Spooky Safari Returns to Forest Park Zoo on Oct. 26

SPRINGFIELD — The Zoo in Forest Park’s annual family-friendly Halloween event returns to the zoo on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Advance tickets are required.

Spooky Safari features a variety of not-so-spooky activities, including a trick-or-treat trail, Halloween-themed crafts, a zoo-wide scavenger hunt, and encounters with a few animal friends. A face painter will be on site transforming kids into their favorite creatures.

Representatives from Link to Libraries, an organization that aims to increase access to books, will be handing out free books to the trick-or-treaters. Springfield Museums and Connecticut Science Center are among other local organizations that guests will find along the trail. Children participating in the trick-or-treat trail are encouraged to bring a bag.

Children and adults are encouraged to show off their Halloween costumes for a chance to be crowned the Funniest, Most Creative, or Best Group Costume in the Spooky Safari Virtual Costume Contest via the Zoo’s Facebook page. Winners from each category, as selected by a panel of judges from the zoo’s staff, will receive a prize.

“Spooky Safari is our last big event before we close for the season,” said Gabry Tyson, assistant executive director at the Zoo in Forest Park. “Not only is it a fun opportunity for families to visit before we close, but the funds raised from this event help prepare us for the offseason.” The zoo is open to the public April through October but remains fully staffed and operational year-round for the 225-plus animals that live on its grounds.

Pre-registration is required to attend, and tickets sell out quickly. No additional tickets will be sold at the door, and library passes cannot be used for this event. Registration closes Oct. 24 or when all tickets are sold. To purchase tickets, visit www.forestparkzoo.org/spooky-safari.