Two Ticketed Halloween Celebrations at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

It is no trick, only the sweetest treat: Boo at the Zoo and Night of the Living Zoo will return this fall at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C. All proceeds from these ticketed special events support the Zoo’s animal care and conservation science programs. These events will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit the Zoo’s website.     

Boo at the Zoo

The Zoo is hosting a WILD Halloween party: Boo at the Zoo, sponsored by Mars Wrigley Confectionery, is back Oct. 17, 18 and 19, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. As an added treat, Smithsonian’s National Zoo members can enjoy early admission from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. all three nights.

Boo at the Zoo offers trick-or-treating and not-so-spooky entertainment the whole family can enjoy—all in the enchanting setting of the Zoo. Tickets include special after-hours access to the Small Mammal House, Elephant Community Center and Reptile Discovery Center. Keepers decorate the animals’ habitats with enticing enrichment, including painted banners, colorful boxes and festive jack-o-lanterns. New this year, guests can marvel at master carvers as they transform giant pumpkins into gourd-eous works of art on the Conservation Pavilion patio. Per tradition, trick-or-treaters will receive souvenir goodie bags to fill with sweets, snacks and other fun surprises. Treat booths, a dazzling array of fantastical vignettes and live performances by magicians and entertainers are sure to lift guests’ spirits.

Tickets go on sale to non-members today, Aug. 28, for $35. Zoo Member tickets are $29.75. Each attendee, including any children over the age of 2, will need a ticket. Boo at the Zoo is an extremely popular event with Washington-area families who celebrate Halloween. Due to limited capacity, tickets and parking passes tend to sell out quickly. Guests are encouraged to plan ahead and purchase tickets and parking passes early.

Night of the Living Zoo

A spirited and spine-chilling evening awaits guests ages 21+ at the Night of the Living Zoo. The Zoo is bringing its adult-only Halloween party back from the dead for two nights—Oct. 24 and 25—from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. This year’s event includes an extra “witching hour” filled with ghoulish delights, including special after-hours access to the Reptile Discovery Center and Great Cats exhibits from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 

Night of the Living Zoo promises to enchant guests as they: 

• Lift their spirits at an open cocktail bar
• Get thrilled by mesmerizing circus acts
• Experience ethereal “Zoostrology” readings, discover which Zoo animals match their “big three” and be adorned with temporary star tattoos and glitter constellations
• See sensational portraits brought to life by silhouette artists
• Uncover ghoulish scenes haunting the Zoo’s main walkway
• Capture wonderfully weird photo booth moments
• Do the monster mash while DJs Tezrah (Oct. 24) and Tinzo + Jojo (Oct. 25) spin records
• Shake their bones to live performances by artists White Ford Bronco (Oct. 24) and Billy “T” Wilde (Oct. 25)

For additional purchase, guests can feast on tantalizing foods and immortalize their evening with permanent flash tattoos. 

Tickets go on sale to non-members today, Aug. 28, for $80. Zoo Member tickets are $68. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend. ID is required for entry, and each attendee will need a ticket.

Zoo event parking and arrival directions for guests:

• Arriving fashionably late. Last entry for Boo at the Zoo is 8:30 p.m. For Night of the Living Zoo, last entry is 10:30 p.m.
• Dressing in costume. While costumes are encouraged, guests may not wear full-faced masks or bring accessories or props that look like weapons.
• Arriving on foot. The Zoo’s Connecticut Avenue and Harvard Street entrances will be open until last entry.
• Taking Metro. Metro Bus (D70) and Metro Rail (Woodley Park-Zoo and Cleveland Park) have stops within walking distance of the Zoo’s main pedestrian entrance on Connecticut Avenue.
• Using a rideshare vehicle. Pickup is in the Zoo’s vehicle check-in lot near Asia Trail, accessible from the main entrance at 3001 Connecticut Ave. N.W.
• Planning to park. Guests must purchase a Boo at the Zoo or Night of the Living Zoo paid parking pass—available for $30 per vehicle—online before their visit. Only guests with a valid parking pass will be permitted to park on-site. Daytime parking passes will not be honored for ticketed special events. All cars must enter through the main vehicle entrance on Connecticut Avenue. 

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