Families looking for a Halloween outing that is more giggles than scares have a perfect date this weekend: Boo at the Austin Zoo returns on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the rescue zoo in southwest Austin, 10808 Rawhide Trail.
The whole zoo flips into glow-in-the-dark mode for the weekend. A haunted train ride rolls through the grounds, the popular glow maze lights up after dark, and families can wander past creatively carved pumpkins, smile for festive photo ops, collect temporary tattoos and settle in for not-so-spooky story time. Costumes are warmly encouraged for kids and grown-ups alike.
Boo at the Zoo runs in two-hour sessions each day, at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. and at 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. Families pick an arrival window when they book, then stay and play — the zoo closes at 8 p.m. on event days, and the train keeps running until around dusk. Advance tickets are recommended.
Every visit also does good: the Austin Zoo is a nonprofit rescue zoo, home to more than 300 animals representing over 100 species, from big cats and primates to reptiles and birds — many of them rescued or rehomed. A Halloween visit is a joyful way to support their care.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
