Boo at the Zoo
Costumes, Candy & Critters
The Zoo’s annual Halloween extravaganza is back for five fun-filled weekends!
Gather your ghosts and goblins, put on your favorite costume, bring a bag, and trick-or-treat throughout the Zoo. Boo at the Zoo is included with your general admission ticket or membership—get tickets now!
ACCESS tickets are $8 and limited to 1,000 per day—be sure to purchase yours in advance!
Halloween costumes with toy guns and weapons and adult masks are prohibited.
Boo Member Morning Strolls
Visit your favorite exhibits an hour before gates open to the general public and get early access to Boo at the Zoo during exclusive members-only morning strolls on Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 25!
Thank you to our sponsors:
With trick-or-treating through the Zoo as the main adventure, be sure to stop along the way and check out new activities special for this year!
Understand the Misunderstood inside the Small Mammal House
Insects, snakes, and…the Jersey Devil? Learn about the myths and legends inspired by wildlife around the world. At scheduled times, guests will be able to see a live presentation of a misunderstood animal, or hear tall tales of wild encounters with legendary cryptids – and the real truth behind them.
Visit the Trick-or-Tree House
Inside the Zoo’s Iconic Tree House, originally built in 1876, join in on the fang-tastic fun for creepy crawly decorations and an extra candy station. Guests can also opt for a tarot card reading inside from 10:00am – 3:00pm (subject to change without advance notice). Trick-or-Tree House included in membership and general admission.
Home Depot’s 12-Foot Skellys Visit the Zoo
More than two dozen 12-foot and 5-foot skeletons, generously donated by Home Depot, will be visiting Philadelphia Zoo for the first time! See what they’re up to as you trick-or-treat through the campus.
Costume Contests at Impala Lawn
Show off your costume for a chance to win great prizes! Contests happen at 11:30am and 2:30pm each day. Costumes will be judged by Zoo staff and prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place. Guests can also enjoy additional carnival games around the lawn.
Take a Ride on the SEPTA PZ “Boo” Choo Train
Decorated for the Halloween season, the SEPTA PZ Express train is taking goblins and ghouls on a spin through lush autumn colors with an additional fall flare.
Eerie-sistable educational activities
Spread out throughout the campus, drop in and see what new animal facts you can discover through hands-on play (with a Halloween twist, of course)!
Frightful Flora
Take a self-guided tour of the gardens, learning about some of the special plants around the Zoo that have a spooky twist to them.
Watch some of our animals enjoy the bountiful pumpkin harvest and keep an eye out for additional Halloween-themed enrichment and decorations in animal habitats throughout the Zoo!
Tentative schedule for pumpkin feedings (subject to change without advance notice):
Saturdays
10:00am – Bears at Carey Bear Country
11:00 am – Giant tortoises at Reptile House
11:30 am – Rodrigues fruit bats inside the Rare Animal Conservation Center
11:45 am – Birds inside McNeil Avian Center Rainforest
2:00 pm – Hippos in African Plains
2:30 pm – Ossabaw Island Hogs at KidZooU
Sundays
10:00 am – One of our cats in Big Cat Falls
11:00 am– Various Reptiles and Amphibians at Reptile House
11:30 am – Raven and Hooded Vultures next to Backyard Kitchen
12:00 pm – Orangutans at PECO Primate Reserve
12:30 pm – Gorillas at PECO Primate Reserve
Not A Member?
Join today and take advantage of exclusive members-only perks like early access to Boo at the Zoo, plus enjoy free admission, free parking, and discounts on retail and dining. Membership pays for itself in two visits!