Brookfield Zoo’s Creatures of the Night

Brookfield Zoo’s Creatures of the Night Promises Thrills and Chills On Nine Haunted Evenings

Brookfield, Ill — Weekends throughout the Halloween season will be full of fun and frights during Brookfield Zoo’s Creatures of the Night. Guests of all ages who are not too afraid of things that go bump in the night can enjoy nine haunted evenings on Fridays through Sundays, October 12-14, 19-21, and 26-28, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

The bravest souls can take their chances on The Trail of Terror, a PG-13 experience that features “scientists” at GeneLab who are scrambling to decimate the scourge of mutated bugs that have taken over the city, creating a “superbug” that will eat and destroy the invading new species. But now that the mutant bugs are gone, the superbugs are still hungry…and those who dare should beware!

Anyone looking for more spooky times can board The Haunted Tram for a ghastly journey through Zombieville. Trying to escape hungry zombies that seem to appear at every turn, the ride will be one not soon enough forgotten.

For families with younger children, Creatures of the Night will also feature not-so-scary activities. On the zoo’s West Mall, in a messy menagerie, the Pumpkin Executioner will be smashing pumpkins every half hour. Additionally, ghosts and goblins of all ages can try to find their way through the 7,000-square-foot Crazed Maize. In The Pavilions, the zoo will also be rocking all evening long with the Monster Mash Dance Party, led by a DJ who will be playing a variety of Halloween-themed music. Kids can carve their own pumpkins to take home.

As an extra surprise, the animatronic creatures from Xtreme BUGS, the hit exhibit that invaded the zoo this summer, will be sticking around for a creepy-crawly Halloween encore. The exhibit of epic proportions, presented by Dominick’s, feature more than 20 oversize animatronic insects, including a spooky giant Madagascar hissing cockroach. Additionally, there are more than 100 larger-than-life stationary insects, including spiders hunting, ants feasting upon a scorpion, and cicadas hatching. Visitors can see the bugs in an eerie new light during Creatures of the Night.

Additionally, zoogoers can encounter some more familiar creatures of the night in The Swamp and Australia House, from toothy crocodiles and slithering snakes to Rodrigues fruit bats—who boast a 3-foot wingspan. (Indoor animal buildings close at 10:00 p.m.) At Hamill Family Play Zoo, kids can participate in a variety of Halloween-themed crafts and activities. During Creatures of the Night, several of the zoo’s restaurants and gift shops will also be open.

Guests should park in Brookfield Zoo’s main parking lot (First Avenue and 31st Street). Parking is free after 6:00 p.m. Activities are free (with the exception of the pumpkin carving activity and The Carousel) with paid admission of $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 3-11 and seniors 65 and older. Brookfield Zoo members pay half price. Children 2 and under are free.

For further information about Creatures of the Night activities, visit www.CZS.org/Events or call (708) 688-8000.

The Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo, inspires conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. Open every day of the year, the zoo is located off First Avenue between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and is also accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, CTA, and PACE bus service.
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