Boo in the Zoo

Sunday, January 1, 1905

photo Boo in the Zoo, scheduled the next two weekends at Chattanooga Zoo, will give families a jump-start on Halloween fun.

If you go

* What: Boo in the Zoo Halloween celebration.* When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. today, Saturday and Oct. 26-27.* Where: Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave.* Admission: $8.95 adults; $5.95 ages 3-12.* Phone: 697-1322.* Email: info@chattzoo.org.

For more than 20 years, area youngsters have been getting a jump-start on Halloween at Chattanooga Zoo's annual Boo in the Zoo weekend celebrations.

"It's a community event for families," said zoo executive director Darde Long.

The zoo stays open at night for the festivities, and cartoon characters will be on hand to greet youngsters as they take part in trick-or-treating, a costume contest, pony rides, inflatables and other activities.

Though the focus is Halloween, there's nothing that will frighten children, Long said.

"We did a haunted house one year, but there were so many good ones (in town) we decided to go with a fun, not scary, event," she said. "It's tons of fun -- a carnival-like atmosphere."

Plus, she said, "it is a lot of fun to see animals at night if you are any age."

Contact Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6396.