Bronx, NY – September 28, 2016 – One of New York City’s most cherished traditions returns this weekend with Boo at the Zoo: Thirteen Days of Halloween at WCS’s (Wildlife Conservation Society) Bronx Zoo. Each weekend in October – including the Rosh Hashanah and Columbus Day holidays – will feature family-friendly, not-so-scary seasonal programming that combines traditional Halloween activities with the Bronx Zoo’s resident wildlife.

The annual Halloween celebration will run October 1-4, 8-10, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30.  Scheduled activities embrace the spirit of the season while incorporating wildlife and conservation. Annual favorites including the hay maze, giant pumpkin carving demos, costume parades, magic and more will return with some additional Halloween surprises.

This year’s Jack O ‘Lantern Illumination, an eerie walk-through experience will feature all new animal-themed carvings that take over the exhibits in the former World of Darkness building (near Somba Village) creating a one-of-a-kind illuminated Halloween display. Entertainment will include performances from Boo at the Zoo favorites, Gigi and the Lend Me a Hand Band and magician David Levitan.

Bronx Zoo Animal Keepers will be on hand throughout the park to chat with Halloween revelers about the animals at the zoo while providing holiday-themed enrichment treats to some of the park’s residents.

Visit www.BronxZoo.com/Boo for a complete schedule of dates, performances and activities.

Boo at the Zoo: Thirteen Days of Halloween

(Schedule subject to change.)

 

Jack O ‘Lantern Illumination

Walk through a dark, eerie tunnel filled with more than 1,000 hand-carved and beautifully lit Jack ‘O lanterns meticulously sculpted into various animal shapes. The all-new exhibit lanterns will consist of dozens of intricate, detailed portraits of animals ranging from bats, to reptiles, marine creatures, mammals, nocturnal birds, bugs, and more.

Location: By Somba Village

Time: 10am- 5pm

 

Pumpkin Carving Demos   

Professional pumpkin carvers from Sand Sculpture USA will be demonstrating their skill and displaying intricate pumpkin carvings of wildlife and animals from the Brown Bear book series.

Location: Dancing Crane Plaza

Time: 11am-4pm

Speed carving demos: 11:30am and 2:20pm

 

Costume Parade  

Visitors can join a Halloween parade. Hand-made puppets and props built by master costumers will be part of the fun as participants march through the zoo alongside an array of characters from the Alice Farley Dance Company. 

Location: Starts at Zoo Center

Time: 12pm and 2pm.

 

Hay Maze  

Let yourself get lost at the zoo with a Halloween maze filled with sudden starts, stops and lots of adventure.

Location: Butterfly Patio

Time: 11am – 5pm

 

Treat Stations  

Special locations around the park will help sweeten your visit.

Time: 11am–5pm

Crafts Workshop  

Location: Dancing Crane Plaza
Time: 11am–4pm

 

Book Readings - Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

            Location: Children’s Zoo Farm

            Time: 12pm -1:30pm

 

Boo at the Zoo is presented by Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, celebrating 50 years of Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle, with additional support from:

 

Bank of America

Canon

Empire BlueCross BlueShield

JetBlue

MetroPCS