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Boo at the Zoo returns this weekend — plan for tickets and a parking detour

Santa Ana Zoo lists Halloween evenings on October 24 and 25, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Families should buy tickets in advance and use Chestnut Avenue to reach the zoo during construction.

October 23, 2026

Summary — 3 things to remember
  1. Boo at the Zoo runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on October 24 and 25, 2026. Friends of Santa Ana Zoo presents the event at Santa Ana Zoo.
  2. The zoo lists nonmember admission at $25 per adult and $20 per child. Children younger than 3 enter free, and rides cost extra.
  3. The zoo says parking is limited during construction. Enter from Chestnut Avenue; its current notice says there is no parking entry from Zoo Lane.

Two Halloween evenings in Santa Ana

For families near Little Saigon who want an early-evening Halloween outing, Santa Ana Zoo has two dates left on its advertised 2026 Boo at the Zoo schedule: Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25. Both run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Friends of Santa Ana Zoo, the organization presenting the event, lists trick-or-treat stations, storytelling, sing-alongs and nighttime animal encounters. The event announcement identifies 10 prize stations along its trick-or-treat trail.

The zoo also says it supports the OC Teal Pumpkin Project, which offers alternatives for children with food allergies. That is useful information for parents, but it is not a guarantee that every food or activity meets a particular child’s needs. Ask the organizer about specific requirements before attending.

Admission does not include every extra

The zoo’s 2026 announcement lists nonmember tickets at $25 for adults and $20 for children. Friends of Santa Ana Zoo specifies that the child rate covers ages 3–12. Zoo members and Santa Ana residents are listed at $10 each, and children younger than 3 are free.

The organizer says admission must be bought online and recommends purchasing in advance. If admission remains available on an event day, visitors can buy it on their phones at the gate. Tickets are nonrefundable.

Friends of Santa Ana Zoo says member and resident discounts are checked at the gate. It asks guests to bring photo identification and, for members, their membership cards. Save the confirmation email on a phone or print it to show on arrival.

Rides are separate expenses. The zoo lists its train, carousel and Ferris wheel as extra-charge activities, with additional games available for purchase. Food and drinks are also sold separately at Bean Sprouts Café.

For a family deciding on an evening budget, the distinction is important: the admission price is not an all-inclusive price for rides, games and food.

The route in has changed during construction

Getting there deserves as much attention as the costume. On its homepage, the zoo warns that parking is limited while a stormwater collection park is being built.

Its current construction notice says all entry into zoo parking is from Chestnut Avenue, with no entry from Zoo Lane. It also lists a closure of Zoo Lane between First Street and Chestnut Avenue through October 30, 2026.

For drivers approaching from First Street, the zoo directs visitors to Lyon Street to reach Chestnut Avenue. Follow posted detours rather than relying only on the zoo’s general directions page, which still describes access from both Zoo Lane and Chestnut.

The outing is scheduled to end at 7:30 p.m. Planning the tickets, extras and route beforehand can help families decide whether this particular evening fits their plans.

If you go

Translation assisted by AI and reviewed by an editor.

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