Boo at the Zoo

18th Annual Boo at the Zoo

Media Release



It’s that time of the year again, when fall colors brighten the hillsides, the evenings grow cooler, and the Binghamton zoo prepares for its largest fundraising event of the season. This year our Boo at the Zoo has been expanded to include two weekends of fun, with a Pumpkin carving contest, an expanded daytime family event and, of course, our famous nighttime haunted zoo.



Our Family Boo at the Zoo is Saturday, October 10th and Sunday, October 11th from 10:00am to 4:00pm. During this event the entire Zoo won’t be open, but the lower Zoo will be open for lots of kid friendly Halloween fun. Activities include pumpkin painting, a ghoulish obstacle course, spooky story telling, apple bobbing races, ghostly miniature golf, face painting, crafts and much more! Every child that participates in the games and activities will earn prizes. From noon to 2:00pm the Star Wars Fan Force will be on hand with their bounty hunters, making sure all the visitors behave and have a great time. This event is the perfect for children up to 12 years old and children that come in costume can win prizes during our costume contest. Admission for Family Boo is $6.00 for non-members and $5.00 for members.



Our new free event this year is our Pumpkin Carving Contest, which will be held on Tuesday, October 13th and Wednesday October14th from 10:00am-6:00pm. During this time the Binghamton Zoo Pavilions will be filled with pumpkins available for participants to carve. Once carved, the pumpkins will be entered into our contest, where carvers can win great prizes, such as free Boo at the Zoo admission passes and items from our Zoovenir gift shop. For people who would like to carve their pumpkins at home, they can bring in their own and still enter to win. Winners will be contacted on Thursday, October 15th and all pumpkins entered will be on display during our nighttime Boo at the Zoo event! There is no charge to enter and pumpkins are available to carve onsite for free.



Starting on Thursday, October 15th at 6:30pm all the family and kid friendly Halloween stuff will be put away, and in its place ghosts, goblins, and witches will come out to play during our Scary Nighttime Boo at the Zoo. This event is not for the faint of heart, and is only recommended for participants over the age of 10. Strollers will not be permitted during this event. This year’s displays include a freak show carnival, haunted tunnels and cemeteries, the alien autopsy room, demon baby nursery, and much, much more!



Scary Boo at the Zoo:

Thursday, October 15th 6:30-8:30pm

Friday, October 16th 6:30pm to 9:30pm

Saturday, October 17th 6:30pm to 9:30pm



Admissions: $7.00/non members

$6.00/members (you must have membership card to receive discount)





The Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park is proud to be an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation, education, recreation and the exhibiting of animals in a quality manner.