Celebrate two weekends of daytime, family-friendly Halloween fun!
When: Saturday & Sunday – October 18 & 19 and October 25 & 26, 2025
Location: Africa and Africa Ampitheatre
Extra cost in addition to Zoo admission: $10 for guests and Zoo member guests; $8 for Zoo members.
Purchase your Boo at the Zoo wristband at the Africa or North America admission booths. Boo ticket sales end at 2 p.m. each day.
Get your kids ready for the beloved Boo at the North Carolina Zoo! This annual, family-friendly Halloween event serves sweet treats and more, perfect for kids 4-12. Dress up your little ones to enter fun costume contests, enjoy trick or treating along the Africa loop, and have a howling good time with festive games in the Africa Ampitheatre.
Schedule:
9 AM - 3 PM: Trick or treating - Africa Loop
9 AM - 3 PM: Games, face painting, craft, entertainment - Africa Ampitheatre (Activities pause during costume contest)
9 AM - 3 PM Boo Sensory/Quiet Area at Oak Hill Picnic Area with activities and prizes
12 PM: Costume Contest
3 PM: Costume Contest
Costume Guidelines:
Costumes must be family-friendly; No scary costumes or costumes that expose excessive portions of skin that may be viewed as inappropriate in a family environment.
For participants 13 and older, costumes, masks, makeup, or face paint cannot cover the face. Small embellishments are okay.
Costumes should not contain any weapons that resemble or could be mistaken for an actual weapon.
Costumes must be safe to be worn throughout the Zoo. Costumes should not drag on the ground or contain sharp objects or material that may accidentally strike another person.
Costume Contest Age Groups
0-5 years
6-12 years
13 years and up
Themed Family or Group participants