ZooBoo

Carve out some time this October to attend the pick of the patch Halloween event you won’t want to miss – ZooBoo! 🎃 Hosted on October 18th and 19th from 9am – 4pm, this family-friendly celebration is packed with eerie-sistible fun for all ages. Guests can watch animals enjoy pumpkin enrichment, trick-or-treat at candy stations throughout the Zoo🍬, meet Animal Ambassadors 🦜 🦔 🦎, compete in costume contests to win fang-tastic prizes 🧛 and more. You and your boo crew will be in for a spooktacular treat!

NEW THIS YEAR: No timed reservations required.

For the wellbeing of our goats, the Goat Yard will be closed to guests during the event.

Event Map

Activities & Schedule

Activities included with your ticket

• Trick-or-treating Stations throughout the Zoo including the Gift Shop, Train Station, Membership Kiosk, & more! (No purchase necessary at retail locations.)
  • To support green initiatives, ZooBoo is Bring Your Own Bag. We will have a limited number of Disney treat bags available to child guests.
  • A limited number of allergen-free treat bags will be available in our Membership Office. Candy allergen info is available here.
• Pumpkin Animal Enrichment
  • 9:15am: World of Reptiles
  • 10:15am: Siamang
  • 11:15am: Sheep, Zebu, Cows, and Pigs
  • 12:15pm: African Lion
  • 1:15pm: Malayan Tiger
  • 2:15pm: Southern Cassowary
  • 3:15pm: Southern White Rhino
• Animal Ambassador Shows
  • 10:00am: ZooLive! Stage
  • 11:30am: ZooLive! Stage
  • 2:00pm: ZooLive! Stage
  • 3:30pm: Fountain Plaza
• Costume Contests: Join for the chance to win Cinema Cafe movie tickets, a kettle popcorn maker, karaoke speaker, a Grab ‘n’ Go Zoodoption, pickleball paddles, plush toys, a Zoo restaurant gift card, a Train Engineer for a Day program, and more!
  • 11:00am: Family & Group
  • 11:30am: 4 & Under
  • 12:00pm: 5 & Up
  • 2:00pm: Family & Group
  • 2:30pm: 4 & Under
  • 3:00pm: 5 & Up
• Chasing ZOOzilla: an immersive cryptid conservation experience with the Virginia Zoo’s legendary Cryptid Keepers, Zoosquatch and ZOOzilla!
  • Presentations at 11am, 1pm & 3pm at the giant snake statue, Snavely!
• Mad Lab: Zoo Science Activities in the World of Reptiles
• Cryptid Courtyard Activities at Flora Point
• Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt with a chance to win a painting by a Virginia Zoo animal!
• Touch-a-Truck

Activities available for an additional cost ($)

• Virginia Zoo Gift Shop and Kiosk open with themed merch:
  • Halloween plush, sensory toys, animal headbands
• Bounce Houses in the Event Field ($)
• 10am – 4pm: Virginia Zoo Express train rides ($)

Vendors & Characters

Special Guest Characters

• 501st Garrison Tyrannus
• Virginia Ghostbusters
• Dexter the Dinosaur
• Super Hero

Food & Drinks ($)

• 10am – 4pm: African Village Restaurant open
• 10am – 3:30pm: Beastro open
• 10am – 3:30pm: Mini Melts open

Dietary Needs? Check out the candy ingredient lists here for all of the candy that will be available for trick-or-treating so you can plan!

💲Ticket Prices💲

Please note, prices will increase $2 per ticket at the gate, so get your tickets online ahead of time!

🎃 Member Adult (18+): $14

🎃 Member Child (2-17): $11

🎃 Non-member Adult (12+): $33

🎃 Non-member Child (2-11): $27

🎃 Children under 2 are free but require a ticket reservation

Due to this event being a special event fundraiser for the Zoo, we do not offer our normal ADA admission. We apologize for any inconvenience!

For the safety of you, our guests, animals, staff, and facilities, the following items are not permitted as part of your costume:

• Full face coverings/masks
• Live animals (with the exception of service animals)
• Projectiles of any kind
• Flames, pyrotechnics or explosives
• Weapons, whether real or fake 
• Bare feet 
• Nudity, or any illusion to it, including overly revealing costumes

Thank you for your understanding and we can’t wait to see all of your spooktacular costumes!

Thank you to our sponsors: Green Clean Express Auto Wash and PRA Group!

Event Reminders

• Limited number of tickets available. Advance ticket sales end when sold out (get yours early!). If tickets remain on the day of the event, gate sales may be limited to credit card transactions only.
• Tickets are non-refundable. All sales are final. Should a ticket holder be unable to attend the event, the purchase will be considered a donation.
• As an outdoor venue, events are rain or shine unless otherwise indicated. If any changes are made, an announcement via an email to our members and/or ticket holders and on the Virginia Zoo social media channels will be issued prior the event.
• The Zoo is a smoke-free facility; no smoking is allowed inside the Zoo. This also includes e-cigarettes and vaping. Inability to follow this rule will result in dismissal from Zoo grounds without a refund.
• By purchasing an event ticket, you agree to abide by the Virginia Zoo’s Rules & Policies.