Children 11 and younger can enter the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park free throughout October when accompanied by an adult with valid admission. One qualifying adult may bring up to six children, according to the San Diego Zoo’s Kids Free information.
HalGLOWeen schedule
HalGLOWeen takes place at the San Diego Zoo on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October. The evening program adds Halloween activities and entertainment after regular daytime visits, according to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
Program highlights
Programming is spread across the Zoo and includes live music, roaming performers, family activities and wildlife-focused presentations. The lineup includes Boo Crew stilt-walkers, reptile presentations along Python Path and acrobatic performers. Centennial Plaza hosts activities for children, while Elephant Odyssey is scheduled to feature a Día de los Muertos mariachi band. The Zoo Wildlife Alliance describes additional programming connected to conservation and wildlife education in its fall-events announcement.
Parking, transit and October weather
According to the City of San Diego, paid parking in Balboa Park lots is enforced from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free Balboa Park trams operate daily from the Inspiration Point parking lot at Park Boulevard and Presidents Way, with service hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Families should check parking and transportation conditions before traveling on a busy October weekend.
The National Weather Service San Diego says hot easterly winds are predominant in fall and that the highest temperatures occur in September and October. It also reports that 85 percent of San Diego's rainfall occurs from November through March, although monthly and seasonal totals vary widely. Visitors should check the forecast and plan for changing outdoor conditions.
Planning around the offer
The October promotion is separate from the HalGLOWeen schedule, so families can use the free-child admission on visits outside the nighttime event. The offer applies at both the Zoo and the Safari Park, with the accompanying adult required to have valid admission, as explained by the Zoo’s Kids Free policy.
Families seeking a daytime fall event can visit the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido, which holds its Autumn Festival on Saturdays and Sundays in October. That program is also covered by the October Kids Free offer, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
