Boo at the Zoo Offers Spooktacular, Family Friendly Fun; Benefits Endangered Species

With night hikes through the eerily decorated grounds, spooky fireside stories and opportunities to see the zoo’s animals in a new light, Mercy Children’s Hospital Boo at the Zoo offers fun for everyone 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday at the Saint Louis Zoo.

"It’s a great way to experience the zoo at nighttime and walk around," said Ginnie Westmoreland, the zoo’s director of marketing.

Kids in costume are welcome, and will get a discount off the regular event admission of $4 for members and $5 for non-members.

"Most of the activities are aimed at kids between three and eight, but older kids can have a good time too," Westmoreland said. "It’s always fun to go to the zoo at nighttime—the zoo is transformed with pumpkins and Halloween decorations. is a non-scary family experience."

A skeleton crew will be hanging around, and the pumpkins outside the Penguin and Puffin Coast exhibit sing and talk.

"It’s similar to the technology used at the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World. .. A lot of the kids just stand there and watch that slack-jawed, because it looks so magical. The actual statues are talking," she said.

The zoo’s Haunted House, near the Lakeside Café and the cobweb-draped "Scare-ousel," is another crowd favorite.

"The Haunted House is absolutely mesmerizing—I enjoyed it," Westmoreland said.

The house is a look-but-don’t-touch experience.

"It’s a visual extravaganza set to music," she said. "So little ghosts pop out of the windows, that sort of thing. But it’s lit in a real fun way."

At the Children’s Zoo, visitors can participate in "Halloween Hank’s Pirate Adventure," where they will be treated to the tricks of an opossum, a large boa constrictor, a blue-and-gold macaw and an armadillo.

"The staff is on stage, and they bring out handleable animals and have them do different tricks," Westmoreland said. "It’s a different type of experience than you normally get at the zoo."

Out and about, visitors will meet Terry Rantula, who tells spooky but interesting stories about bats, snakes and spiders found in Missouri. There will also be a fairy strolling the grounds telling tales and posing for photos.

"Any princess between the ages of 3 and 8 is just delighted to meet this fairy," she said. "She’s beautiful. She has gossamer wings that are lit up."

The storytellers are "folks who work with kids all the time and really know how to capture their attention and be very dramatic and tell great stories," Westmoreland said.

On the zoo’s night hike, brave souls can help solve the mystery of the "Phantom of Historic Hill," trekking to Big Cat Country, the Herpetarium and the Bird Garden in search of the elusive phantom. Hikes are available every half hour from 6-8 p.m. and are $5 per hiker, ages 3 and up, with children younger than 3 free.

Those on the hike will be given clues to determine the phantom’s identity, and at the end of the hike, they will meet the phantom. To add to the excitement, the leaders will be the only ones with flashlights.

"The night hike sounds so cool," Westmoreland said. "If I had a 7-year-old little boy, and he had a chance to go to the Herpetarium at night, I would so take him."

Other activities include making "creepy crafts" at Kid’s Craft Corner. Proceeds benefit the zoo’s effort to protect endangered species.

Westmoreland said the evening should be savored, not rushed.

"It’s a good two to three hour experience if you enjoy everything," she said.

Mummies and daddies are invited to bring their little ghouls and goblins to the Saint Louis Zoo for safe and free trick-or-treating, Halloween costume parade, live entertainment, crafts, games, and more at Mercy Children’s Hospital Boo at the Zoo Spooky Saturday on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Children are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes for trick-or-treating along the Pumpkin Trail from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Throughout the afternoon, kids can make crafts and play games, and join in a costume parade at 3 p.m.

Admission to Boo at the Zoo Spooky Saturday is free.  Reservations are not needed.  For more information, visit www.stlzoo.org.

Parking is free in the zoo’s south lot on Wells Drive near Highway 40.