Dress up, receive treats and see animals at the same time? Buy your tickets for Boo at the Zoo and discover other Halloween events at zoos near Champaign-Urbana

The Scovill Zoo in Decatur requires online reservations in advance for its annual family Halloween event; other zoos announce special events in October

If you love to visit the zoo AND are a Halloween fan, Boo at the Zoo (and other similar events) is something to include in your October plans. We have plenty of zoos within a short drive of Champaign-Urbana that are making special Halloween plans and we want you to get all the details right now so you can plan and avoid missing out on something.

Boo at the zoo, Scovill zoo

Information to know: Boo at the Zoo takes place at Scovill Zoo in Decatur. Held on certain dates from October 15 to 31. Reservations are required. Go here for details on its website.

Put on these costumes and take your kids to Scovill Zoo in Decatur for some outdoor Halloween fun. Children can walk around the zoo in their costumes during special evening hours. When you sign up, you choose if that person wants a treat bag, so there are two different prices for the treat and non-treat options. Children under 2 are free (and do not receive a bag of treats). Of course, if you want them to receive treats, you can save them as well.

Visit the Boo at the Zoo online booking site to take care of registration details. They will walk you through the process of signing up.

Spooktacular, Miller Park Zoo

Information to know: Spooktacular takes place at Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington from October 22-24 during the day. Reservations are NOT necessary. Get details on the Upcoming Events page of their website.

This daytime event has bright displays as part of its fun and excitement. Festive atmosphere with crafts, games, face painting and more. All activities are FREE with entry to the zoo. Wear your disguises!

Howl-Zoo-Ween, Peoria Zoo

Information to know: Howl-Zoo-Ween takes place at the Peoria Zoo. Organized October 15-16 during special evening hours. Buy your tickets in advance to avoid the queues on the night of the event. Go here for more details on its website.

This evening event features a trick-or-treat trail, bounce houses and more. You can purchase tickets in advance online or at the gift shop. It looks like you can also line up on the night of the event to purchase tickets, but that doesn’t sound like fun to us. The online ticket purchase site is here.

Zoo Boo, Indianapolis Zoo

Information to know: Zoo Boo starts at 2:00 p.m. on certain days and continues until the evening (either 7:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m.). Buy tickets in advance as these are “heavy traffic” days at the zoo. Read the details on the zoo’s website.

Treats on a treat trail, a live DJ, themed activities, and incredibly active animals make Zoo Boo a favorite family tradition. Zoo Boo is included with regular zoo admission for that day. Activities run Wednesday through Sunday and the zoo is open later on Friday and Saturday. As everyday is “heavy traffic” on the zoo ticket site, we encourage you to collect your tickets as soon as possible.

Boo! at the Zoo, Brookfield Zoo

Information to know: Boo! at the zoo is happening this year after a one-year hiatus. Held on Saturdays and Sundays certain weekends in October during normal hours, activities are included with regular admission to the zoo. Read the details on the zoo’s website.

Visit a number of family-friendly Halloween photo ops, show off your costume, and get a treat out of the zoo (instead of a sleight of hand) at this year’s Boo! at the zoo. Our favorite part of this event might be that they include a calendar of which animals will be fed pumpkins as a treat and which days, so plan accordingly! Activities are included in admission to the zoo; buy tickets in advance.

Boo at the Zoo, Saint Louis Zoo

Information to know: Boo at the Zoo takes place every night from October 15 through Halloween. One must reserve; there is an entrance fee (this is a free zoo during normal opening hours). Read the details on the zoo’s website.

This night is full of illuminated Halloween decorations, stroller entertainers and stage shows and other not-so-spooky evening entertainment. The online ticketing site is here; tickets range between $ 8.95 and $ 11.95 for non-zoo members.

Interested in another option? NOT a misleading event, Hello weekends are full of fun outdoor decorations, fall-themed animal treats, and an opportunity to wear your costume to the zoo for FREE fun during normal weekend business hours.

Fall Festival, Lincoln Park Zoo

Information to know: Fall Fest isn’t exclusively a Halloween event, but it’s definitely worth including on this list. Held Friday through Sunday in October, many of the attractions are paid experiences (this is a free zoo). Read the details on the zoo’s website.

These harvest-themed days include a pumpkin ride, pumpkin carving demonstrations, music and more. Although the festive atmosphere pervades the entire zoo for all visitors, there are additional fees charged for activities such as the pumpkin walk, pumpkin patch, and more. No reservations required for this free zoo.

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