Boo at the Zoo returned to the ABQ BioPark Zoo on Saturday, October 24, 2026, offering trick-or-treating, crafts and themed games for a costume-friendly audience. The family-friendly fundraiser ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and drew families looking for a Halloween outing with a conservation twist.
According to abqbooatthezoo.org, the event offered trick-or-treating throughout the zoo grounds alongside educational activities, a craft and enrichment-making station, and a lineup of themed games. Families could also snap photos with iconic characters, and younger visitors could get spooky makeovers with face painting. As KRQE News 13 reported, the gathering brought together community members to celebrate Halloween at the Albuquerque BioPark and attracted ghouls and goblins of all ages.
Tickets, Transportation and Timing
Boo at the Zoo required timed tickets purchased online in advance, with adult admission priced at $15 and youth tickets ages 3 to 12 set at $10, per the event's official site. The same listing noted a free Park & Ride service connecting the 4th and Marquette parking lot at 412 4th St. NW with the zoo entrance, giving visitors an alternative to parking on-site during the busy fall event.
BioPark staff spent time ahead of the event decorating areas throughout the grounds, according to a report from the same station's coverage of the event. That same account described Boo at the Zoo as a chance for families to enjoy spooktacular educational activities, a craft and enrichment-making station, and games built around the Halloween theme.
A Fundraiser With a Conservation Message
Billed as a New Mexico BioPark Society fundraiser supporting the ABQ BioPark, the event wove conservation messaging into its Halloween festivities. Organizers used candy made with sustainably sourced palm oil and invited attendees to bring used household and button batteries to the event for recycling, according to the event's official page. The same source described the day as supporting wildlife, conservation efforts and the zoo's animal residents.
The pairing of trick-or-treating with sustainability practices reflects a broader push by zoos to use seasonal crowds as an entry point for environmental education, though specific outcomes from this year's event, including final attendance and funds raised, were not available at publication.
