Boo at the Zoo: A family Halloween weekend

If you are looking for a Halloween plan that leans more toward treats than tricks, the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium has its annual Boo at the Zoo this weekend. It is billed as a not-so-scary, safe trick-or-treating experience, and it runs on Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 6800 Zoo Drive in Kansas City, Missouri. The good news is that the activities are included with your regular Zoo admission or membership, so there is no extra ticket for the event itself. Bags are handed out at the entrance for children 12 and under, and Friends of the Zoo (FOTZ) members get an exclusive hour from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. before the general public arrives.

A few ground rules are worth knowing before you dress up. Costumes should not be overly scary, gory, or offensive, and weapons of any kind, toy or imitation, are not allowed. Adult guests need to keep their faces visible throughout the event. Ford presents the event, with Russell Stover providing the candy and partial support from the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund.

Beyond the trick-or-treating, the Zoo itself is a lot to take in. It sits on more than 200 acres and is home to more than 1,700 animals. The newest addition is the Sobela Ocean Aquarium, which opened in 2023 and holds nearly 8,000 animals across 34 habitats with 650,000 gallons of water. Entry to the Aquarium is included with Zoo admission and FOTZ memberships, so you can easily make a full day of it.

On pricing, general admission runs $22 to $24 at the gate and $25 to $28 online, and children ages 2 and under are always free. If you live in Jackson or Clay County, you get Zoological District pricing, which brings it down to $11 to $12 online and $12.50 to $14 at the gate. FOTZ members get a 50% discount on admission to zoos on the reciprocal list. If you find yourself coming back often, the Zoo offers several Premier Memberships: Premier Individual Plus at $165 for one adult plus one guest and rides; Premier Family at $290 for two named adults and children under 18 in their household, with unlimited rides for everyone; and the Premier Experience at $395, which adds five one-day free tickets, five platinum ride wristbands, a free t-shirt, a 20% discount on most food and retail, and invitations to exclusive member events. There is also a Premier Family payment plan at $310, and gift memberships are available for all three tiers. FOTZ memberships are the way to get that early hour at Boo at the Zoo, so it is worth weighing against the gate price if you plan to make this a regular thing.

Boo at the Zoo is not the only thing going on at the Zoo this month. The Keebler Spookie Stripes Safari runs October 1 through 30, GloWild continues through October 31, and the Penguin March kicks off on Halloween and runs into November 1. If you have been wanting to get the kids into the spirit of the season without the jump scares, this weekend at the Zoo is a reliable, family-friendly way to do it.