ARKANSAS' LARGEST HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL: Zombies part of the fun at annual Boo at the Zoo in Little Rock

Tricks, treats and zombies will make the Little Rock Zoo the spot for ghostly fun during the annual Boo at the Zoo. This year’s event includes new  lights, a new play and a celebrity appearance by The Walking Dead’s Michael Cudlitz.
Tricks, treats and zombies will make the Little Rock Zoo the spot for ghostly fun during the annual Boo at the Zoo. This year’s event includes new lights, a new play and a celebrity appearance by The Walking Dead’s Michael Cudlitz.

Forget lions and tigers and cheetahs. For the rest of this month, a new carnivore is invading the Little Rock Zoo: zombies.

The undead are the theme for this year's Boo at the Zoo, which will be a blowout fit for a ghost, a ghoul or a vampire princess.

"Boo continues to be Arkansas' largest Halloween festival and continues to grow every year," says Susan Altrui, the zoo's director. "We add to it each year and this year is no exception."

Probably the biggest addition is a special celebrity meet-and-greet night with actor Michael Cudlitz, who played Abraham Ford on The Walking Dead, on Sunday.

"We've got a zombie theme this year," Altrui says. "Of course, if you're doing a zombie theme, you've got to have someone from The Walking Dead."

Zombie costumes are encouraged and there will be autographed photos, selfies and a Zoo Zombie Party. While children are welcome, parents might want to keep in mind that zombie night may be extra creepy for youngsters.

While the celebrity night is family-friendly, there is one night that's strictly for the over-21 crowd.

On Adult Night, Friday, grown-ups get the run of the zoo, where they can trick-or-treat for adult beverages instead of candy and can dance to more adult dance music.

Boo at the Zoo

6-9 p.m. Oct. 24-27 and 29-31, Little Rock Zoo, 1 Zoo Drive, Little Rock

Tickets: members $15, nonmembers $20

Adult Night, 6-9 p.m. Friday

Tickets: advance $30, at the door $35

A Night with The Walking Dead’s Michael Cudlitz, 6-9 p.m. Sunday

Tickets: $50

(501) 666-2406

littlerockzoo.com

Beyond that, though, it's a typical Boo night with bounce houses, the haunted train and hay maze. They just won't have to worry about wrangling children or dodging sugar-hyped little ones but can, instead, act like children themselves.

Altrui says, "We try to keep the event like you'd experience as a kid. It's a fun opportunity for adults to feel like kids."

The regular Boo activities start up on Wednesday. There will be music, costume contests, trick-or-treating and lots of spooky and colorful things to see.

Each year features elaborate, colored light displays all over the zoo and they're adding new designs.

But the newest addition is a collaboration with The Weekend Theater. Each night of Boo, actors from the theater, animal ambassadors and zoo keepers will present a special new play at the zoo's amphitheater.

"Our animal ambassadors will have to figure out how to get rid of the zombies," Altrui explains. "We're super excited about that partnership."

Whether it's on the stage, on the paths or on the train, visitors will have their choice of wild, undead Halloween fun.

Weekend on 10/18/2018

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