October 24, 2009 marked the 3rd Annual Turtleween event at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center! With over 400 people in attendance it was our largest Turtleween in history! Hundreds of costume-clad turtle enthusiasts took part in Halloween-inspired activities with a turtle twist!
This year, we invited some special guests to take part in the festivities. Birds of prey flew, snakes slithered and other creepies crawled in from the Center for Wildlife Education! Based at Georgia Southern University, the CWE spent the day showcasing non-releasable reptiles, raptors and mammals. Boys and ghouls got their creep-on with the chance to touch a snake or get up close with an owl or hawk. Tidelands Nature Center swam in for a spell to feature toothy villains-sharks! 
Activities abounded under the Jellyfish Forest including our most popular station, Friendly Fisherman! With so much trash in the ocean these days, fearless trash trawlers got the chance to fish for garbage with Goldfish cracker treats to follow. Franken-turtle brought out the mad-scientist with the opportunity to create and name never-before-seen species and bones were rattling at the Sea Turtle Bone Dig. 
To top off their Center visit, a Turtleween Scavenger Hunt guided seekers through the Gallery, Hospital and Hospital window to find things a-miss. Can you spot the turtle with funny eyes? 
And who was that turtle with the spooky name? Phantom, of course!
It looked as though gloomy weather might cast a spell over the outdoor activities, but the rain held off and gave turtle-treaters the chance hunt for tricks-or-treats around the historic district! Pier Road shops, the History Center and Jekyll Books were outfitted with goodies for those with an adventurous spirit!
Many thanks to our cast of goblins for making this event possible!
~ Kelly Price, the Barnacle
