Children in costume receive free admission
Boo at the Zoo Saturday and Sunday, October 29 – 30
Halloween party for families on Monday, October 31


Flushing, N.Y. – October 13, 2011– Haunted habitats and ghoulish good times await at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo’s annual Boo at the Zoo weekend.

Boo at the Zoo will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 29 – 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a special Halloween party on October 31 from 3 to 4 p.m. The events promise spine-tingling surprises for zoo-goers of all ages.

These perennial Boo at the Zoo activities feature face-painting, live animal presentations, and pumpkin treats for some of the zoo’s animals.

Boo at the Zoo festivities include:

  • Haunted Habitat: Pop over to the Haunted Habitat located in the zoo’s Wild Room for a frighteningly fun good time. (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
  • Spooky Animal Presentations: The zoo’s farm is the place to check out live animal presentations with snakes and other creepy creatures (1:30 and 3 p.m.)
  • Pick a Perfect Pumpkin: The early bird gets the pumpkin. The first 200 zoo-goers each day will pick and decorate their own Halloween pumpkin on the farm.
  • Face Painting: Be a lion, puma, or bear for Halloween this year.  Zoo-goers can get in the spirit of the holiday with colorful face painting. (Noon to 3 p.m.)
  • Pumpkin Enrichment: Pumas and bears will get terrifyingly tasty treat-filled pumpkins.  (Pumas at 1 p.m. and Andean bears at 2:30 p.m., both days.)
  • Trick or Treating: What is Halloween without trick-or-treating? Treat stations, stocked with all kinds of goodies, will be located around the zoo.
  • Dress to Impress: Children 12 and under in costume accompanied by an adult will receive free admission.

New this year, the zoo will hold a festive Halloween party for kids and families on Monday, October 31 from3 to 4:30 p.m. The party will include trick-or-treating around the zoo, crafts,storytelling, animal encounters, and warm apple cider to get visitors in the spirit of the season.

Fee: $10 adults/$3 children. Pre-registration for the party is required by emailing qzeducation@wcs.org or calling 718-271-7361.

Contact:
Barbara Russo, 718-265-3428; brusso@wcs.org
Steve Fairchild, 718-220-5189; sfairchild@wcs.org
Max Pulsinelli, 718-220-5182; mpulsinelli@wcs.org

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth.

The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo – Open every day of the year. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors 65 and older, $5 for kids 3-12, free for children under 3. Zoo hours are 10am to 5pm weekdays, and10am – 5:30pm weekends, April through October, and 10am – 4:30pm daily, November through April. The Queens Zoo is located at 53-51 111th Street in Flushing Meadow’s Corona Park in Queens. For further information, call 718-271-1500 or visit www.queenszoo.com.