Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s BOO! at the Zoo has returned for fall 2026! It began Saturday, October 3 and continues through Sunday, October 25, 2026.

We have visited once again in 2026 and are ready to share our tips. This post is informed by our visits now and in years past plus the information available from Brookfield Zoo Chicago regarding the event. We have made many BOO! at the Zoo visits over our eleven year zoo membership, and we have watched the event grow and change. I am sharing our best tips with you, and we have now updated this post for 2026.

What is BOO! at the Zoo?

BOO! at the Zoo is an extended seasonal event at Brookfield Zoo Chicago celebrating Halloween time. For 2026, the event begins on October 3 and runs through October 25 this year. The schedule and offerings vary from day to day with the most activities and fun little bonuses happening on the weekends.

Access to BOO! at the Zoo is included with general admission to Brookfield Zoo Chicago. It’s a good deal! As far as we can see for 2026, most offerings are included with admission. Even the limited-time Dinos! exhibit is part of Boo! at the Zoo and included with your ticket. Extra cost add-one include the opportunity to decorate pumpkins and “not-so-scary” animal encounters. You can also purchase seasonal food and some merchandise.

So why trust our guide to BOO! at the Zoo? Well, we have been Brookfield Zoo members for the last eleven years, and we visit on a (very) regular basis. We watch the zoo prepare for BOO! at the Zoo and then transition into holiday decor every year. We have attended BOO! at the Zoo so many times that I have lost count. I am excited to share our experiences with you and hope you will give BOO! at the Zoo a visit in Brookfield, Illinois.

General Information About Brookfield Zoo Chicago

Before we jump into the 2026 plan for BOO! at the Zoo, lets briefly cover some general information about the zoo. Brookfield Zoo Chicago is a zoological park and accredited arboretum located west of the city of Chicago, Illinois. It was founded in 1934 and has been growing, teaching, conserving and getting more wonderful ever since. We love its 235 acre park-like setting and gorgeous habitats for the approximately 3400 (and counting) animals who live there.

The zoo has ample parking and is also accessible by bus, on foot and from Metra’s BNSF line. General admission options include membership or single day tickets, and the zoo also has generous options for discount tickets. For information on the logistics of transportation, general tips and ways to save on admission, please see our Big Guide to Brookfield Zoo Chicago. We will also have tips specific to BOO! at the Zoo at the end of this post.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago hours during the month of October are 10am to 5pm on weekdays and 10am to 6pm on weekends.

BOO! at the Zoo Decor at Brookfield Zoo Chicago

One thing that really impressed us last year were the enhanced autumn and Halloween decorations. We haven’t exactly been keeping detailed records, but anecdotally, the decorations last year seemed to be the most extensive we have seen in our decade-plus of regular zoo visits. Brookfield Zoo Chicago really seemed to go all-in on the fall decorations in 2025, and we are happy to report that they have returned with even more for 2026!

There are Halloween-themed inflatable props the zoo has used for some years (jack-o-lantern, witch, Frankenstein’s monster, etc) as well as photo-prop spots. The walkway between Hamill Family Play Zoo and Hamill Family Wild Encounters has a line-up of humorous gravestones. Other large props we have encountered are those super-tall skeletons you may have seen in front yards (or for sale in hardware stores). For 2026, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has six giant inflatables, seven photo frames and seven “peek boards” as well as the tombstone graveyard we mentioned. There is also the “Boo Glam Wall” you can see in the photo above and a Brookfield Zoo bear dressed as a bumblebee.

What we really enjoyed in 2025 and are happy to see again in 2026 are lots and lots of natural autumn elements. There are cornstalks encircling lampposts all around the zoo and beautiful clusters of pumpkins, gourds and hay bales. We even noticed extra flowers for the fall. I like that there is a mix of graceful autumn decorations with sillier Halloween enhancements. At the at the Hamill Family Play Zoo, we noticed lots of clever up-cycled decorations: our favorites were the “potion” bottles in the animal vet play area. That’s an idea we are planning to use at home!

Generally, these autumn decorations stay up at Brookfield Zoo Chicago for the whole month of October. So, while many of the BOO! at the Zoo activities are only on the weekends, you can enjoy the lovely autumn ambiance and some great photo opportunities any day from October 3-25. There are also other daily enhancements during BOO! at the Zoo season.

