San Antonio Zoo has kicked off the 40th year of its ZOO BOO! event, running from Saturday through Nov. 1 with free daily trick-or-treating, live entertainment and a brand-new experience inspired by Día de los Muertos. The event is included with standard zoo admission, and members get in free.
According to sazoo.org, ZOO BOO! features daily trick-or-treating from 4 to 5 p.m., along with interactive animal experiences woven throughout the celebration. As KSAT reports, the daily trick-or-treating takes place at six stations scattered around the zoo grounds, giving families multiple stops to fill their bags each afternoon.
The zoo notes that all candy handed out during trick-or-treating contains sustainably sourced palm oil, a detail tucked into the event's broader conservation messaging. For guests hoping to get up close with some of the zoo's creepier residents, the John and Greli Less Spider Rainforest is offering encounters with real spiders during the run of ZOO BOO!, per the sazoo.org listing.
A New Tribute Debuts Inside the Zoo
The biggest change for the 40th anniversary is Fiesta de los Muertos, a new addition inspired by Día de los Muertos that the zoo describes as bringing colorful, culturally inspired art and displays into the ZOO BOO! footprint. The experience is organized around three uniquely themed realms, according to the same sazoo.org page.
Inside that space, guests can cross the Marigold Bridge and stop at the Ofrenda de Animales, an installation honoring animals that have passed. The station's listing also places both features within a section it calls the Plaza de los Recuerdos, giving the new trail a dedicated corner of the celebration rather than folding it loosely into the rest of ZOO BOO!.
Extended Hours and Perks on Halloween Night
San Antonio Zoo plans to stay open until 9 p.m. on Halloween itself, Oct. 31, with special activities scheduled throughout the day and into the evening. The zoo has not detailed a full lineup of every themed weekend or special date beyond what it has already announced for the season.
Members get an extra reason to show up on Oct. 24, when the zoo hosts Membership Appreciation Day. Perks that day include Bring a Friend Free and a member giveaway while supplies last, per sazoo.org.
Dog owners have their own Halloween outing to look forward to as well. The zoo is offering dog-friendly trick-or-treating, a dog costume contest and a Halloween-themed adventure for pets, though each participating dog requires an additional Dog Day Ticket. Whether it is the new Fiesta de los Muertos trail, the returning trick-or-treat stations or the dog-friendly festivities, ZOO BOO! is built to give San Antonio families a full month and a half of Halloween programming leading into its milestone close on Nov. 1.
