Ghosts, Goblins and Treats

One of Tulsa’s favorites is the annual HallowZOOeen.

Trick or treating is one of the most widely recognized and enjoyed Halloween traditions. It is hard to decide which is the best part of the activity. Is it the dressing up in costume, or the candy and treats that you get to bring home afterwards? Both sides would probably give a good argument, but no one can argue that finding the perfect location to trick or treat is really the most important part of Halloween. With so many different choices, it can be hard to decide, but one of Tulsa’s favorites is the annual HallowZOOeen.

For 21 years, local children have been yelling “Boo!” at the zoo, located at 6421 E. 36th St. N., and this year’s traditional event is going to be the biggest and best yet! “This family tradition has grown so much over the years,” explains Special Events Manager Ashley Farthing. “We feel that this year is special because we have really focused on original and fresh events for the children. They will find experiences that they won’t be able to find anywhere else in Tulsa.”

Promoted as a “not too scary trick-or-treat event,” HallowZOOeen has something for everyone. The dates for the event are Wednesday, October 27 through Sunday, October 31 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. each evening. Price for guests is $7 per person and $6 for zoo members. Tickets to ride the Haunted Halloween Train are $4 per person. “We are working hard to add more spooky scenes and unexpected twists to the ride this year,” states Ashley.

Nightly activities include goblin stops for treats for all the children, carnival style activities at the Pumpkin Patch Playroom, arts and crafts, and a hay maze, which always attracts a lot of attention and brings lots of laughs.

Brand new this year is the opportunity for guests to dine with the pirates of American Airlines’ Pirate Island, or enjoy a feast with the knights and princesses of the Walgreens’ Royal Castle. This is a one-of-a-kind show with exclusive activities. And, best of all, everyone attending will be able to enter the zoo early! Both Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31 will have dinner seating available starting at 5 p.m. More information can be found at www.tulsazoo.org.

“We just love to have the opportunity to offer a safe option for families who want to take their kids out to trick or treat in a creative and fun atmosphere,” Ashley says. “Last year, we saw a need to create a dinner occasion for our young families, so we decided to offer two distinctively different venues. Thus, the Royal Castle and the Pirate Island dinners were born.”

Group discounts for HallowZOOeen are available for $6 per person if you have more than 25 people in your group, but must be made in a single payment. Advance ticket sales begin October 1 and are available at the Zoo Friends office, by calling (918) 669-6609, or by logging on to the website.

For those of you who have been thinking of becoming a Zoo Friends member, October is the perfect month to finally take the plunge. Those who become new Zoo Friends members during the month of October will receive two free tickets to HallowZOOeen. Just another reason to join in the fun and support your local zoo! Approximately 15,000 little ghosts and goblins visit during this five-night trick-or-treat adventure, bringing in over $80,000 in funds to help build an even better zoo.

For more information, call Ashley Farthing at (918) 669-6614.

For more information, contact

Tulsa Zoo

6421 E. 36th St. N.

Tulsa, OK 74115

(918) 669-6614

www.tulsazoo.org