ZooBoo

Join us on October 19th & 20th between 9am – 5pm for a cauldron full of spooktacular family-fun including costume contests, animal pumpkin enrichment, trick-or-treating stations, and much more!

Timed tickets are required and tickets will not be available for purchase at the ticket booth. If tickets remain on the day of the event, tickets must be purchased online here. General Zoo Admission will NOT be available for 10/19 & 10/20.

Event Map

Activities & Schedule

• Pumpkin Animal Enrichment
  • 10:15AM: Orangutan
  • 11:15AM: Goats, Patagonian Cavies & Cape Porcupine
  • 12:15PM: Red River Hog
  • 1:15PM: Malayan Tapir
  • 2:15PM: Rhino Hornbill
  • 3:15PM: Masai Giraffe
  • 4:15PM: World of Reptiles
• Ambassador Animal Pop-up Shows at the ZooLive! Stage
  • 10AM, 12PM, 2PM & 4PM
• Costume Contests with spook-tacular prizes including Cinema Café tickets, Zoo Train rides, Zoo merch, and much more!
  • 11AM: Groups & Families
  • 11:30AM: Ages 4 and Under
  • 12PM: Ages 5 and Up
  • 2PM: Groups & Families
  • 2:30PM: Ages 4 and Under
  • 3PM: Ages 5 and Up
• Education Activities
  • Mad Lab
  • Enchanted Forest
  • Scavenger Hunt
    • Mini pumpkins provided at completion of scavenger hunt (while supplies last).
• Touch a Truck
• 9:30am – 4:30pm: Halloween-themed train rides ($)
• Bounce Hoppers bounce houses in Event Field ($)
• *Allergen free bags available upon request in the Membership Office

Vendors & Characters

• 501st Garrison Tyrannus
• Virginia Ghost Busters
• Chrysler Museum
• Dexter the Dinosaur
• Tango the Tiger Virginia Zoo Mascot
• Virginia Zoo Gift Shop ($)

Food & Drinks ($)

• African Village Restaurant: open 9:30am – 4:30pm
• Beastro: open 10:30am – 4pm
• Mini Melts: open 10am – 4:30pm
• Food Trucks in the Event Field
  • Ben & Jerry’s
  • Sweet Tweets

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💲

🎃 Member Adult (18+): $16

🎃 Member Child (2-17): $13

🎃 Non-Member Adult (12+): $35

🎃 Non-Member Child (2-11): $29

🎃 Children under 2 are free but require a 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 sponsor Green Clean:

Limited number of tickets available. Advance ticket sales end when sold out (get yours early!). If tickets remain on the day of event, gate sales will be credit card 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.