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October 24 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm EDT

Purchase your tickets here!

Were you bone to be wild? ☠️ Don’t miss the final Adult Night of the year – ZooBoo edition! Explore the World of Reptiles after dark, enjoy mystery pop-up encounters with animal ambassadors, and then shake your boo-ty at a DJ dance party 👻. Guests can test their skills with free laser tag, peek into the future with free tarot card readings, and show off their best costumes for a chance to win fabulous prizes 🧛. With seasonal drinks, creepy-cool creatures, and plenty of thrills, it’s the spookiest time of the fear 😱! Costumes are encouraged, and this event is for ages 21+ only.

For the wellbeing of our animals, all trails and the Goat Yard will be closed during the event.

Event Map

Activities & Schedule

Activities included with your ticket

  • 5 – 5:30pm: Animal Ambassador Greeters in the Fountain Plaza
  • 6 – 6:30pm: Roaming Animal Ambassadors
  • 6pm, 6:30pm, and 7pm: Costume contests: Compete for epic prizes like a Zoo for Two Membership, AirPods, Behind-the-Scenes Zoo Tour, special event tickets, Bluetooth Speakers, general admission tickets, and more! ($, must pre-register)
    • 7:30pm: Costume Contest Grand Prize Competition (winners of 3 contests) 
  • Dexter the Dinosaur
  • Laser Tag
  • Tarot Card Readings 
  • Mad Lab: Zoo Science Activities in the World of Reptiles
    • World of Reptiles Scavenger Hunt
    • Spooky Animal Trivia Prize Wheel
    • Blind Boxes: Guess what animal the biofact represents using touch alone!
    • Know Your Poop: Identify poop and match it to the animal that made it!
    • Biofact Interaction Table: Get up close to skulls, horns, and scales!
  • Face Painting with Emily’s Fun Faces
  • Caricatures with Creative Soul Studios
  • Community organizations

Activities available for an additional cost ($)

  • 5 – 7:15pm: Halloween train rides on the Virginia Zoo Express
  • Virginia Zoo Gift Shop with Halloween plush, sensory toys, animal headbands 
  • Fairy Hair with The Fairy Hair Company
  • Hayrides

Spooky Vendor Market ($)

Food & Drinks ($)

  • Food Trucks ($)
  • 5 – 7:45pm: Beastro open
    • Limited menu and can bar
  • 5 – 7:30pm: Virginia Zoo Specialty Cocktails (while supplies last) at the Event Pavilion Bar: All drinks will be served in a 12 oz cup, $10 per drink.
    • Blood Moon Elixir Rum Punch: Bacardi Superior rum, Malibu rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, splash of grenadine
    • Potion of the Patch Pumpkin Bourbon Cocktail: Jim Beam bourbon, DeKuypper buttershots schnapps, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice
    • Witches Brew Margarita: Jose Cuervo Silver, triple sec, blue curacao, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, edible shimmer
    • Canned beer, wine, and Coastal Cocktails also available.

💲Ticket Prices💲

Member pre-sale beginning 9/5, public tickets on sale starting 9/12.

Please note, prices may increase as the event date nears, so don’t wait — early birds get the best deal!

👻 Member Adult: $13

👻 Non-Member Adult: $28

Purchase your tickets here!

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 sponsor: BioLife Plasma Services!

BioLife Plasma Services, a leading provider in high-quality plasma collection, transforms donations into vital therapies for those with rare and chronic conditions. Our state-of-the-art centers prioritize safety and cleanliness, making it easy for you to contribute to life-saving treatments.

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.