Spooky Safari

The Zoo in Forest Park's annual Spooky Safari is Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dress in costume and enjoy family-friendly Halloween fun complete with a trick-or-treat trail for kids ages 0-12*, on-site activities, crafts, music, and appearances from some special friends! The event will also feature a virtual costume contest and a pumpkin hunt around The Zoo.

Please note that Library Membership Passes may NOT be used for admission into this event.

A pre-purchased, timed ticket is required to attend. No tickets will be sold at the gate on the day of the event. Participation in the Trick-or-Treat Trail is for children 0-12 with a child ticket. Guests under the age of one are free to enter unless they wish to collect goodies, in which case they must have a ticket. Tickets are sold in 30-minute increments. We ask guests to arrive within a 15-minute window of their ticket time. All guests with a ticket will be allowed to enter until 2 p.m., but may need to wait for scheduled guests to enter first. No entry will be allowed after 2 p.m.

THE COSTUME CONTEST

Come in costume for a chance to win prizes in our Virtual Costume Contest! It's easy to enter - just snap a photo while at the event and post it in the comments of our Virtual Costume Contest Post on our Facebook page (@TheZOOinForestPark). A panel of judges from The Zoo in Forest Park will select a winner for Funniest, Most Creative and Best Group Costume. Prizes will be awarded to each winner!

Refund and Rain Date Policy

All ticket sales are final. No refunds will be offered.

We do ask you to please stay home in the event of an illness. In the event of an illness, a Zoo voucher for the amount paid will be issued to the buyer. 

This event is rain or shine. In the event of severe weather or heavy rain on Saturday, October 26, the event will be moved to the rain date of Sunday, October 27 from 12:30-4:30, with gates closing at 4, due to the Rays of Hope Walk happening in the park on Sunday. Guests are welcome to come anytime between 12:30 and 4 if the rain date is utilized.

***By purchasing tickets to this event you acknowledge the possibility of an October 27th event in the case of severe weather or heavy rains and that no refunds will be offered if the rain date is utilized.***

PARKING

The City of Springfield charges a fee of $3/in-state and $5/out-of-state plates CASH ONLY to enter the park. This fee is not managed or collected by The Zoo and is not covered by the price of your ticket. There is no fee to enter the park on bike or foot.