ZOOBOO
ZooBoo activities run 2pm-close daily, now through October 31st.
Is regular October too humdrum, but haunted houses too creepy-crawly? Come to the Zoo for Halloween activities, amazing animals and pumpkins galore! ZooBoo is a fun family experience for itty-bitty ghouls and goblins as well as the bigger kids. October weather means active animals, colorful foliage and a new season to explore. Combine that with engaging, hands-free activities, spooktacular costumes and trick-or-treating, and you’ve got an unforgettable family tradition!
Best of all, ZooBoo is free for Zoo members and included with regular admission.
The Bicentennial Pavilion is home to a whimsical village where the DJ keeps guests on their toes with thriller dance parties! New this year, guests can explore the spooky & mysterious Leeward Manor, where they’ll meet meet the Leeward Sisters – Terra, Wisp and Bubbles, and their fortune-telling aunt, Clara Voyant, as they conjure up plenty of Halloween magic. The Mirror Maze makes a haunting return with thrills and smiles hidden behind every corner.
Mirror Maze presented by Meijer
MORE ZOOBOO FUN!
- Bat Alley – Meet Myotis, the Leeward Sisters’ cousin, and her winged friends hanging around the White River Gardens.
- Scarecrow Photo Safari – Bring your cameras for a spooky guided adventure through the Forests
- Trick-or-Treat Trail — Grab your treat bags and collect your goodies from 8 different treat stations in the Plains
- Adult Trick-or-Treat Trail presented by Zink Distributing — Friday and Saturday from 5-8pm (while supplies last)
- Roller Ghoster — Indianapolis’ only roller coaster with a fun, Halloween twist!
- Round-Go-Merry — the carousel that moves in reverse presented by ITS Logistics. Open until 7pm
- Spook-Track-Ular Train Ride — Enjoy a ride for a special view of the Zoo behind the scenes. Open until 7pm
- Gator Pirate Bayou – Arrr! The shipwrecked Boney Scute Pirate crew are looking for new recruits. Try your luck in their pirate themed games to test your skills as a pirate. Will you join the crew or walk the plank?
- Aunty Guzzle’s Potions – Help Aunty Guzzle create tasty and bizarre Halloween concoctions with potions, witchcraft and “magical ingredients.” Located at Café on the Commons
Costumes are Encouraged!
Show off your Halloween spirit by dressing up as a witch, superhero, vampire or favorite animal! Costumes are not required to attend ZooBoo, but they add more fun to the experience – plus it’s perfect for the Trick-Or-Trail Trail.
*Full-face makeup and costume masks are only allowed for guests ages 12 and under.
COLLECT GOODIES ALONG THE TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL
- This year, the Trick-or-Treat Trail has eight treat stations in the Plains exhibit.
- Children are encouraged to wear costumes and bring a reusable bag to collect all kinds of goodies at our eight treat stations.
- Look for hand sanitizer along the trail, with additional sanitizing stations throughout ZooBoo.
- We proudly provide only items that are palm oil-free, contain sustainably sourced palm oil or are produced by a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, which is working to make orangutan-friendly palm oil readily available.
- Find an orangutan-friendly Halloween candy list or check out the mobile app from our friends at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
We’ve conjured up all sorts of eerie sweets and treats, plus some frightful feasts just for ZooBoo. Sink your teeth into the Bruja Burger and the Terrifying Tots with Red Gold BBQ sauce, while you sip on some of Aunty Guzzle’s Potions. Finish your meal with a Crypt Keeper Nacho Sundae or a Graveyard Brownie.
There are spirits hiding in ZooBoo too! Our adult guests can enjoy a Pumpkin Spice-A-Rita or a Spooky Smash – two delicious cocktails created especially for ZooBoo by our friends at Hotel Tango.
Browse all our new menu items and find out where these ZooBoo-lishious specialties are available.
Watch as many animals enjoy Halloween-themed enrichment and extra animal chats throughout the event. View the ZooBoo map for the full scheudle.
The elephant herd gets into the Halloween spirit with the squash-splattering fun of the Elephant Pumpkin Smash presented by Lark Ranch!
- Arrive early to visit your favorite furry friends before ZooBoo activites begin at 2pm.
- With ZooBoo open late on fridays and Saturdays, you can also visit Oceans, Dolphin Pavilion, Deserts Dome, the Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center and the new Penny & Jock Fortune International Chimpanzee Complex presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers, until 9pm on those nights.
- Our Forests, Flights of Fancy and plains exhibits will remain open until dusk.
Meet our adorable black foster kittens who are looking for their forever homes. These playful young felines are available for adoption after Halloween through our friends at Indianapolis Animal Care Services.
Help Create the Halloween Magic
VOLUNTEER FOR ZOOBOO
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for ZooBoo! Due to an overwhelming amount of interest, we have had to close ZooBoo volunteer applications at this time.
Questions about current volunteer opportunities? Visit the Volunteers page for more information.
Check out our ZooBoo Merch!
Looking for something fun to wear to ZooBoo? Browse our merch store to find all the options. Make sure you order in time.
