Trick-or-treaters and beer lovers are getting their own slice of the Honolulu Zoo this month. The Honolulu Zoo Society is organizing Octo-BEAR-fest, also known as Boos & Brews, a family-friendly fall celebration set for Oct. 24 that pairs costume contests and candy with pours from four Hawaiʻi breweries.
The event runs from 5 to 9 p.m. on the zoo's Great Lawn, according to KHON2. Alongside trick-or-treating, lawn games and costume contests, guests can check out a trunk-or-treat hosted by the VW Club of Hawaiʻi, where kids can collect treats from decorated Volkswagen vehicles, per details posted by the Honolulu Zoo.
Live music from The Matterhorns will fill the lawn throughout the evening, the zoo's event page notes. The night also doubles as a conservation showcase, spotlighting efforts to protect Malayan sun bears, which organizers describe as one of the world's smallest bear species, with programming aimed at teaching guests about habitat protection work tied to the animals.
Food, Drinks and Who Can Sip What
Food and beverages will be available for purchase from local vendors, including Cosmic Tacos 808, Poke Bowl Patrol, Lion Coffee and Jamba Hawaiʻi. Outside food and drinks are not allowed into the event, per the zoo's posted guidelines.
Adults 21 and older can purchase a brew ticket for tastings, though a valid ID is required at the gate. The lineup of participating breweries includes Aloha Beer Co., Waikīkī Brewing Company, Beer Lab HI and Honolulu Beerworks, rounding out the four local pours promised for the night.
Ticket Prices and How to Buy
General admission costs $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 2 to 12, while kids younger than 2 get in free, the station's report states. The adult brew ticket runs $45 and bundles event admission with tastings from all four breweries.
Honolulu Zoo Society members get $5 off every ticket level with valid membership. Tickets are available in advance through Eventbrite and can also be bought at the gate while supplies last, per the same account.
Every ticket sold helps fund wildlife conservation and the Honolulu Zoo Society's broader community education efforts, organizers say. For a zoo better known for its roars, howls and birdsong, Boos & Brews offers a rare chance to pair that mission with a Halloween night out.
