Spooktacular returning to Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

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The 31st annual Spooktacular at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will take place Oct. 18-21 and 26-31.

Children and adults are encouraged to dress up in their favorite family-friendly costumes for a “terrorific" time enjoying games, trick-or-treating and optional scare zones for those who dare to join the fun.

Spooktacular welcomes guests to come and experience the new tricks, treats, frights and delights in the five themed areas throughout the Zoo: Zombies, Wizard of Oz, Classic Monsters, Fall Maze and the Crypt of the Spider King. There will be opportunities to meet characters from “A Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Beetlejuice” and “The Wizard of Oz.” The Great Lawn offers many activities including a hay maze, bounce house and face painting by zoo keepers.

Guests should come prepared to trick or treat at the Sweet Pete’s Candy Trail winding through Play Park. All candy is palm oil friendly, meaning it is sustainably sourced to help preserve animals in the wild. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the Zoo’s restaurants and snack bars.

On Halloween day, the Jacksonville Zoo will host an all new event sponsored by Fun 4 First Coast Kids entitled Mini Monster Mash. This experience will feature music, games and candy for the youngest guests and will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Great Lawn. Children ages 3 through 12 who attend in costume get free general admission to the Zoo with a paying adult. 

Spooktacular opens each night at 6:30 p.m. with ticket sales ending at 9 p.m. and the Zoo closing at 10 p.m. Admission varies by date. Parking is free. 

For more information and to purchase tickets in advance at a discounted rate, visit www.jacksonvillezoo.org. All proceeds benefit the care and feeding of the zoo's animals, support for educational programming and conservation initiatives beyond the Zoo’s gates.