Creatures Of The Night at ZooAmerica Begins Oct. 11, 2024
Explore the Zoo After Dark by Flashlight on Halloween Weekends from Oct. 11-27
The popular Creatures Of The Night event at ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park returns Oct. 11 and runs three weekends, Fridays through Sundays, from 6-9 p.m. through Oct. 27, 2024. The Halloween-themed after-hours experience is the only time of year the Zoo is open after dark to explore the nighttime habits of the nocturnal North American animals.
Check out this guide of activities and educational displays for the whole family during Creatures Of The Night, weather permitting.
Flashlight Tour of the Zoo
During Creatures Of The Night, guests of all ages can explore the 11-acre zoo in the heart of Hershey by flashlight under the cover of night. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own flashlights for optimal viewing of the outdoor habitats, including the black bears, Canada lynx, gray wolves and river otters. There is no better way to see the wild and fascinating animal activity that only happens after the sun sets.
Animal Enrichment Activities
Guests can watch an animal enrichment activity at 7 p.m. on each operating evening of Creatures Of The Night.
- Friday night: American elk enrichment
- Saturday night: Gray wolf enrichment
- Sunday night: Southwest animal enrichment, including a ringtail, coati, ocelot and armadillo
Decorate a Luminary
Guests should bring their curiosity and creativity to ZooAmerica after dark! Families can help light up the night by decorating luminary bags for a display in Big Sky Country. Supplies will be provided.
Magic Potion Scavenger Hunt
Guests can participate in a scavenger hunt around the Zoo to find the magical potion ingredients for the cauldron hidden in animal habitats and buildings.
Special Displays
Themed displays will be set up throughout ZooAmerica for guests to get an up-close look at some animals and learn about their survival.
- Inside the Woodlands Classroom: Creepy crawler invertebrates will be on display. Guests can see tarantulas, cockroaches, walking sticks, scorpions, mealworms and superworms.
- Outside on the Woodlands Patio: A skull display will teach visitors about the diverse skeletal systems of the animals. Also, the popular “Skunk Tales” will return with a special appearance by a striped skunk.
- Across from Prairie Dog Habitat: Visitors can view a recycled treasures display decorated by the ZooAmerica team.
- Inside the Great Southwest Building: Guests can see an animal X-ray display. Team members will be on-site to discuss the various X-rays and answer questions.
Creatures Of The Night is included in the one-price admission to Hersheypark Halloween only when accessing the Zoo from the bridge inside Hersheypark. Separate admission, starting at $14.50 plus taxes and fees, is also available online or at the ZooAmerica Admissions Building for guests who plan to attend just Creatures Of The Night.
If you can’t make it to Creatures Of The Night, there are plenty of opportunities to visit ZooAmerica with daily operations this fall (closed Thanksgiving day).