Seattle families, get those costumes ready: Pumpkin Bash is back at Woodland Park Zoo on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. both days. The beloved daytime Halloween tradition is included with regular zoo admission — and free for zoo members — so a trip to see the animals comes with a full day of festive extras.
Little ghouls and goblins can trick-or-treat along the zoo’s leafy paths, hunt for pumpkins in a zoo-wide scavenger hunt, and dance along to kid-friendly Halloween entertainment including a Monster Mash Dance Party. A not-so-scary haunted house designed for younger kids keeps the thrills gentle, and special animal programs throughout the day connect the fun to the zoo’s wildlife.
The real stars, of course, are the animals. Keepers give pumpkins to residents across the zoo as seasonal enrichment, and watching a jaguar, orangutan or wolf investigate, play with — and eventually snack on — a pumpkin is the kind of joyful moment kids talk about for weeks. It is also a sweet window into how the zoo’s care teams keep animals curious and active.
Pumpkin Bash has been a fall favorite in Seattle for years, and this edition keeps everything families love: safe daytime hours, costumes encouraged, and all activities included with admission. Happy City News recommends arriving early, bringing a treat bag, and making a full autumn day of it in Phinney Ridge.
Photo: Woodland Park Zoo
