Boo at the Zoo

Boo at the Zoo is back at the Austin Zoo this October, with the Halloween night running on Friday and Saturday nights throughout the month. It's a family-friendly evening, and since it's spread across eight dates—October 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, and 24—you've got a few weekends to choose from. Each night runs from 5:45 to 9 PM.

The evening is built around a few different attractions. There are two haunted houses running side by side: one is genuinely spooky, and the other is dialed down for younger kids, so you can pick the one that fits your group. There's also a haunted train ride billed as "not too scary," a creepy-crawly animal show, and a children's musical act, Bubbles! by Scotty Roo. Costumes are encouraged, so it's a good excuse to get the whole family dressed up.

It helps to know what the Austin Zoo is. It's a rescue sanctuary rather than a traditional accredited zoo, and most of the animals there were surrendered or relocated from other facilities. The property is small enough to walk from one end to the other in under an hour during the day, and at night the animal habitats are lit in Halloween colors. The whole thing is designed for all ages: the two haunted houses run right next to each other so younger kids can skip the spooky one, the train ride is billed as "not too scary," and families can bring their own picnic-style dinner to the Picnic Grove. It's the kind of night where you can do as much or as little as you want.

Tickets are $25 per person. The zoo is at 10808 Rawhide Trail in Austin, and since it runs every Friday and Saturday night from October 2 through October 24, you can pick whichever weekend works best for you. Each night goes from 5:45 to 9 PM.