Brookfield Zoo Holds Annual Boo! At The Zoo

BROOKFIELD, IL — Brookfield Zoo is adding a third weekend to its annual Boo! at the Zoo Halloween celebration, which is presented by Ferrara Candy Company. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, October 13-14, 20-21, and 27-28, guests of all ages can show off their Halloween costumes plus enjoy family-friendly and spooky-fun activities.

The zoo said starting at 10:00 a.m., youngsters can bring their trick-or-treat bags to the zoo and visit five candy stations where volunteers from Ferrara Candy Company will pass out sweet treats that include Halloween favorites such as Trolli, SweeTARTS, Black Forest, Brachs, Nerds, Laffy Taffy and Now & Later. While at each of the stations, take photos at the Halloween-themed backdrops to remember your day at Brookfield Zoo. Afterwards, guests can make their way through the Crazed Maize Corn Maze, take a spin on the Creepy Cowboy Carousel, or snag a seat aboard a Haunted Hayride.

There will also be a Pumpkin Smasher on the west mall. The zoo said pumpkins will be pulverized into pieces every hour on the hour starting at 11 a.m. Guests can also pick up some carving tips and tricks as a professional pumpkin carver uses a variety of tools to create masterpieces out of gigantic pumpkins that weigh more than 1,000 pounds.

According to the zoo, there will also be a costume parade which will kick off at 1 p.m. in front of the Discovery Center and end on the West Mall. Following the parade at 1:30 p.m., zoogoers can show off their Halloween attire and enter the Costume Contest. Judges will select winners in four categories: best animal theme, most original, best group theme, and weirdly awesome, in honor of Ferrara Candy Company’s weirdly awesome Trolli candy brand.

Pumpkins will also be given to various animals throughout the zoo over the three weekends. On Oct. 13 and 20 at 11 a.m., polar bears and grizzly bears will get pumpkins; Oct. 14 at 10:15 a.m., orangutans and western lowland gorillas; Oct. 21 at 10:15 a.m. black rhinos, pygmy hippo, and red river hogs; Oct. 27 at 10:15 a.m., gray seals and gray seals, California sea lions, and dolphins; and Oct. 28 at 11 a.m., goats, reindeer, and lemurs will play with pumpkins.

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