Oregon Zoo's Halloween celebration with trick-or-treating, keeper chats, live entertainment, face painting, lawn games and spooktacular crafts across the grounds.
Howloween is back at the Oregon Zoo this October, running across two weekends: Saturday, Oct 17 and Sunday, Oct 18, and then Saturday, Oct 24 and Sunday, Oct 25. It's the zoo's Halloween celebration, and the whole point is to bring your costumed kids along to explore the wildlife in a safe setting with activities spread across the grounds. The trick-or-treating follows the zoo's mission, too—the treats come from companies committed to using deforestation-free palm oil.
Beyond the candy, there's a fair amount to do throughout the weekends. You'll find keeper chats, live entertainment, face painting, spooky lawn games, and Halloween-themed crafts. One of the highlights is the pumpkin playtimes, where elephants, black bears, primates, and rhinos get their own pumpkins to investigate. If you're visiting on Sunday, Oct 25, there's an extra layer: Bat Awareness Day adds a dedicated activity at the bats, and keeper talks and animal feedings run from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM.
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On the logistics side, all tickets have to be bought in advance online. Admission is free for members, but if you want to trick-or-treat, you'll need the $5 Treat and Ride Pass, which covers access to three trick-or-treat zones plus one carousel or train ride. The zoo is open from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM on the event weekends.
