GOSHEN, Ind. -- Members of the community are invited to participate in Thursday's "Spider Night Hike," which is part of the Elkhart County Parks’ “Creatures of the Night” program.

The hike will take place at Benton Dam in River Preserve County Park from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

The free program invites visitors to brave the dark and see these eight-legged creatures in action.

“When you have a phobia of spiders like I do, it can be hard to see them as anything other than terrifying”, stated Annie Aguirre, program coordinator. “But if you push through those jittery feelings and start to observe them, they can be really fun to watch. It’s sort of like watching a thunderstorm – both scary and captivating at the same time.”

No registration is required for the guided hike. It's open to those ages 12 and up.

The hike will include a Q&A session about spiders.

Parks officials say the hike aims to help participants gain a new perspective on spiders and replace fear with fascination.

Attendees should meet at the Benton Dam parking lot in River Preserve County Park one mile south of US 33 on C.R. 31 in Goshen.

The hike is weather dependent, so those interested in attending are encouraged to keep an eye out for updates on the Elkhart County Parks Facebook page and website for further updates.