New York 42 Boo at the Zoo 2026
Bronx Zoo, New York · Organized by Bronx Zoo
- Dates
- Sep 26, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026
- Format
- In person
- Where
- Bronx Zoo, New York
- Organizer
- Bronx Zoo
The zoo's Halloween runs for six weeks and costs nothing on top of getting in, which makes it the cheapest large Halloween in the city and the one least likely to frighten anybody.
Boo at the Zoo 2026 dates and times
Saturdays and Sundays from 26 September to 1 November 2026, plus Monday 12 October. Activities run from 11am, with the last performances finishing at 4pm. It is free with a Bronx Zoo ticket or membership.
What is on at Boo at the Zoo
The candy trail runs 11am to 2pm; most other activities run 11am to 4pm, some from 10am. They are spread across the zoo rather than gathered in one place — Astor Court, Giraffe Corner, Grizzly Corner, the Butterfly Patio, Rhino Trail, Rhino Garden and the Dancing Crane Pavilion each have something, from puppets and games to a hay maze and free face painting.
Getting to the Bronx Zoo
The zoo is in the Bronx at 2300 Southern Boulevard. It is a long day out from Manhattan and a short one from the north Bronx, and the Halloween weekends are among the busiest the zoo has.
Across Fordham Road
The New York Botanical Garden is just the other side of Fordham Road, and its Día de los Muertos runs until 2 November, with giant Catrina puppets on the last three days and a parade on Sunday 1 November.
The candy trail closing at two while everything else runs to four is the detail that catches families out: arriving at one o'clock means queueing for the one thing with a deadline. Go for eleven, do the trail first and the rest of the zoo afterwards. October weekends here are also the zoo's own peak — the animals are more active in the cold than in August, which is the quiet argument for coming now rather than in summer.
Boo at the Zoo 2026: questions
When is Boo at the Zoo 2026 at the Bronx Zoo?
Every Saturday and Sunday from 26 September to 1 November 2026, plus Monday 12 October.
Does Boo at the Zoo cost extra?
No. The zoo says it is free with your Bronx Zoo ticket or membership.
What time does it finish?
Activities and the final performances end at 4pm. The candy trail is the shorter window, 11am to 2pm.
Source: Bronx Zoo checked against the source
