By Nancy Johnson Horn, Editor
Come visit THE Halloween destination for Metro New York families and one of New York’s favorite Halloween celebrations! Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo is a fun-filled, animal-themed, kid-friendly, not-so scary, Halloween experience. This celebration combines this fun holiday with the Bronx Zoo’s mission of connecting people to nature. October weekends at the zoo feature hay mazes, costume parades, musical theater, magic, and more. Don’t forget to embark on a trip back in time as you ride our Dinosaur Safari!
Live Music
Gigi and the Lend Me a Hand Band is back due to popular demand and will lead zoo audiences on a zany, rollicking, good time with Gigi’s Dino-mite Prehistoric Party. Roar through the globe on the “T-Rex Express” and rock to a NEW, even more rockin’ version of the prehistoric favorite, “Tyrana.” Come participate in animal-themed musical performances, songs, and dances that are knee-slapping fun and celebrate the animals of the wild.
Presented by IKEA and New York Presbyterian Hospital
Location: by Bears
11:30am, 1pm, 3pm
Magic Shows
Join internationally acclaimed magician David Levitan for a special brand of magic that has won the heart of audiences worldwide. Be amazed as Levitan combines his magical expertise with his terrific sense of humor and encourages audience participation as a part of his spooktacular magic shows.
Presented by IKEA and New York Presbyterian Hospital
Location: by Bears
12pm, 2pm, 4pm
Costume Parade
March with mythical creatures and dinosaur creations from the Alice Farley Dance Company and the Puppet Kitchen in a fantastical Dinosaur and Dragon Creature Parade! Come see a large-scale Komodo dragon puppet, a flying Quetzalcoatlus, a Triceratops, and a zany paleontologist as they lead you on an exciting adventure around the zoo.
Presented by IKEA and New York Presbyterian Hospital
Parade: 12pm & 2pm (Zoo Center)
Photo Op: 3:30pm (Dancing Crane Plaza)
Children’s Theater
Beasts of the Magical World, a puppet musical
This BOOtacular puppetry musical tells stories of elves and sorcerers, snakes and Komodo dragons, and best of all, magic! Created by acclaimed puppeteer Noel MacNeal of Sesame Street and Nickelodeon.
Location: Asia Plaza
Times: 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm
Creepy Crafts
Create fall-themed masterpieces and design your very own Komodo dragon puppet.
Presented by DNAinfo.com
Location: Dancing Crane Plaza
Times: 11am – 4pm
Creature Chats
Join our experts as they demystify and celebrate wildlife!
Snakes: 11am (World of Reptiles)
Bats: 11:30am (Jungle World)
Birds: 2:30pm (Birds of Prey)
Komodo dragons: 3:00pm (Zoo Center)
Museum of UnNatural Mysteries
Come explore Dr. B. Zarre’s remarkable museum collection of fantastical vestiges and mysterious creatures! Witness fascinating evidence of how the dinosaurs were destroyed and amazing artifacts collected from earth and space. Dr. B. Zarre has amassed his incredible collection through years of exploration and adventure and has brought his interesting “believe it or not” collection as a special exhibition exclusively at the Bronx Zoo.
Presented by IKEA and New York Presbyterian Hospital
Location: by Somba Village
Timing: 11am – 5pm
Hay Maze
Let yourself get lost at the zoo with a Halloween maze filled with sudden starts, stops, and lots of adventure.
Time: 11am – 5pm
Location: by Butterfly Garden
Treat Stations
Special locations around the park will help sweeten your visit.
Time: 11am – 5pm
Carved Pumpkin Demonstrations and Display
Professional pumpkin carvers from Sand Sculpture USA will be demonstrating their skill and displaying intricate pumpkin carvings that cannot be missed. From classic movie monsters in animal form, to giant insects and dinosaurs, our carvers will delight audiences with their remarkable creations.
Presented by Family Circle, New York Life, & PBS KIDS
Time: 11am – 5pm
Location: Dancing Crane Plaza
Animal Enrichment Activities
Every day keepers use toys, treats, and training to enrich the lives of all our animals. Look for special Halloween enrichment items and activities throughout the zoo.
Themed Weekend Entertainment
October 5 Come join Annie and Daddy Warbucks from ANNIE The Musical on Broadway for an exclusive meet & greet and musical performance! After the show, don’t miss the chance to march alongside Annie and Daddy Warbucks in our Costume Parade.
Time: 10:30 am – 12pm
Meet & Greet Location: Dancing Crane Plaza
Parade Location: Zoo Center
October 13 Come join Cinderella from the Broadway musical Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA for an exclusive meet & greet and musical performance! After the show, don’t miss the chance to march alongside Cinderella in our costume parade.
Time: 11:30am
Meet & Greet Location: Dancing Crane Plaza
Parade Location: Zoo Center
October 19 & 20
Don’t miss exciting fall-themed crafts, presented to you by Family Circle, New York Life, & PBS KIDS
October 26 & 27
Goosebumps Most Wanted are on the loose…at the Bronx Zoo! Catch a chance at a FREE copy of Goosebumps Most Wanted: Dr. Maniac Will See You Now—after all, books make the best treats! After you’ve picked up your book, don’t forget to take a frightful Goosebumps photo.
Presented by Scholastic
Time: 11am – 4pm
Location: TBD
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