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Boo at the Zoo – Zoo Atlanta: Review

ByPaige Watts

Zoo Atlanta’s annual Halloween festival, Boo at the Zoo, returns with plenty of treats for the animals, kids, and kids at heart!

Looking for an exciting activity to celebrate this spooky season that’s family-friendly and isn’t full of scares? Boo at the Zoo is an annual event at Zoo Atlanta featuring a wide range of fun Halloween-themed activities.

Read on for my review to find out why Boo at the Zoo is the place to be this Halloween season!

Boo at the Zoo at Zoo Atlanta

Zoo Atlanta‘s annual Boo at the Zoo is a family fun Halloween event where the kids can dress up and go trick-or-treating at the candy stations set up around the zoo.

This popular event features costume contests, Halloween craft stations, a party DJ playing the kids’ favorite songs, and more Halloween surprises in Zoo Boo Town.

The animals get to join in on the fun with pumpkin treats, too, which some are more interested in than others. The zoo is decked out with Halloween decorations, notably the Extinct Animal Graveyard, which aims to bring attention to the importance of conservation.

Boo at the Zoo takes place October 19, 20, 26, and 27 for the 2024 season. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Regular admission to Zoo Atlanta includes all the Boo at the Zoo festivities.

This year, you can expect:

  • Booths along Trick-or-Treat Lane
  • Halloween-themed kid’s crafts at the Ford Pavilion (while supplies last)
  • Halloween-themed carnival games on the Grand Patio
  • “The Missing Mayor” Train Ride (purchase of train tickets required)
  • A family-friendly performance
  • Special characters strolling the park for a photo-opp.

Zoo Atlanta’s Boo at the Zoo has a very low scare factor. The décor includes mostly friendly spooks, and costumes must be family-friendly.

What's With Atlanta Book next to tulips and a pen

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Fall Weather Animals at Zoo Atlanta

Merkat, Boo at the Zoo, Zoo Atlanta, Georgia

Once the weather gets cooler, some of the zoo’s animals really start to come out to play. Fall is one of the best times to visit Zoo Atlanta because you get to see both warm weather and cool weather animals!

Thanks to Georgia’s mild fall, it won’t be too cold yet for warm climate animals like the moneys and gorillas. And colder climate animals like the red pandas, alpacas, and panda bears really like when the weather starts to get cool.

Panda-monium

Panda Twins, Zoo Atlanta, Georgia

Kevin and I have bought zoo memberships for all the bear time a girl could want, and fall is the perfect time to do this because cooler weather means panda playtime!

Since panda bears are native to the snowy mountains of China, the pandas love when it gets cooler here. The panda cubs Ya Lun And Xi Lun go outside almost every day now that the weather is cool. They get to wrestle and play and annoy their mother.

The panda experts at Zoo Atlanta suggest getting to the zoo before 11 a.m. because that’s when they bring the panda bears in for feeding. Around this time, Lun Lun also gets tired of being outside with all their sibling shenanigans. After feeding, the bears usually take a nap in the day room.

Panda Bear, Zoo Atlanta, Georgia

Yang Yang however is happy to spend all his time outside alternating between eating and sleeping. Ah, the life of a panda bear.

The sun bears were also active when we went, once they’d properly woken up. They came all the way down to the glass partition to munch on the pumpkin, do some digging, oh and make friends with me of course!

Sun Bear, Zoo Atlanta, Georgia

What Know Before You Go to Boo at the Zoo

During Boo at the Zoo, kids can expect to visit a dozen treat stations for one piece of candy at each. Candy will be available while supplies last.

The last weekend of Boo at the Zoo is typically the busiest, so you may want to plan to attend on the earlier dates. And whatever day you attend, you’ll definitely want to arrive earlier than later!

Boo at the Zoo is a rain-or-shine event, but some activities may be delayed or canceled due to rain.

Adults are welcome to dress in costume as well as children, but remember that this is a family-friendly event so no full face masks, clown outfits, or scary costumes.

Book your advanced Zoo Atlanta ticket here.

Zoo Atlanta Boo at the Zoo

Save on Atlanta’s Top Attractions

Want to save big on Atlanta’s top attractions? with the Atlanta CityPASS, you can save up to 46% on the cost of entrance tickets to 5 top Atlanta museums and attractions!

Get admission to the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and Zoo Atlanta, plus your choice of 2 more from the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Get your Atlanta CityPASS here.

Top Atlanta Tours

A guided tour is always a good way to get to know a city! Check out these top Atlanta tours.

Where to Stay in Atlanta

Find the perfect place to rest your head on your Atlanta vacation!

More Things Happening at Zoo Atlanta

More Fall Fun in Atlanta

Find even more fun fall activities in and around Atlanta, Georgia! Check out these posts for your autumn inspiration:

Ready to visit Atlanta, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.

  • Get Familiar With the City: Check out my Ultimate Guide to Atlanta to help plan your trip!
  • Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
  • Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Atlanta using Booking.com.
  • Save on Attractions: Save 46% on admission to Atlanta’s top attractions using the Atlanta CityPASS.

Cheers!

Paige

Zoo Atlanta's Boo at the Zoo

Have you attended Zoo Atlanta’s Boo at the Zoo? Let me know in the comments!

Paige Watts is a travel expert and author of What's With Atlanta?, a guide to the quirks and charm of the ATL. A life-long traveler, Paige is dedicated to helping you discover the best things to do in the Southern USA and around the world. Her work has been featured in The Culture Trip, Matador, Newsbreak, MSN, NPR, and countless other interviews and podcasts.

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