The San Antonio Zoo's 40th annual Halloween tradition featuring trick-or-treating, seasonal food, live entertainment, and a Dia de los Muertos-inspired festival.
Zoo Boo! Presented by PNC is back at the San Antonio Zoo, running from September 19 through November 1. It's the zoo's Halloween-season tradition, and this year marks its 40th. They describe it as a not-too-spooky celebration for all ages, so it's more about fall fun than jump scares.
The usual setup is there: the zoo gets dressed up in festive, family-friendly décor, and on select days there's trick-or-treating at stations spread across the grounds. You'll also find seasonal food and drinks inspired by fall favorites, live entertainment, themed activities, and animal encounters with keepers. If you're going with kids, the trick-or-treating is the main draw, but the rest of it works just as well if you're just there to see the animals and the decorations.
There's something new this year, too. The zoo is debuting Fiesta de Los Muertos, a Día de los Muertos-inspired festival with vibrant cultural art and live entertainment. It includes a few specific spots to check out: Plaza de los Recuerdos, the Marigold Bridge, and the Ofrenda de Animales, which is a tribute to animals that have passed. It's a nice addition that gives the whole season a bit more to do than just the Halloween side of things.
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As for the logistics, the trick-or-treating happens daily from 4 PM to 5 PM, so if that's what you're after, you'll want to time your visit around that hour. On Halloween, October 31, the zoo stays open until 9 PM. Admission is included with a standard zoo ticket, and it's free for San Antonio Zoo members.
