Festive Features
- Plenty of magical lit scenes and Instagram-worthy photo ops
- Enchanting giant hay creatures
- Monster Mash dance area and Scary-Go-Round carousel
- Special animal shows nightly at 5:45, 6:45 & 7:45 pm
- 10 trick-or-treat stations + a souvenir bag for kids ages 2-12
- Purchase & paint a pumpkin with your family at our pumpkin patch
- Take a "Dying Superstitions and Traditions" tour at the Grassmere Historic Home
What to Expect
Walk-through experience with nightly capacity limits. Masks are required indoors and strongly encouraged outdoors. Requirements set forth by the city at the time of the event will be enforced.
Fall Festival Field features carnival games, bounce houses, dance parties, a corn pit and more. The Howl-O-Ween Hayride takes riders on a trip through the Zoo’s backroads to discover magical scenes. Trick-or-treat around the Zoo trail and uncover favorite treats made with sustainable palm oil. Enjoy special animal, science and magic shows, and grab a photo with a princess, superhero or villain. Visit the Frightful Farm to take a Dying Traditions home tour or brave the Haunted Barn.
We've adjusted Nashville's favorite Halloween event to provide families with a socially distanced, walk through experience, featuring many of your favorite activities plus a few new ones!
Event features: Pumpkin Town photo opps, Gourdon the Talking Pumpkin, Haymaze, Monster Mash dance area, Scary-Go-Round carousel (courtesy of Middle Tennessee Honda Dealers), animal shows, 10 trick-or-treat stations for kids, glow-in-the-dark souvenir cup for kids, and plenty of magical scenes lit along the treat trail!
Tickets
This event is sold out! Walk-ups cannot be accommodated.
Tickets go on sale Sept. 1 at approximately 10:00 am.
- Fridays - Sundays | $21 for everyone ages 2+
- Mondays - Thursdays | $18 for everyone ages 2+
- Children under age 2 are always free
- Members save $3 per ticket!
- Advance purchase is required due to limited parking.
- Groups of 20+ can save with group tickets - Email us
Members save $3 per ticket!
Buy Tickets!
Please note, tickets are required for ALL guests including kids under 2 and are valid for the selected night only. Tickets can be transferred person-to-person. Event will take place rain or shine. Ticket transfers to another night are possible depending on availability; you cannot transfer to a sold-out night (request a date change via our contact form). Tickets include the carousel, but the zip line and 4D theater are an additional fee. No refunds.
Flex Ticket
Good for any non-Saturday night!
Zoo Members: $13
Non-members: $16
Buy Flex tickets
Saturday+ Ticket
Select one Saturday night to attend!
Zoo Members: $14
Non-members: $17
Children under age 2: Free
Should you not be able to attend on your selected Saturday, your ticket will be valid for one use on any remaining non-Saturday event night.
Buy Saturday+ tickets
Know Before You Go
Preview the Event Map
Most animals go to bed early, but a few favorites like to stay up late. You can see flamingos, tigers and bears until 8:00 pm.
Kids can expect to visit 10 treat stations, collecting candy at each. We strongly recommend bringing your own trick or treat container as only a limited supply of bags will be available for children while supplies last. Please note, trick-or-treating is intended for children only.
All Saturdays and the last weekend of Boo at the Zoo is certainly the busiest. Regardless of which day you come, arrive early! Gates will open at 5 p.m.
With the reduced capacity, we expect Thursday-Sunday to sell out fast. Mondays-Wednesdays will likely be the least crowded nights.
Boo at the Zoo is rain or shine. In the event of rain, some activities may be delayed or canceled.
There will be food and beverages available for purchase, but you are welcome to bring in outside food and drink.
The event is geared for children ages 2 to 12 years old, but after dark, some areas may be scary for young children. We are not hosting the “Haunted Farm” this year, so there are no intentionally scary areas of the event.
Boo at the Zoo is intended to be family-friendly, so excessively scary costumes are prohibited. The Zoo reserves the right to deny admission to or remove any person wearing a costume or attire that is considered inappropriate or could detract from the experience of other guests.
After dark, some areas may be scary for young children. Your event guide (available upon entry) will provide more guidance.
Adults are welcome to dress for the occasion but should avoid masks and scary costumes. The Zoo reserves the right to deny admission to or remove any person wearing a costume or attire that is considered inappropriate or could detract from the experience of other guests.
Have you ever wondered why we wear black to funerals, or where the phrases "Wake" or "graveyard shift" came from? Or the real reason flowers were sent to funerals? Then be sure to visit the Grassmere Historic Home and our "Dying Superstitions and Traditions" tour during Boo at the Zoo! This fun and educational tour of the Croft House at night will give you insight to these fun facts, and showcase some of the beautiful mourning clothing and jewelry we have in our collection. Tours are every half hour from 5:30-8:30 every night of Boo at the Zoo. A free, timed ticket is required, and can be obtained from the ticket table across from the carousel. Tours are limited to 25 people.
Volunteer
Help us make magic happen: Sign up for a volunteer shift! Volunteer shift: 4:30 - 9:30 pm. Ages 16+ | Sign up
Animals You'll See
Most animals go to bed early, but a few favorites like to stay up late. You can see Andean bears and Sumatran tigers until 6:30 pm, and antelope, zebra, ostrich and flamingos until 8:30 pm.
Trick-or-Treating
Kids can expect to visit about a dozen treat stations, collecting 1-2 pieces of candy at each. Please note, trick-or-treating is intended for children only.
Beat the Crowds
The last weekend of Boo at the Zoo is certainly the busiest. Regardless of which day you come, arrive early! Gates will open at 5 p.m.
Plan for the Weather
Boo at the Zoo is rain or shine. In the event of rain, some activities may be delayed or canceled.
Food & Drink
There will be food and beverages available for purchase, but you are welcome to bring in outside food and drink.
The Scare Factor
After dark, some areas may be scary for young children. Your event guide (available upon entry) will provide more guidance.
Adult Costumes - Be Merry, Not Scary
Adults are welcome to dress for the occasion but should avoid masks and scary costumes. Costumes are up to Zoo security's discretion.
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Become a Sponsor
Interested in having your company involved with Boo at the Zoo? Email sponsorship@nashvillezoo.org to learn about our corporate package.