By MDA Staff Writer | October 19, 2026
ENID, Miss. — Families looking for a different way to celebrate Halloween will have an opportunity to explore Mississippi’s aquatic wildlife during a special event at the Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery Visitor Education Center.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks has scheduled Halloween at the Hatchery for Saturday, October 31, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The event will combine seasonal activities with opportunities for children and adults to learn about fish, freshwater habitats and wildlife conservation.
The visitor education center is located near Enid Lake in Yalobusha County, accessible from Interstate 55 at Exit 233.
Halloween Meets Wildlife Education
The day’s activities will include face painting, fish-themed crafts and a fish skeleton scavenger hunt.
Visitors will also have an opportunity to participate in a special art activity known as ghostly gyotaku.
Gyotaku is a traditional Japanese art technique involving fish printing.
The visitor education center regularly uses fish-themed art activities to introduce children to aquatic species.
The Halloween program will incorporate those educational activities into a seasonal celebration.
Costumes Bring an Extra Treat
Visitors are encouraged to wear costumes.
According to the department, anyone arriving in costume will receive a free bag of fish food.
The center also plans a special feeding demonstration involving the carnivorous fish in its aquarium at 3 p.m.
The event is designed to be family-friendly.
All activities are included with the regular price of admission.
Pumpkin Carving Contest Begins October 27
The hatchery will also host a pumpkin carving contest leading up to Halloween.
Entries will be accepted beginning Tuesday, October 27.
The deadline for submitting pumpkins is Friday, October 30.
Visitors attending the October 31 celebration will vote on contest entries.
Awards will be presented in three categories: Best Overall, Most Challenging and Most Creative.
Organizers emphasize that entries must be appropriate for a family audience.
Pumpkins considered unsuitable for children will be disqualified.
More Than a Halloween Destination
The Bob Tyler Fish Hatchery is an important part of Mississippi’s freshwater fisheries program.
The facility produces fish used to stock public waters throughout the state.
Species raised at the hatchery include largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, paddlefish and other freshwater fish.
The adjoining visitor education center provides opportunities to learn about fish reproduction, aquatic habitats and conservation.
Its exhibits include a 10,000-gallon freshwater aquarium, interactive educational displays and information about Mississippi’s native aquatic species.
The facility operates on approximately 58 acres near Enid Lake.
Admission and Visitor Information
The visitor education center charges regular admission of $2.50 for adults ages 18–59.
Admission is $2 for adults age 60 and older and children ages 3–17.
Children younger than 3 are admitted free.
The center also offers free admission to active military personnel.
The Halloween activities are included with admission.
Families seeking additional information can contact the visitor education center at 662-563-8068.
Learning Through Recreation
Educational events that combine recreation with science can help introduce children to subjects they might not otherwise encounter.
At the hatchery, families can learn about the fish that inhabit Mississippi’s lakes and rivers while participating in seasonal activities.
For residents of the northern Mississippi Delta and surrounding communities, the October 31 event offers an opportunity to combine Halloween entertainment with environmental education.
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Source: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks — Visitor Education Center