Boo at the Zoo: Five Indiana Zoos Prepare for a Spooktacular 2026 Halloween Season

Since 1980 the Indianapolis Zoo’s location is a hit!

From the Lake Michigan shoreline to Evansville — and from Indianapolis to Fort Wayne and South Bend — Indiana families have five very different zoo adventures to choose from this Halloween

INDIANAPOLIS — Forget the idea that Hoosier families need to travel to Chicago, Cincinnati or New York to experience a great zoo.

Indiana has an impressive collection of zoological attractions of its own, and Halloween may be one of the best times of the year to discover them. From the nationally known Indianapolis Zoo to the wonderfully situated Washington Park Zoo overlooking Lake Michigan in Michigan City, five Indiana zoos are preparing special Halloween celebrations for fall 2026.

And the Indianapolis Zoo apparently has made an impression even on visitors accustomed to one of America’s most famous zoos.

An Indianapolis Zoo primate curator has recalled hearing visitors remark that they thought the Indianapolis Zoo was better than New York City’s famed Bronx Zoo. That is obviously a visitor’s opinion rather than an objective ranking, but the comparison itself says something about how Indianapolis can surprise people who arrive expecting a smaller regional attraction.

The Indianapolis Zoo combines a zoo, aquarium and botanical garden in the heart of the state’s capital. During the fall, it adds another attraction: ZooBoo.

Indianapolis: ZooBoo lasts more than a month

The Indianapolis Zoo will hold ZooBoo Wednesdays through Sundays from Sept. 23 through Nov. 1, 2026, giving central Indiana families nearly six weeks to fit Halloween at the zoo into their schedules.

Birds anyone?

The zoo promises trick-or-treating for children and adults, Halloween transformations of some attractions, costumes and its ZooBoo Village and Leeward Manor. Children 12 and younger may wear masks or full-face paint. ZooBoo is included with regular zoo admission and is free for zoo members. (Indianapolis Zoo⁠)

That long calendar also gives visitors an opportunity to experience the zoo when Indiana’s summer heat has eased. The zoo specifically notes that cooler ZooBoo temperatures can mean particularly active animals. (Indianapolis Zoo⁠)

$10.00 parking at Indianapolis Zoo near downtown

There are plenty of washing stations and good food.

For more go to: Indianapolis Zoo ZooBoo information⁠

Michigan City: Boo at the Zoo overlooking Lake Michigan

One of Indiana’s most distinctive zoos is also one of the easiest to overlook. But be Amazon a clear day what you can see from the zoo tower! The Chicago skyline across Lake Michigan.

Washington Park Zoo sits at 115 Lakeshore Drive in Michigan City, only steps from Lake Michigan and Washington Park. The surrounding city park encompasses 99 acres along the lakeshore, allowing families to combine a zoo visit with one of Indiana’s most distinctive waterfront destinations. (Michigan City Parks Department⁠)

Its Boo at the Zoo will take place Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Area businesses sponsor stations along decorated zoo pathways and distribute candy to children. Regular admission rates apply, and advance tickets are recommended because availability is limited. (Washington Park Zoo⁠)

Admission for the event is currently listed at $12 for adults, $10 for children ages 2 through 11 and free for infants age 1 and younger, although infants still require a ticket or reservation to participate in trick-or-treating. Gates open at 10 a.m., final admission is at 3:30 p.m. and trick-or-treating ends at 4 p.m. The event is scheduled rain or shine unless severe weather forces cancellation. (Eventbrite⁠)

The Michigan City zoo is an especially appealing fall destination because the property itself is hilly and wooded, creating a very different atmosphere from a large metropolitan zoo.

For more information go to: Washington Park Zoo 2026 special events⁠

South Bend: Haunted Train highlights Potawatomi Zoo Boo

South Bend’s Potawatomi Zoo will hold Zoo Boo Oct. 16-18 and Oct. 23-25.

Friday and Saturday festivities run from 2 to 9 p.m., while the Sunday events run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Potawatomi adds a particularly memorable Halloween ingredient: its Haunted Train. Families can also experience the Enchanted Carousel, trick-or-treating, Halloween decorations, pumpkins and character appearances.

