “For example, we put a skeleton in a kayak with a life jacket on and a paddle in its hands. The activities are more fun than scary, so parents with young children really like to come and participate.” Surrounding communities really embrace the event, says Graff, like the nearby Preston Christian Church getting youth group members involved by helping with the face painting and hosting a trick-or-treat table. The park has participants who attend every single year, and also draw in new faces each time. “Whether they’re new to Oakwood Lakes State Park or to the event, they all seem to have fun,” said Graff. “This event gives community members another activity to do for Halloween and brings people out to the park.” South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks's mission is to “serve and connect people and families to the outdoors through effective management of our state’s parks, fisheries, and wildlife resources.” “Our vision is to conserve our state’s outdoor heritage to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations,” said Graff. “Our goals are to foster partnerships, cultivate stewardship, and safely connect people with the outdoors.” FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT GFP.SD.GOV+
AUTUMN ISSUE october 2026
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