Houston Zoo Boo returns Sept. 25 with 15-foot fall arch, pumpkin tunnel and extended nights through Oct. 31
The Houston Zoo will bring back its month-long fall celebration, Zoo Boo, from Sept. 25 through Oct. 31, 2026, with themed walkways, photo stops and evening programming.
The zoo announced the event in a news release on Sept. 17. Zoo Boo is presented by King & Spalding.
This year’s event will feature a 15-foot-tall fall foliage arch at Autumn Avenue, a pumpkin tunnel built from hundreds of pumpkin lanterns and the Ghost Town area near the John P. McGovern Children’s Zoo. Visitors will also see animals receiving fall-themed enrichment during October.
New attractions this year include the Great Pumpkin Portrait, Tangled Web Trail and Pumpkin Pitch. The zoo said the Chatter Patch near Flamingo Terrace will return, along with Gourdon and Octavius, the talking pumpkins located next to the Reptile House and in African Forrest.
On select nights, the zoo will stay open later for Zoo Boo Extended Hours. On those evenings, the zoo closes at 9:30 p.m., with final entry at 8:00 p.m. Extended Hours are scheduled for Sept. 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 17, 18 and Oct. 23 through 30.
Throughout October, zoo staff will give animals seasonal enrichment items, including pumpkins, cinnamon-scented paw-zzles and fall treats. The zoo said enrichment helps animals stay physically and mentally active by using cognitive, behavioral and sensory skills.
Zoo Boo activities and Extended Hours are included with general admission and are free for zoo members. Non-members must purchase tickets and make reservations online.
The zoo is encouraging visitors to plan ahead for parking. Free parking is available in Hermann Park, and visitors can also use the METRORail or rideshare services. Paid parking garages near the zoo include 6400 Fannin.
The zoo also will promote its electronics recycling program during the event. Guests can drop off old handheld devices at a collection box at the main entrance. According to the zoo, cell phones and similar devices contain coltan, a mineral mined in central Africa that can destroy habitat for gorillas, chimpanzees and okapis. A portion of each zoo membership and admission supports the recycling program.
Special events tied to the fall season begin before Zoo Boo’s public opening. On Wednesday, Sept. 23, members will attend a preview night from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., with last entry at 8:00 p.m. The preview includes a free printed professional photo and Wildlife Carousel rides.
On Thursday, Oct. 15, the zoo will host Spooky Spirits, an adults-only night for guests 21 and older. Tickets include one drink, aura photography, a zodiac quest scavenger hunt and access to Zoo Boo after dark. Specialty cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase.
The zoo will continue the season with Día de los Muertos programming on Nov. 1 and 2. The zoo will honor animals that recently died, and guests can bring a photo or make a craft for the zoo’s ofrenda. Visitors can also take photos with La Catrina, a symbolic skeleton figure wearing an elegant hat.
Reservations and ticket details are available at www.houstonzoo.org.
