The Sands Point Preserve Conservancy has packed the end of October with events on the former Guggenheim estate at 127 Middle Neck Road in Sands Point, and the biggest of them puts a costumed ball inside Hempstead House, the 1912 Tudor style mansion at the center of the 216 acre preserve.

Down the Rabbit Hole on Saturday night

The conservancy's annual Halloween Ball takes over Hempstead House on Saturday, October 24, with this year's theme set as Down the Rabbit Hole. A VIP hour styled as the Mad Hatter's Tea runs from 7 to 8 p.m., and general admission runs from 8 to 11 p.m. Tickets are on sale through the conservancy's site.

Saturday also holds two daytime programs: a guided nature walk themed Autumn's Palette, and the start of a 24 Hour Wilderness Survival program, an overnight outdoor skills session that carries into Sunday.

Dogs get their own party on Sunday

On Sunday, October 25, the preserve hosts Diego's Trunk or Treat, a Halloween event built for dogs and their owners, from noon to 3 p.m. A morning qigong session is on the calendar the same day.

The following evening, Monday, October 26, a Full Moon Hike led by naturalist Mike Evans goes out on the preserve's trails from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Princesses and villains take the castle November 1

The Halloween run ends on Sunday, November 1, with Princess and Villains Day at the Castle. Five sessions run between noon and 4:30 p.m. inside Hempstead House, with costumed princess and villain characters and a trick or treat adventure through the mansion's rooms.

Later in November, the conservancy has a family botanical printmaking workshop with artist Lori Lee on November 14 from 10 a.m. to noon, and a November 18 evening talk by board member Frank Ullman on Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight and its Long Island roots.

Visiting the preserve

The preserve's trails, garden and playground are open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Event registration, pricing and tickets for the ball and the family programs are through the conservancy's event calendar at sandspointpreserveconservancy.org, or by phone at 516-571-7901.

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