HalGLOWeen at the San Diego Zoo

The zoo’s Halloween weekends after dark: a skeleton rock band, singing neon pumpkins, an acrobatic spider, scarecrow stilt walkers and reptiles lit up along Python Path. No jump scares anywhere, so it works for little kids. Details

• When: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October 2026, activities 5:00 to 9:00 pm. Dates: Oct 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31.
• Where: San Diego Zoo, 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
• Cost: The zoo does not list a separate event ticket, so it reads as included with admission, though the page does not say so outright. Kids Free runs all October, so children get in free with a paid adult.
• Ages: Family friendly and not scary. The zoo makes a point that its spooky wildlife ambassadors are not really scary at all.
• Entertainment: The Skeleton Band on Front Street Stage at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 pm. Spooky Revue acrobatic variety show at Sydney’s Grill at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 pm. Dusty Keys the organist at the Boardwalk Beer Garden at 5:00, 6:05, 7:10 and 8:15 pm. Día de los Muertos mariachi at Sabertooth Mexican Grill at 5, 6, 7 and 8 pm.
• For younger kids: Boolahoops games and prizes near Wegeforth Bowl at 5, 6, 7 and 8 pm. Dr. Zoolittle’s Tricks and Treats at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 pm. Featured Creatures wildlife ambassadors at Basecamp at 5:15, 6:15 and 7:15 pm. The Glow-Go’s singing pumpkins at Busy Bee Patio every 10 minutes from 6:30 to 9 pm.
• Photo ops: Boo Crew scarecrow stilt walkers at the Mercado at 5, 6, 7 and 8 pm, and Dr. Harry and Friends in Halloween costume at the Boardwalk Beer Garden at 5:45, 6:50 and 7:55 pm
• Also running: Python Path at the Reptile House and the Spider’s W.E.B. acrobat at Desert Dunes, both continuous from 5 to 9 pm
• Good to know: Come early and make a full day of it, since the Kids Free promotion covers regular zoo hours too

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