Boo at the Zoo has been CANCELED for 2025 due to the government shutdown.

Did you know that furry, fanged, and winged creatures at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo love Halloween?! Celebrate with them for three nights, from October 17-19, 2025, at Boo at the Zoo!

Wear your Halloween best and with your complimentary treat bag, visit 30 yummy treat stations. Watch as animals enjoy jack-o’-lanterns and other themed enrichment surprises, plus visit the Conservation Pavilion patio to see a giant pumpkin carving.

There will even be a roaming magician performing tricks, as well as a troupe of costumed actors bringing Halloween characters to life! Your ticket includes exclusive after-hours access to the Small Mammal House, Elephant Community Center, and Reptile Discovery Center, too.

Tickets for this special event, as well as on-site parking, are now on sale.

Get to know this destination! Offering free admission daily (special events are fee-based), the National Zoo, a Smithsonian institution founded in 1889, is one of the oldest zoos in the United States.

A diverse variety of animal life calls this 163-acre park home, including 2,700 animals representing more than 390 species. Click here to explore all they have to offer!