Halloween is the absolute favorite time of the year for my family! We love to decorate the house and plan our costumes. With two kiddos under the age of 5, it can be a challenge to find fun activities and places that are not too scary for them and maybe for me too! This year we were so excited to hear that the LA Zoo has extended their “Boo in Zoo” festivities and made it a month-long celebration! Due to the wonderful sponsors, all of the special Halloween attractions are included with the regular admission price. We stopped by the first weekend of October and did not leave disappointed.
Our first zoo stop was Professor Johnson, Organ Donor Musical Review. A great way to start off our haunted fun! Classic scary film music review that put my kiddos in the Halloween spirit. My daughter Gia was a bit spooked, but had her big brother front and center to hold her hand. Right across from Professor Johnson is a crafting station. Kids love the spider webs and bats they made and promptly hung them up at home.
Off to the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo to check out the spooky caves! Filled with creepy lights and projections of giant spiders and snakes. I admit it scared me a bit. My arachnophobia is legendary in our house. My kids loved seeing me jump. And of course Jack is obsessed with all things spider. So when Princess Arachnia walks up to him, he had no problem chatting with her and insisting on a photo opp. I appreciated the characters being so friendly and not creeping up to scare the kiddos. We get enough of that at home from dad and big sister!
The creepy theme continued with the animal encounters, nothing like petting a python to get the kids excited. And no Gia, we can’t take the snake home! Let’s get some time in with the sweet domestic animals at the petting zoo. Nice calm moments petting and brushing the goats and sheep. And no Chloe (my oldest), we cannot have a goat!
My favorite entertainment has to be “Dress Up With Campfire Cat.” She is so friendly and funny and even brings fun costumes for the kids! Jack immediately volunteered to sing, dance and put on a spooky costume. Now he has more to add to his Super Spider-Man gear. After a couple songs all the kids in the audience got to jump up on the stage and put on a costume and have their face painted. It was pure glee!
Next stop was the Graveyard Safari Maze and watching the Pumpkin Carving Masters. The hay bale maze was an easy stroll. No losing the kiddos! Our busy morning with Halloween activities was so amazing. After a quick lunch we went to watch the festive ghoulish feeding. The first weekend featured lion feeding. They seemed to really like the carcass. I was worried that my little kiddos would be a bit freaked, but they thought it was so cool! The rest of the afternoon was filled with more animal exploring! Jack declared it was the best day at the zoo ever!! I agree!
“Boo in the Zoo” activities and entertainment are planned for every weekend in October. Zoo residents celebrate along with visitors, so guests are encouraged to keep their eyes peeled for seasonal feedings of pumpkins for plant eaters and carcasses for carnivores on select dates (parental discretion for the latter is advised). Feedings are set for jaguars on Saturday, October 10; for elephants on Sunday, October 11; for the black bear on Saturday, October 17; for the tiger on Sunday, October 18; for snow leopards on Saturday, October 24; and for Komodo dragons on Sunday, October 25. On Halloween, Saturday, October 31, guests can celebrate the one-year birthday of Rosie, the Zoo’s near-legendary baby hippo, with activities to be announced. Traditional trick-or-treating at the Zoo has also been extended this year and takes place on Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25 and Saturday, October 31. Activities at BOO AT THE LA ZOO, which is sponsored by 99 Cents Only Stores, are free with paid Zoo admission beginning Thursday, October 1 and continuing through Saturday, October 31, 2015, 10 am to 4 pm. Check lazoo.org/BOO for details and daily schedules.
We attended opening weekend for editorial purposes. Our opinions are own.
