This weekend: Head to the woods for a spooky scavenger hunt

Welcome to The Herald-News’ Will County Inside/Outside Guide. Each week, Features Editor Denise M. Baran-Unland (@Denise_Unland61) highlights a few ideas for you to enjoy your weekend in Will County.

If you need a reason to smile this week, I have the event for you.

The Will County Audubon Chapter will host a program about endangered piping plovers called “Monty and Rose 2″ at 7 p.m. Thursday via Zoom. Bob Dogan, who created his first film, “Monty and Rose,” as a volunteer plover monitor in Chicago in 2019, will present the program. The Zoom link is public and available at willcountyaudubon.org.

The first film told the story of the birds as they struggled “toward nesting success” and faced “a music festival that would take place within feet of their nest,” their release said. The second film, which will be shown Thursday night, tells more of the birds’ story.

I did a little digging online and learned the plovers had plover babies this summer. Watch a teaser trailer from “Monty and Rose 2″ at youtu.be/B15YgUxUkMM. And for more information on the plovers, visit montyandrose.net.

Now, if you’d rather get scared this weekend, check out these two events:

See “Dementia 13” at 7 p.m. Friday at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park and Theatre, located at 201 W. Jefferson St. in Joliet. The Bicentennial Park website provided this synopsis: “Shocked by the death of her spouse, a scheming widow hatches a bold plan to get her hands on the inheritance, unaware that she is targeted by an axe-wielding murderer who lurks in the family’s estate. What mystery shrouds the noble house?”

Costumes welcome. Admission is $1. Gates open 6:30 p.m. Concessions and cash bar available. No outside alcohol allowed. For more information, visit bicentennialpark.org.

Experience two attractions on just one ticket this weekend at the Old Joliet Haunted Prison. “Ghost Chamber” takes place in the cell blocks of the former women’s prison. The post-apocalyptic “The Forsaken” takes place outside in the prison yard. Attractions intended for age 12 and up. Pregnant women and people with asthma, epilepsy and/or heart conditions should not attend. The haunted prison is accessible. To see a trailer and event times, purchase tickets and for information, visit hauntedprison.com.

And, yes, I know this isn’t Will County, but this pork dinner sounds too delicious to pass up.

Coal City United Methodist Church, located at 6805 E. McArdle Road in Coal City, will host a drive-up pork dinner from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The dinner includes sliced pork, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, coleslaw and a dinner roll. The cost is $11 per meal. All proceeds benefit the church’s building fund. For more information, call 815-634-8670.

And if you’re busy this weekend, here’s an event you can enjoy anytime through Halloween, a “Spooky Scavenger Hunt” (wear a costume) in McKinley Woods in Channahon, hosted by the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Pick up a map and list of items from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays at the Four Rivers Environmental Education Center. Free; all ages. For more information, visit reconnectwithnature.org.

Thoughts? Drop me a line at dunland@shawmedia.com.