When the sun goes down at ZooTampa, the friendly frights come out. Creatures of the Night returns on October weekends (October 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31, 2026, 4–10 p.m.), Tampa’s favorite family Halloween event — spooky enough to thrill, gentle enough for little monsters.
Families wander haunted-but-happy trails past costumed characters, eerie animal encounters, themed scare zones scaled by bravery, and trick-or-treat stations among the animals settling in for the night. Costumes encouraged; the zoo’s residents provide the best ones.
It’s a separately ticketed evening event, and Halloween weekend nights are the first to vanish — book ahead.
The zoo by day is wild. By October night, it’s wickedly wonderful.
