Thousands are expected to cause chaos on popular Mosman streets for Halloween treats

TARONGA Zoo will celebrate Halloween for the first time with owls and a condor, and fruit bats and snakes part of showcase on the weekend. It will make the Mosman Halloween onslaught even bigger.

Taronga Zoo keeper/scarecrow Claudia Bianchi with Chester the raven prepares for Halloween activities at Taronga for the first time. Picture: Carly Earl

• Greater Western Sydney Giants sign talented young women footballers
• Famous homeowners keen to offload properties in spring selling season
• Landmark hotel sells for $14.5m to private Sydney hotelier group
• French dining institution expands to the lower north shore

THOUSANDS of trick or treaters from across the north shore — and even the eastern suburbs — are expected to invade the Halloween-themed front yards of Mosman on Monday.

Some Mosman residents will even desert their homes on the night just to avoid the Halloween hot spots which are growing in popularity.

Resident Toni Heath said Halloween had become “bigger than Ben Hur” over the years.

“It began when my daughter was three and she’s now 25,” she said.

“Now houses are lit up, we have witches down chimneys and all the spiders in the world.”

Children enjoy their spoils from trick or treating.

Last year residents asked visitors to bring large bags of wrapped lollies to share to ensure children did not miss out, but Ms Heath said she knew of only two people who helped.

“We get people coming from Artarmon, Lindfield, St Ives, the eastern suburbs; it’s really not fair because we have literally thousands of people here,” she said.

“It’s been the burden of a couple of streets.

How Sydney celebrates Halloween. Picture: Britta Campion

“We are very happy to do it, but it’s completely out of control and quite chaotic.

“Every year it costs me at least $300 in lollies.”

Ms Heath encouraged families to have fun but advised parents to supervise their children for safety reasons.

“We have so many near misses because children just go all over the road,” she said.

“They don’t realise the road is not closed off.

“It’s fun for the little ones to dress up and most are pretty sensible.”

TONI HEATH’S TIPS OF ENJOYING HALLOWEEN

■ Only decorated houses are participating

■ Each child is allowed one wrapped lolly

■ Parents must accompany children

■ Please share your lollies if you have too many

Children venture out trick or treating all over Sydney.

The Classic Cupcake Co.’s Halloween cupcakes. Picture: Supplied

HALLOWEEN CUPCAKES FOR THE ‘BEST DRESSED’ HOUSES

THE Classic Cupcake Co. will award Halloween cupcakes to Mosman’s best decorated homes on Monday night.

“We will focus on Spencer Rd and Holt Ave because these are the main ones which really go to all the effort of dressing their houses,” business owner Anna Eden said.

Boxes of cupcakes will go to the top five decorated houses and the overall winner will also receive a limited edition giant pumpkin cupcake.

The Classic Cupcake Co.’s limited edition giant pumpkin cupcake. Picture: Supplied

TARONGA ZOO HOSTS HALLOWEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME

HALLOWEEN will descend on Taronga Zoo for the first time this weekend, with the focus on fun and educational activities to debunk scary stereotypes.

Animals including birds of prey such as owls and a condor, as well as fruit bats and snakes will be part of the spooky showcase on Saturday and Sunday.

The Halloween events are the initiative of senior keeper Grey Fisher, who is part of the zoo’s bird show.

A Taronga Zoo meerkat enjoys Halloween treats. Picture: Carly Earl

Taronga Zoo keeper/scarecrow Claudia Bianchi with Chester the raven. Picture: Carly Earl

Mr Fisher’s childhood growing up in the United States celebrating the tradition was his inspiration.

“Halloween is big in the states and it’s my favourite holiday,” he said.

“It was the one day of the year you got to dress up, be something completely different and go out late and get lots of lollies.

“What’s not to like about that?”

Mr Fisher said Halloween at Taronga would be exciting and he urged everyone to visit and for children to dress up.

“We are re-theming the bird show,” he said.

“Some of the birds from the normal show will be there, but also some other animals which people think of as scary.

“We’ll talk about what the stereotypes are and what the realities are, but we will do it in a fun, Halloween-themed way.

Taronga Zoo’s meerkats enjoy Halloween treats. Picture: Carly Earl

“A lot of people don’t like spiders or snakes, so the whole idea behind this is that while having fun, we’ll talk about how they are quite important animals and have a role to play in nature.

“There will be lollies for the kids too, so it’s a safe alternative for Halloween celebrations.”

Other activities include a haunted barn in the Backyard to Bush exhibit, face painting and touch tables featuring bones and skulls.

Claudia Bianchi said Halloween at the zoo was a trial but may become larger. Picture: Carly Earl

Taronga’s keepers will also dress up to suit the Halloween theme.

Mr Fisher hoped the Halloween activities would continue.

“This is sort of a trial and if successful, then I would really like to build it into a much larger event over the next few years,” he said.

“I have to prove to the zoo that I can pull off a successful event and I think it will be.”

Like the Mosman Daily on Facebook.

IN OTHER NEWS

WITH Halloween coming up, these residents at Oregon Zoo were given pumpkins to enjoy. Credit: Oregon Zoo