Other Daily Activities During BOO! at the Zoo

In addition to the festive decor, there are a few daily activities that are part of Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s BOO! at the Zoo. You can purchase seasonal food and drink and visit select stores at the zoo for trick-or-treating that is free with admission. More on trick-or-treating in a bit.

Guess the Pumpkin’s Weight, Win a Prize

Any day on the South Mall, you can visit the giant pumpkin and guess its weight. The zoo is entering the best guesses into a prize drawing, and you can submit your guess by scanning a QR code near the pumpkin. We found this pumpkin between the “Pumpkin Magician” and “Great Green Witch” inflatable decorations. The QR code is on the sign next to the pumpkin, which also let us know that the pumpkin itself is a county fair prize winner.

Zoo Cookie Safari

Keebler is hosting a “Spookie Fudge Stripes Safari,” that is available throughout the season. Here is the link for that offering.

In 2025, there was an Encanto themed scavenger hunt. We got a little sheet of paper with the scavenger hunt information from the person scanning our tickets at the zoo entrance. On the north side of the Carousel we found a drop-box for our completed forms as well as a bucket with some mini “golf” pencils. The pumpkin signs for the scavenger hunt had answers for the Encanto themed questions on our forms. We did not need to have prior knowledge about Encanto to successfully complete the scavenger hunt.

We did the Spookie Fudge Stripes Safari for 2026, and this one is all digital. Scan the QR you find on signs and even the paper BOO! at the Zoo maps and get started. There are some short games to play digitally that you do not need to be at the zoo to enjoy, so we suggest putting the screen away for your visit and saving the games and entry form for the journey home. We also collected a Keebler coloring sheet from the Hamill Family Play Zoo (no Spooky Fudge Stripes Safari entry necessary).

Trick-or-Treating at Brookfield Zoo Chicago

And now all the details about one of BOO! at the Zoo’s most popular offerings: free (with admission) trick-or-treating.

North Gate Market and South Gate Market offer daily trick-or-treating each day of Boo! at the Zoo. On weekdays, you can also trick-or-treat at Coastal Gifts (aka the Living Coast gift shop by the penguins). On weekends, there will be an additional two trick-or-treating stations on the East Mall, and one station will move from the Living Coast gift shop to The Grove (between Tropic World and the playground).

Brookfield Zoo has shared that trick-or-treating times are daily from 11am to 5pm. However, signs by the shops themselves say trick-or-treating is from 10am to 4pm. In any case, those hours are pretty close to all of the shops’ operating hours, and you can always ask a store staff person for help on the particualr day of your visit. The chance to trick-or-treat will be offered from October 3 through October 25, 2026.

In our experience, the retail shops offering trick-or-treating usually (byt not always) have a sign in front saying so. Inside the store, look for someone holding a bowl (no need to visit the register). This person will place some candy in your bag. We have also seen candy placed on a table with a staff member supervising nearby (this is usually at the less-busy Coastal Gifts).

As in years past, the candy offerings come from Ferrara Candy, and they are pretty great. The candy is usually chewy fruit candy. We haven’t see any candy with chocolate or nuts at the trick-or-treating stations (but of course we recommend checking allergen information yourself).

You can see the candy from 2025 in the photo below along with the free Disney Channel bags we received at the zoo that year. This week, we received Laffy Taffy, Nerds Gummy Clusters and little packages of fruit snacks. We do recommend bringing your own reusable bags to collect candy in 2026, as Brookfield Zoo Chicago has said they will not be giving out collection bags in 2026.

Special October Weekend Offerings at Brookfield Zoo Chicago‘s BOO! at the Zoo

BOO! at the Zoo really shines during October weekends, with some favorite offerings returning from years past. Brookfield Zoo Chicago says the following opportunities will be offered at various points throughout October weekends (we have added some helpful tips of our own):

Bouncy Inflatables for Children

Brookfield Zoo Chicago says bouncy inflatables will be available for children ages 3-10 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during Boo! at the Zoo. For 2026, the times are the same as they were in 2025, that means 11am to 4:30pm on Fridays and 10:30am to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. You can find these inflatables near the Pachyderm building.

