Does Boo! at Brookfield Zoo end on October 25?
Boo! at Brookfield Zoo Chicago ends Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Get the schedule, prices, parking cost, and weekday vs. weekend candy stops.
You may be fitting a zoo visit between school, work, and Halloween plans. Yes, Boo! at Brookfield Zoo Chicago ends Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, more than a week before Halloween. If you’re planning to go, the date and weekday-versus-weekend schedule will shape what you can do.
The short answer
Boo! at the Zoo runs Saturday, Oct. 3, through Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. The event is over before Halloween, so Oct. 25 is your last day to attend.
The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends during Boo! Check the event details before you go for the schedule and any updates.
If you’ve called it Brookfield Zoo for years, you’re in familiar company. The institution adopted the name Brookfield Zoo Chicago in 2024; the rebrand announcement explains the change.
What it costs
Boo! is included with regular zoo admission, and admission is free for members. The zoo’s posted prices are $29.95 for adults, $24.95 for seniors age 65 and older, and $20.95 for children ages 3 to 11. Children age 2 and under enter free.
North Gate parking costs $17. The zoo’s visit page lists current admission and parking details, so check it before leaving. Chicago Parent has printed higher admission prices, which makes a quick check especially useful.
Seniors can get a buy-one-get-one deal on Sundays. That offer applies to Boo! Sundays on Oct. 11, 18, and 25. Check the zoo’s discounts and free days page for the offer’s terms before making plans.
Weekdays vs. weekends
Weekday Boo! visits include trick-or-treating at three shops; weekends add five candy stations and scheduled activities. If candy stops are a priority, the weekend schedule offers more places to visit.
On weekdays, trick-or-treat at North Gate Market, South Gate Market, and Coast Gifts. On weekends, you’ll find five candy stations, costume parades at noon and 3 p.m. that start outside BZ Red Hots, and costumed characters at Roosevelt Fountain from noon to 3 p.m.
Weekend visits also include the free Inflate-A-Boo bounce houses for children ages 3 to 10. Pumpkin decorating costs extra. Bring your own treat bag so you’re ready for the candy stops.
Costume rules apply throughout the event: costumes cannot include weapons, real or fake. Anyone over 13 must keep their head uncovered, so skip full-body costumes with covered heads.
The last weekend, Oct. 24–25
The final Boo! weekend includes a separately ticketed brunch on Saturday, Oct. 24, and the last chance to see the season’s life-size dinosaurs. Boo! Brunch is a buffet with seatings at 10 a.m. and noon; its ticket includes zoo admission.
The dinosaurs leave on Oct. 25, the same day Boo! ends. If seeing them is part of your visit, Sunday is your final opportunity to catch both the exhibit and the event.
After Oct. 25
After Boo! ends, you can still find seasonal activities at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, including Haunted Walking Tours, a Día de los Muertos community ofrenda, and Holiday Magic. Each has its own dates and ticket details.
Haunted Walking Tours run on select dates through Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. They’re recommended for ages 13 and up and require a separate ticket.
A community ofrenda honoring pets who have died will be on display from Oct. 28 to Nov. 4 for Día de los Muertos. Holiday Magic, now in its 45th year, runs on select dates from Nov. 20 through Jan. 3. The zoo’s fall and holiday lineup announcement has additional event information.
Getting there
The North Gate is at 31st Street and Golfview Avenue in Brookfield, and the South Gate is at 3300 Golf Road. Check your destination before you set out so you arrive at the gate you plan to use.
Photo by Alexas_Fotos on Pixabay.