Halloween gets wonderfully wild in Seattle this year. Woodland Park Zoo invites families to Pumpkin Bash on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. — a joyful day of trick-or-treating, costumes and pumpkins galore for little goblins, ghosts and ferocious critters of all ages.
Costumes are encouraged, and there is a happy bonus for families: during Pumpkin Bash, one child age 12 and under is admitted free for each paid adult. All Pumpkin Bash activities are free with zoo admission or membership. Twice during the day, at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., kids can join the Mascot Led Costume Parade, which starts at Zoomazium.
The animals celebrate too. All day long, bears, tapirs, wolves, tigers and otters gobble, smash, crunch and play with pumpkins and other autumn treats. Watch lions and jaguars at 10:00 a.m., brown bears, rhinos and Komodo dragons at 11:00 a.m., and gorillas, red pandas and river otters at 11:30 a.m., with snow leopards, sloth bears, Malayan tapirs and penguins rounding out the afternoon. The zoo explains these tasty enrichments encourage natural behavior and keep animals physically and mentally stimulated — and they are fun for guests, too.
Woodland Park Zoo is at 5500 Phinney Ave. N. in Seattle. Put on a costume, bring the family, and enjoy a happy Halloween where the pumpkins are for everyone.
Photo: Woodland Park Zoo
