Halloween season is on at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, and families are invited to one of the sweetest fall traditions in the city: ZooBoo, the zoo’s annual kid-friendly Halloween celebration, returns on Saturdays and Sundays, October 17-18 and 24-25, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Presented by AHN Pediatrics, ZooBoo is a daytime walk-thru event held during regular zoo hours – which means the trick-or-treating, parades and costume contests are all included with regular daytime admission. No separate ticket is needed.
Trick-or-treating, parades and costume contests
The heart of ZooBoo is safe daytime trick-or-treating throughout the zoo, where kids collect treats while supporting local businesses along the way. Around the candy trail, families can enjoy giveaways, meet favorite characters, watch the animals enjoy their own Halloween treats, and show off costumes in the Halloween parade and dance party.
The daily schedule gives families two chances to catch every highlight:
- 10:00 AM – Trick-or-treating begins
- 11:30 AM – Halloween parade at the Lower Aquarium Patio
- 11:35 AM – Costume contest and character meet & greet at the Water’s Edge Pavilion
- 1:30 PM – Halloween parade, afternoon round
- 1:35 PM – Costume contest and character meet & greet, afternoon round
- 3:00 PM – Trick-or-treating ends
Guests of all ages are welcome to wear costumes – a beloved part of the day – with the zoo simply asking that costumes allow safe movement and that teens and adults skip masks that fully cover the face.
A nonprofit zoo with a big mission
The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, a nonprofit conservation organization, connects people to wildlife through its animal habitats, aquarium and conservation programs. ZooBoo pairs that mission with pure seasonal fun: a day when kids learn about animals while collecting candy among them.
Because ZooBoo happens on only two weekends, Happy City News recommends planning ahead – the event draws big family crowds, especially on the final weekend before Halloween. Zoo members enjoy unlimited free visits, even during ZooBoo, making membership a smart move for families who visit more than a couple of times a year.
And for grown-ups who want their own Halloween after dark, the zoo’s Jack O’Lantern Extravaganza – a separate nighttime event – runs October 2 through November 1, 2026. The pair makes a perfect one-two Halloween punch for Pittsburgh families.
The zoo is open daily from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (last admission 4:30 PM) at 7370 Baker Street in Highland Park. Find full ZooBoo details on the official zoo website.
