Zoo Boo Is Back at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo this October

This favorite family-friendly Halloween event is back with trick-or-treating, creepy crawly animals, and special surprises!

SYRACUSE, NY, September 27, 2022 — Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo is hosting its annual “kooky-not-spooky” Halloween celebration Zoo Boo, on weekends starting October 15 through October 30.

For this daytime event, the zoo transforms into a hauntingly fun destination for families and children of all ages. Zoo Boo includes trick-or-treat stations, creepy crawly animal encounters, keeper chats, festive games, parades and a daily costume contest.

New this year, we are bringing “sleepy hollow” feel to the zoo with a Spooky Stroll through the Wildlife Trail. Mysterious fog and eerie music will spill over our decorated trail, giving a unique Halloween feel to visitors without being too scary for the little ones. A new trick-or-treating station in the Animal Health Center will have a green screen for photo ops, where Zoo Boo participants can pose for photos with the background of their choice.

Each weekend of Zoo Boo has a costume theme – superheroes for October 15 and 16, witches and wizards for October 22 and 23, and favorite movie characters for October 29 and 30. Guests are encouraged to wear family-friendly costumes and bring bags to trick-or-treat throughout the zoo.

There will be a daily costume contest for Zoo Boo participants starting at 1 p.m. in the courtyard. Costume-wearers will parade around the waterfowl pond and judges will award best costume to the first-place winner. Daily winners will receive a prize including a plush zoo animal of their choice and other goodies.

Special guests will join us at the zoo including Syracuse Crunch on the weekend of the 15th and the Ghostbusters of Central New York on October 29. Face Painting from Leanna’s Art Room will also be available so guests can dawn spooky masterpieces.

Zoo Boo tickets are required for trick-or-treaters only. Parents that do not wish to trick-or-treat do not need to buy a Zoo Boo ticket. Admission to the zoo is not included in the Zoo Boo ticket price. Guests will have to purchase admission to the zoo unless they are a zoo member.

Advance ticket sales are available, and tickets can be purchased on the day of the event. Proceeds go toward our mission of animal care and conservation. For details, visit rosamondgiffordzoo.org/zoo-boo.