How Will You Boo?

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trolli boo matt and susie While there are many places in the Chicago area and surrounding suburbs where you can celebrate Halloween, none are as spectacular as the Brookfield Zoo. Boo! At The Zoo happens in October during the last three weekends of the month where the zoo transforms into one of the best places to trick-or-treat thanks to the Ferrara Candy Company. This past Saturday we spent the morning exploring the zoo and here are some of the great things you’ll see there. matthew boos at the zoo

First there’s the fact that the Ferrara Candy Company which donates 10,000 pounds of candy to be given out by 400 of their own volunteers. If you didn’t know, that’s a heck of a lot of candy. We weren’t even trying to trick-or-treat and we came home with bags full of candy. Ferrara makes some of Chicago’s most beloved candy brands like SweeTarts, Brachs, Trolli, Black Forest Gummies, Lemonhead, Now And Later, basically all of our favorites.  boo giant pumpkin carver

The Zoo also has fun things like a Corn Maze, a live master pumpkin carver and costume contest. There is also a tractor pulled hayride and the pumpkin smasher. The pumpkin smasher is huge and easily visible from all over the Zoo. It looks like a hugely gothic trebuchet, but it just smashes things.  Of course to the delight of many children, someone will be randomly picked to unleash the smash!  I guarantee those kids will be bragging for a long time that they operated the pumpkin smasher!  boo bear pumpkin

Every day there are special events happening with the animals as well. To special pumpkin feedings, where different animals get pumpkins for enrichment. We got a great view of the grizzly bears enjoying their pumpkins.  There are also a variety of keeper talks so your little ghouls and goblins can learn more about the animals living at the zoo. We already learned all about arachnids this summer, but there is always something new to learn about the animal kingdom!  boo pumpkin smasher

I particularly love visiting the Brookfield Zoo in the fall because cooler temps equal more active animals. Let’s face it, Chicago has pretty hot and humid summers so fall is a break for not just you but the animals too.  We saw some great playtime from the Amur leopard family.  The cubs were having a great time outside with their mom.  Of course, every trip to the zoo is special because you never know exactly what you will see.  Plan your trip to Boo! at the Zoo here!

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