A family-friendly, non-scary Halloween event at the Saint Louis Zoo with festive decorations, entertainers, special food and drink menus, and activities for children.
Boo at the Zoo is back at the Saint Louis Zoo on select nights from Oct. 9 through Oct. 30, 2026, presented by SSM Health Cardinal Glennon. It's the Zoo's non-scary, kid-friendly Halloween event, so it's more about festive decorations, entertainers, and special food and drink menus than trick-or-treating. Children 12 and under are encouraged to wear costumes, though scary costumes and full-face masks aren't allowed for guests 14 and older. The event footprint has expanded this year, now creeping up Historic Hill.
There's a lot to do across the grounds. You'll find the indoor Primate House, Dinoroarus, and the 4D Theater showing Spookley's 4D Jamboree. The Bayer Insectarium, the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium, and the Holekamp Aqua Tunnel at Sea Lion Sound are all part of the mix, along with the Mary Ann Lee Conservation Carousel, stingrays at Caribbean Cove, a Zooline Railroad, and a Wild Explorer virtual-reality experience. One thing to keep in mind: the outdoor Primate Canopy Trails aren't open during the event.
In observance of Día de los Muertos, the Zoo displays a Beloved Animals Ofrenda with community-submitted photos of pets and cherished animals. There's also a sensory-friendly night on Monday, Oct. 12, with sensory maps, quiet areas, and trained Zoo staff on hand to assist visitors with sensory sensitivities.
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Tickets are $16 for general admission, $13 for Zoo members, and free for children 0-23 months. The Zoo is in Forest Park at 1 Government Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110, and it stays open year-round. Boo at the Zoo runs from 5 to 8:30 PM on select nights, with the last entry at 8 PM.