The train becomes scarier after dark, effectively allowing parents to decide how spooky they want the evening to become. For younger children, an afternoon trip offers a considerably different experience from riding through the zoo after darkness falls.

For more information go to: Potawatomi Zoo Boo information]

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Fort Wayne: ‘Merry, not scary’

The Fort Wayne Zoo takes another approach with Wild Zoo Halloween, deliberately promoting its celebration as “merry, not scary.”

The event is scheduled on October weekends from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and is geared toward families and younger children. Halloween activities include animal enrichment, keeper programs, treats, costumes and character appearances.

The Halloween festivities are included with regular admission and are free for zoo members.

For parents, there is one costume restriction worth knowing before leaving home: guests age 13 and older cannot wear costume masks or hoods.

For more: Fort Wayne Zoo Wild Zoo Halloween information⁠

Evansville: Mesker Park makes Halloween a nighttime event.

Southern Indiana isn’t being left out.

Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden in Evansville will stage its Boo at the Zoo on Oct. 16, 17, 18, 23 and 24. The attraction combines Halloween decorations, live entertainment, trick-or-treating, a magic show, animal encounters and nightly costume contests. (Explore Evansville⁠)

Friday and Saturday admission is divided into sessions, including 5 to 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The zoo says tickets will be sold online beginning Sept. 19 and warns that visitors must attend the particular date and session they purchase. (Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden⁠)

There is another event worth highlighting. On Sunday, Oct. 25, from 3 to 6 p.m., Mesker Park plans its BATZ Sensory Spooktacular, designed for children and adults with sensory needs. It features limited noise, no music, minimal lighting and reduced attendance, while retaining decorated pathways, animal encounters and other attractions. (Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden⁠)

Mesker Park itself is substantial: the historic zoo covers more than 45 acres, houses more than 700 animals and is open 365 days a year. Its Amazonia exhibit recreates a South American rainforest, while the African Rift features giraffes, zebras and rhinos. (Explore Evansville⁠)

For more information go to: Mesker Park Zoo Boo at the Zoo information⁠

Five Zoos — and 5 reasons to explore Indiana

Taken together, these attractions reveal a side of Indiana tourism that doesn’t always receive the attention it deserves.

Indianapolis offers the biggest-city zoo experience and the longest Halloween season. Fort Wayne specializes in a daytime, younger-family celebration. South Bend has the Haunted Train. Michigan City combines Halloween, animals and a spectacular Lake Michigan setting. Evansville turns Boo at the Zoo into an evening attraction and adds a separate sensory-friendly celebration.

For families willing to make a weekend trip, there is even an argument for visiting more than one.

A northwest Indiana family could spend the morning at Washington Park Zoo and enjoy Michigan City’s lakefront. A South Bend weekend can include Potawatomi Zoo. Fort Wayne offers another destination in northeast Indiana, while Mesker Park provides southern Indiana with a major zoological attraction of its own.

And Indianapolis remains the centerpiece.

When visitors familiar with the Bronx Zoo can walk through Indianapolis and come away saying they prefer the Hoosier experience, Indiana should probably stop treating its zoos as secondary attractions.

They are tourist destinations in their own right.

Save the dates

Indianapolis Zoo — ZooBoo: Sept. 23-Nov. 1, Wednesdays through Sundays.

Washington Park Zoo, Michigan City — Boo at the Zoo: Saturday, Oct. 17, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Washington Park Zoo⁠)

Potawatomi Zoo, South Bend — Zoo Boo: Oct. 16-18 and Oct. 23-25.

Fort Wayne Zoo — Wild Zoo Halloween: Weekends throughout October, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Mesker Park Zoo, Evansville — Boo at the Zoo: Oct. 16-18 and Oct. 23-24, with Sensory Spooktacular Oct. 25. (Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden⁠)

Because event schedules and ticket availability can change, Hoosier Enquirer recommends checking the individual zoo’s official event page before making a long drive.