For 2026, these inflatables are located on a patch of grass on the east side of the Pachyderm building near the carousel and (closed) butterfly house. Note that the Pachyderm house is also currently closed for ongoing construction.

Last year, we appreciated that zoo team members in Brookfield Zoo Chicago polos were stationed at the inflatables to monitor lines, enforce capacity limits and maintain cleanliness and safety standards. We saw them ask some bouncers to remove parts of their costumes that might cause injury: think protruding wire fairy wings or long necklaces that could twist around a child’s neck.

Show-off Your Costume & Meet Characters In-Costume

In 2026, you can join the costume parades on the East Mall at 12pm and 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Keep reading for Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s guidelines on what you can and cannot wear to the zoo.

And, between 12pm to 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays you can meet costumed characters “roaming” near the Roosevelt Fountain (that’s the huge fountain in the middle of the zoo). Brookfield Zoo Chicago says there will be princesses and superheroes, and the opportunity to meet and take photos with them is free with admission.

Extra Trick-or-Treating & A Cooke Safari

Remember, on the weekends, you can trick-or-treat at North Gate Market, South Gate Market, The Grove, and at two stations on the East Mall. On weekdays, the East Mall and The Grove locations are closed, but you can trick-or-treat at Living Coast Gift Shop plus the still-open North and South Gate Markets.

Look for a store team member with a bowl inside each store. This person is distributing candy. The East Mall locations are usually in a shade tent.

And do not forget, the Keebler themed activity described above also happens during the weekend.

Performances and Art

On Saturday, October 10 and and Sunday, October 11, you can find a polka band behind Tropic Worlds at The Grove. That is where Sgt. Sauerkraut’s Polka Band is playing from 12pm to 4pm. If the weather is fair, we do anticipate that being a popular weekend, as it is a holiday weekend for many.

Each Saturday and Sunday, there will be a Dinosaurs Wild performance on the Nature Stage at 11:30am and 1:30pm. That stage is by the inflatables, so also near the closed Pachyderm house. Between these performances, your dino-lovers should go to Dino Dig Alley for a Baby Dino meet and greet at 12:30 on Saturdays and Sundays.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago says there will be “Crafty Creatures” projects in the Hamill Family Play Zoo on weekends (while supplies last). We also recommend checking the Hamill Family Play Zoo for crafts on weekdays. There are frequently free art projects in the workshop area or in other corners of the Play Zoo. During BOO! at the Zoo, these may also have a Halloween theme. Even if they are not part of BOO! at the Zoo, we always enjoy these creative projects and appreciate how they make good use of recycled materials.

Extra-Cost Activities

You can buy pumpkins and pumpkin decorating kits at the East Mall Beer Garden on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 5pm.

Other “add on” opportunities with an extra fee are animal encounters with animals who carry “scary” reputations. You can register for these through Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s website.

Finally, remember that the zoo is offering Halloween themed food and merchandise for purchase during Boo! at the Zoo. The photo booths at the zoo have the option for Boo! at the Zoo theming from October 3 through 25, 2026. There will also be extra places to dine on the East Mall.

What if I am visiting mostly to see animals?

Brookfield Zoo Chicago will of course continue to be, well, a zoo, during BOO! at the Zoo. Animal habitats will be accessible for viewing. And, Brookfield Zoo Chicago traditionally offers Zoo Chats: talks by animal care specialists that are included with general admission.

Last year, Zoo Chats during October highlighted bats, herps, Guam kingfishers, sea lions, primates, Mexican wolves, eels and white-bellied pangolins. You can check the Boo! at the Zoo map on the Brookfield Zoo Chicago website to see where chats will be happening this year, and use the Brookfield Zoo Chicago app for a daily schedule.

Brookfield Zoo Chicago also traditionally gives pumpkins to many of the animals as a form of enrichment. These additions to their habitats help engage the animals’ senses and their curiosity. It’s a neat little ritual to observe if you visit in October. For 2026, Brookfield Zoo Chicago will be doing this pumpkin enrichment on Saturdays and Sundays, but you may be able to see what is left of the pumpkins on weekdays. For any given day, there is a schedule in the Brookfield Zoo Chicago mobile app or on the paper maps available around the zoo just for BOO! at the Zoo.

