Boo at the Zoo

Boo at the Zoo 2026

Three evenings in October the National Zoo stays open after dark and hands out candy. Kids come in costume, walk a route with treat stations along the way, and fill a souvenir bag you get at the entrance. There is a pumpkin patch set up for photos and a dance party that pulls in a surprising number of four-year-olds. Tickets run $35, or $29.75 if you are a zoo member.

Your ticket also gets you after-hours access to the Small Mammal House, the Elephant Community Center and the Reptile Discovery Center, which is the part that makes this different from a neighborhood trick-or-treat. Most of the outdoor animals are settled in for the night, so go in expecting candy and costumes rather than a zoo visit. The carousel and the Choo Choo cost extra.

Parent Tips 💡

• ✓Enter at Cleveland Park, leave toward Woodley Park: The zoo sits on a hill. Walking down into it from Cleveland Park at the start and out downhill toward Woodley Park at the end saves you the uphill climb with a kid who is done.
• ✓Buy tickets and parking early: These are timed-entry and the event sells out most years. Parking is a separate purchase and goes first.
• ✓Costumes need a jacket that fits over them: It is dark and mid-40s by 8pm in October. Plan the costume around a layer, or bring one that goes underneath.
• ✓Bring your own flashlight or glow sticks: Paths are lit but uneven in spots, and a small light makes the walk easier. Glow sticks also make your kid findable in a crowd of costumes.
• ✓Don't come for the animals: Most outdoor exhibits are dark and the animals are in for the night. Three indoor houses are open and that is what you get. Go for the candy, not the pandas.
• ✓Eat dinner first: 6pm start, candy everywhere, no real food plan on-site. Feed everyone before you leave home.
• ✓Strollers are allowed and useful: The route is long for short legs and the hill is real. Even kids who have outgrown a stroller often end up in one by 8pm.