Every year, the Birmingham Zoo hosts a Halloween event. This year, every weekend in October the zoo has had “Hoots and Howls.” This exciting event gives guests candy and a chance to see some animals while celebrating a fun holiday.
Hoots and Howls consists of multiple candy trails located throughout the zoo. Volunteers hand out three pieces of candy to each guest as they visit places such as the reptile building, predator building, primate building, etc. Hoots and Howls is for all ages and anyone can get candy as long as you have a wristband. If you are not a fan of candy, no worries, there are other non-candy-related activities just for you.
Henley Lawn contains games for guests to play such as connect four or bean bag tossing. All zoo animals will also still be out for everyone to view. Some of the main animal areas are the Trails of Africa and the Alabama Wilds, each containing animals native to those regions. For younger kids who may need a break, the education building hosts a storytime every hour.
Wristbands for access to candy on the trails cost 5 dollars while full access to the candy trails plus unlimited rides on the cobweb carousel and haunted red diamond express train cost 10 dollars. The red diamond express is definitely worth the price as it is a fun train ride around the zoo that also gives you a different view of the zoo. You can also view the elephants from this train.
Other events around the zoo include a petting zoo in the barn, a butterfly exhibit, and the opportunity to enter a fenced area with goats. These are all great opportunities to get close to the animals and even touch some of the barn animals. Although you are not allowed to touch the butterflies, it is still an awesome experience as they flutter around you.
Although the Hoots and Howls experience is coming to an end this year, next year, there will still be a Halloween event. Starting November 16th, 2022 the zoo will also be hosting Glow Wild. Glow Wild will contain lanterns throughout the winter and run until January 16th, 2023. This event will occur from 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm and it is recommended that you give yourself one full hour to view all the lanterns.
If you want to get more involved in these events and help out other zoo guests you can sign up for events on the zoo website. The zoo also allows anyone ages 13-17 to volunteer in a summer zoo camp for kids; however, you have to apply for it in the summer.
Visit the zoo sometime soon with your friends and experience these events while getting to meet animals! If you enjoy the zoo consider helping out and volunteering as well!
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