The Milwaukee County Zoo is splitting its Halloween season in two this year, adding daytime Saturday hours to its long-running Boo at the Zoo event while launching an entirely new after-dark celebration just for adults. Families can now trick-or-treat under daylight on the weekends, while grown-ups get their own spooky night out later in October, complete with fire performers and tarot card readings.
Boo at the Zoo returns with expanded hours this year, running 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays, Oct. 17 and 24, in addition to its traditional evening sessions from 4:30 to 9 p.m. on Fridays, Oct. 16 and 23, according to OnMilwaukee. The added daytime slots are meant to help the zoo handle heavy visitor demand and smooth out entry traffic during one of its busiest seasons. As TMJ4 reports, this year's Boo at the Zoo includes an all-day trick-or-treat trail, pumpkin-themed animal enrichment, light displays, live entertainment, costume contests, and pumpkin-carving demonstrations.
Saturday Visitors Need a Different Ticket
Anyone planning to attend on the new Saturday dates should know that regular daily admission and general Zoo Pass memberships won't get them through the gate — those passes aren't valid on Oct. 17 or 24, and all visitors must instead buy specific Boo at the Zoo event tickets online, per Visit Milwaukee. Zoo Pass holders do get a consolation prize: a 15% discount on those event tickets. Tickets run $18 for adults and $16 for children ages 3 to 12, with kids 2 and under admitted free; the price also folds in zoo parking, valued at $15, the same report notes.
The event's Trick-or-Treat Trail, sponsored by T-Fiber, features six sweet stops handing out palm-oil-sustainable candy, along with teal-pumpkin stops offering allergy-friendly alternatives for guests with dietary restrictions, according to the Milwaukee County Zoo. Visitors are asked to bring their own trick-or-treat bags. During evening sessions, outdoor animals are not viewable, while indoor exhibits like Big Cat Country and Primates of the World stay open at night, the zoo says.
Spooky Safari Brings Tarot Readings and Fire Performers to the Zoo
For the first time, the zoo is hosting a 21-and-over Halloween event called Spooky Safari, set for Thursday, Oct. 22, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. The night includes live music, costume contests, and seasonal food and drinks, TMJ4 reports. Admission runs $30 per person and includes parking.
The two events carry separate sponsors: Boo at the Zoo is presented by Prairie Farms Dairy, while Spooky Safari is backed by Milwaukee Uncut, according to the zoo. Family entertainment at Boo at the Zoo also includes activities from Mad Science of Milwaukee, professional pumpkin carving, and a harvest haystack maze.
Tickets Fund Conservation Work Year-Round
Boo at the Zoo supports the zoo, its animals and conservation work, Visit Milwaukee notes. The Milwaukee County Zoo is located at 10001 W. Bluemound Road in Milwaukee.
Guests heading to either event are advised to purchase tickets in advance, since sessions are capped and tickets are limited. This fall's Halloween lineup follows the opening earlier this year of the $22.6M rhino care hub.
