Boo at the Zoo is coming back to the Louisville Zoo. Here’s what to know.
The Louisville Zoo is returning with its annual Halloween celebration, and tickets are currently on sale for the fun and spooky festivity.
Boo at the Zoo, a long-standing event of more than 40 years, is slated for Sept. 28 to Oct. 27 and attendees are encouraged to wear their craziest costumes for the annual event.
Boo at the Zoo is all about turning the zoo into a “living storybook,” the zoo stated.
“There will be music, photo opportunities around every corner and, of course, a safe place to trick-or-treat for kids 11 and under,” zoo spokesperson Kyle Shepherd said. Guests can bring trick-or-treat bags or they can be purchased for $2 at the gift shop.
Boo at the Zoo, supported by Meijer, Great Clips, Norton Children’s, UPS, etc., benefits the Zoo’s animal care programs, visitor experience and conservation education.
Taking place Thursdays through Sundays beginning at the end of September, attendees will also be able to access attractions like the Spooktacular Carousel, “not-so-itsy-bitsy” Spider House and the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow.
Regular zoo hours will conclude at 4 p.m. with the gates closing at 3 p.m. on Boo at the Zoo dates. Halloween festivities take over from 5-9 p.m. and guests must leave the zoo by 10 p.m.
The zoo is also featuring a sensory-friendly night from 5-7 p.m., Oct. 20, and an allergy-friendly night Oct. 23.
When is Boo at the Zoo at Louisville’s Zoo
Boo at the Zoo is taking place from 5-9 p.m. on multiple Thursdays to Sundays from the end of September to the end of October.
Sept. 28-29
Oct. 3-6
Oct. 10-13
Oct. 17-20
Oct. 24-27
How much does Boo at the Zoo cost?
All-inclusive tickets with admission, parking and access to multiple attractions are on sale.
Non-members (ages 3+): $13.50
Members (ages 3+): $7
Meijer “anytime tickets”: Available at participating Meijer stores for $11.50 starting Sept. 20
for all non-members 3 and older and $7 for all members 3 and older. Children 2 and under are free and do not require a ticket.
Boo at the Zoo tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged. They can be purchased here.
Louisville Zoo location
The Louisville Zoo is located at 1100 Trevilian Way.
Endangered Sumatran tiger at Louisville Zoo euthanized due to poor health
Kami Sambal, a Sumatran tiger at the Louisville Zoo, has died just a month after his baby cub was born, zoo officials announced Monday.
Zoo medical staff took notice of Kami’s rapidly deteriorating health and put him under intensive care, pain management and medication. They later discovered that he was suffering from kidney failure and anemia, which can be a sign of lymphoma, a form of cancer often found in older tigers, according to a news release.
Medical staff ultimately decided to euthanize the tiger.
“Saying goodbye to a member of our extended family is hard, but we always consider an animal’s wellbeing and what’s best for their overall outcome,” zoo director Dan Maloney said in the release. “Our focus now is celebrating the incredible legacy Kami has left behind, both from his offspring and his impact as an ambassador for his species.”
Kami sired six cubs in his lifetime and came to the Louisville Zoo in 2022 as part of a breeding program to help bolster the endangered population of Sumatran tigers, according to the release. On July 23, Kami’s final offspring, who he had with 14-year-old female Jingga, was born. The male cub has not yet made his public debut as he continues to spend time with his mother behind the scenes.
Sumatran tigers are native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and fewer than 400 are believed to live in the wild, according the Louisville Zoo. The population is threatened by palm oil plantations reducing their forest habitats.