Guidelines to Keep in Mind

Brookfield Zoo Chicago has shared to following guidelines for BOO! at the Zoo (from the zoo website):

To ensure a fun and safe environment for all attendees, please keep the following in mind when choosing your costume:

• Costumes must be appropriate for all ages. Please avoid any themes, language, or imagery that could be considered offensive, overly scary, or inappropriate for children.

• Real or fake weapons of any kind (including toy guns, swords, knives, or props that resemble weapons) are not permitted.

• Guests over the age of 13 are not permitted to wear full-body costumes with their heads covered at any time. This is to avoid confusion with Brookfield Zoo Chicago costume characters and for the safety of all guests and animals.

Please note, all BOO! at the Zoo activities are weather-dependent, and schedule/programming is subject to change.

Tips for BOO! at the Zoo and Your Visit to Brookfield Zoo Chicago

Before we wrap-up this article to go work on our Halloween costumes, here are some tips for your visit to BOO! at the Zoo and Brookfield Zoo Chicago.

• The location of the many of the weekend festivities is the “East Mall.” This is the name for the long grass strip extending east of the central Roosevelt Fountain all the way to a smaller fountain and BZ’s Red Hots (a large restaurant).
• Looking to save some money? We suggest packing your own meals, snacks and water. Like many attractions, the food at Brookfield Zoo Chicago costs more than items prepared at home or purchased from the grocery store. Fortunately, Brookfield Zoo Chicago allows you to bring your own food and (non-alcoholic) beverages into the zoo. You can also find water fountains and bottle fillers throughout the zoo grounds.
• While Brookfield Zoo Chicago offers a staggering number of free days throughout the year, none of these days occur during BOO! at the Zoo. However, there are other ways to save on admission. We write about them in our Big Guide to Brookfield Zoo Chicago, so we are going to point you there for more money-saving tips.
• BOO! at the Zoo has traditionally been a very popular event. It is probably going to be difficult to avoid crowds on the weekends, but your best bet is to opt for days with poor weather and try to arrive close to opening and stay close to closing time. If you are primarily interested in the decor (and of course the animals), weekdays still offer some extra Halloween fun with (generally) lower crowds. Expect October 12, 2026 to be busy as well.
• As a guest, you are not required to wear a costume to BOO! at the Zoo. Many guests wear them, but plenty do not. We have seen both kids and adults go all-out, we have seen casual clothes with animal themes, and we have seen guests in regular street clothes. You will not be out-of-place if you decide not to wear a costume, but you might have some extra fun if you do. If you choose to dress-up, do be sure to follow those costumes guidelines we shared above.
• Do you have kids who will want to jump on the inflatables (aka bounce houses) at the zoo? We recommend having them wear or bring a pair of socks. Also be aware that zoo employees at the inflatables will likely ask your child to remove any costume elements that might become tangled or have the potential to injure your child or others while bouncing. We saw them taking extra care with this last year and appreciated their diligence.
• For October 2026, Brookfield Zoo Chicago is still hosting life-size dinosaurs! Like Boo! at the Zoo, this add-on is free with general admission. You can read about DINOS here. We think their presence makes 2026 an extra wonderful time to enjoy BOO! at the Zoo. You are really getting a lot for the price of admission! And don’t forget there are extra dinosaur shows and meet-and-greets on the weekends.
• Finally, if you have not been to the zoo in some time, you may be happy to learn that some areas that formerly required an extra admission fee are now free to general guests. This includes the Hamill Family Wild Encounters area as well as the Hamill Family Play Zoo, so go wild!

Thank you for reading this guide for BOO! at the Zoo at Brookfield Zoo Chicago

We hope you have found this post useful and that you are able to visit Brookfield Zoo Chicago soon. For other articles on this wonderful zoo see Our Visit to the Brand New Tropical Forests at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Wildly Fun Tips for the Play Zoo at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Rides at Brookfield Zoo Chicago: 3 Fun Attractions to Try and, of course, that Big Guide to Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Finally, please consider subscribing to our free newsletter below. Thanks again for reading!