On October 18^th, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., visitors from across North Texas will experience Collin County’s premier family-friendly Halloween event at Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary. Halloween at the Heard features a safe environment to experience the joy of trick-or-treating along the eerie Dinosaurs Live! Live-Size Animatronic Dinosaurs trail.

Families will enjoy an evening full of fun activities including a presentation of a movie on the Heard's outdoor amphitheater stage. Kids ages 12 and under will also have the opportunity to participate in a costume contest.

Those who dare will be able take a trail detour after the movie through our "Haunted Forest" and “Ghost Town” where they may encounter a ghost or creature of the night (not recommended for younger children)! Visitors will get to walk through the Heard’s newest indoor exhibit, Project Passenger Pigeon, which will be open until dusk. Clix Photography will take professional photos of guests in their costumes.

The Heard recommends that guests bring insect repellant, flashlights, water-resistant blankets and/or stadium seats for use during the movie. Concessions will be available for purchase, including grilled hot dogs provided by Whole Foods Market. Guests may also bring their own picnic dinner and non-alcoholic beverages. Trick-or-treat bags, sponsored by Clif KiD, and other giveaways will be available while supplies last.

Tickets will be available to the public beginning October 1^st. Tickets for this annual event have sold out each year, so the Heard encourages guests to purchase theirs as soon as possible. Admission to this event is $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 3-12, and free for children ages 2 and under. See heardmuseum.org for more details. 

Proceeds from this event benefit Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, a private 501(c)3 organization. The Heard was founded in 1967 by Bessie Heard.  Miss Heard was 80 years old when she saw the need to preserve a place where future generations could experience nature. Today, the Heard’s mission of bringing nature and people together is carried out through education, particularly of young people, which emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation. 

Once described as being so numerous that they obscured the sun when in flight, the Passenger pigeon is now extinct. This year, Project Passenger Pigeon marks the centenary of this extraordinary extinction. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary is participating in this nationwide program to bring the subject of conservation to the forefront. 

At Passport to Project Passenger Pigeon on August 12 from 10 a.m. to noon, the Heard will introduce kids of all ages to conservation topics through fun games, activities, and crafts. Children will receive their own passport to the Passenger Pigeon Project. Those who complete their passport will receive a special prize. Visitors will also enjoy a special meet-and-greet with author Joel Greenberg. This event and exhibit will teach lessons from the past that you can apply toward a sustainable future!

This special event is FREE for Heard Museum members and included in general admission. 

For more than 20 years, veteran and novice gardeners alike have anticipated this rare opportunity to purchase plants from a huge selection of hard-to-find herbs, native and well-adapted plants. This year, the Heard will provide some of the best plants for North Central Texas gardens and an opportunity to obtain many rare plants.

The plant sale is open to the public Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 13, 1-5 p.m.

A limited amount of Green Milkweed will also be available! Milkweed is the only food source for the Monarch butterfly, which is in great decline.

All sales are tax free and proceeds from this fundraiser benefit Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary’s mission to bring nature and people together. Guests are welcome to bring carts or wagons to facilitate their purchases.

About Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

The Heard was founded in 1967 by Bessie Heard. Miss Heard was 80 years old when she saw the need to preserve a place where future generations could experience nature. Today, the Heard's mission of bringing nature and people together is carried out through education, particularly of young people, which emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation.  For more information, visit heardmuseum.org.

Owls are amazing birds of prey! There are many interesting aspects about them that you may or may not know. For example, owls’ eyes are fixed in their sockets. This is why they must turn their entire head to see something in a different direction. They can’t turn their head completely backwards, but have a total 270 degree view.

Most owls are nocturnal, meaning that they’re active at night. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary invites you to come see them in a live owl presentation on Saturday night at 6:30 P.M. and learn more about them. Then, stay for a guided night hike on our sanctuary trails to see if you can hear them.

If you’ve ever been on a hike and the sun set before you finished, you know that experiencing a trail at night can be a completely different experience from hiking during the day. Landmarks change, as can your sense of direction. Even if you’ve hiked a trail several times, it can feel completely unfamiliar.

Explore the thrilling sights, smells, and sounds of night with Heard Trail Guides. Night hikers will be encouraged to sharpen their senses to be able to spot signs of animal life and learn more about the inhabitants of the Heard.

Clif KiD samples will be distributed while supplies last.  This event sells out each year.Preregistration is required for all night hikes. Registration available at www.heardmuseum.org.

Owls are amazing birds of prey! There are many interesting aspects about them that you may or may not know. For example, owls’ eyes are fixed in their sockets. This is why they must turn their entire head to see something in a different direction. They can’t turn their head completely backwards, but have a total 270 degree view.

Most owls are nocturnal, meaning that they’re active at night. Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary invites you to come see them in a live owl presentation on Saturday night at 6:30 P.M. and learn more about them. Then, stay for a guided night hike on our sanctuary trails to see if you can hear them.

If you’ve ever been on a hike and the sun set before you finished, you know that experiencing a trail at night can be a completely different experience from hiking during the day. Landmarks change, as can your sense of direction. Even if you’ve hiked a trail several times, it can feel completely unfamiliar.

Explore the thrilling sights, smells, and sounds of night with Heard Trail Guides. Night hikers will be encouraged to sharpen their senses to be able to spot signs of animal life and learn more about the inhabitants of the Heard.

Clif KiD samples will be distributed while supplies last.  This event sells out each year. Preregistration is required for all night hikes. Registration available at www.heardmuseum.org.