Spooky Season Just Got WILD: Why ZooTampa’s Creatures of the Night Is Tampa’s Must-Do October Event
Cassandra Currier
Friday, September 26, 2025
Tampa’s October calendar is bursting with pumpkins, pirates, and parades — but if there’s one event that combines wild adventure with Halloween magic, it’s Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa.
Running select nights from October 3 through October 26, 2025, this after-hours event transforms the zoo into a glowing, family-friendly Halloween playground — where spooky meets spectacular and everyone from toddlers to teens (and yes, even parents) can get in on the fun.
What to Expect
As the sun sets over ZooTampa, the entire park morphs into a Halloween-themed wonderland. You’ll stroll glowing trails, spot costumed performers, dance at spooky DJ parties, and enjoy themed animal encounters. But don’t worry this event leans more “enchanted evening” than “haunted house.” It’s specifically designed to be non-scary and kid-friendly, perfect for all ages.
Some returning favorites and new highlights include:
Trick-or-Treating Zones (bring your candy bags!)
Themed Photo Ops with costumed characters
Spine-tingling Storytime and live performances
Dino Adventure Zone — a prehistoric twist with lifelike animatronics
And yes — costumes are encouraged! Just leave the full masks and scary stuff at home so the littlest visitors don’t get startled.
Dates & Hours
Creatures of the Night runs on the following nights:
October 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26
Gates open for the event from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Tip: These nights do get popular, especially Saturdays. Pre-purchase your tickets or plan for a Friday/Sunday visit if you prefer lighter crowds.
For full event details and tickets, visit: https://zootampa.org/events/creatures-of-the-night
Why We Love It (and So Will You)
As a Tampa local and Realtor, I love sharing gems that make our city such a vibrant place to live and ZooTampa nails it every year with this event. It’s not just a night at the zoo; it’s a full-on immersive Halloween celebration that gets the whole family outside, laughing, exploring, and making sweet fall memories.
Whether you're new to the area or a longtime local, Creatures of the Night is the kind of tradition that turns “just another weekend” into a highlight of the season.
So dust off those costumes, grab your glow sticks, and let’s get spooky the wild (and wildly fun) way!
Running select nights from October 3 through October 26, 2025, this after-hours event transforms the zoo into a glowing, family-friendly Halloween playground — where spooky meets spectacular and everyone from toddlers to teens (and yes, even parents) can get in on the fun.
What to Expect
As the sun sets over ZooTampa, the entire park morphs into a Halloween-themed wonderland. You’ll stroll glowing trails, spot costumed performers, dance at spooky DJ parties, and enjoy themed animal encounters. But don’t worry this event leans more “enchanted evening” than “haunted house.” It’s specifically designed to be non-scary and kid-friendly, perfect for all ages.
Some returning favorites and new highlights include:
Trick-or-Treating Zones (bring your candy bags!)
Themed Photo Ops with costumed characters
Spine-tingling Storytime and live performances
Dino Adventure Zone — a prehistoric twist with lifelike animatronics
And yes — costumes are encouraged! Just leave the full masks and scary stuff at home so the littlest visitors don’t get startled.
Dates & Hours
Creatures of the Night runs on the following nights:
October 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26
Gates open for the event from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Tip: These nights do get popular, especially Saturdays. Pre-purchase your tickets or plan for a Friday/Sunday visit if you prefer lighter crowds.
For full event details and tickets, visit: https://zootampa.org/events/creatures-of-the-night
Why We Love It (and So Will You)
As a Tampa local and Realtor, I love sharing gems that make our city such a vibrant place to live and ZooTampa nails it every year with this event. It’s not just a night at the zoo; it’s a full-on immersive Halloween celebration that gets the whole family outside, laughing, exploring, and making sweet fall memories.
Whether you're new to the area or a longtime local, Creatures of the Night is the kind of tradition that turns “just another weekend” into a highlight of the season.
So dust off those costumes, grab your glow sticks, and let’s get spooky the wild (and wildly fun) way!
We would like to hear from you! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always looking forward to hearing from you! We will do our best to reply to you within 24 hours !