HOWL-O-WEEN FALL FESTIVAL
Oct. 16–18 & 23–25, 2026
Wilderness Trails Zoo
Birch Run, Michigan
HOWL-O-WEEN fun for all
DAYTIME FALL FESTIVAL
Two weekends of music, vendors, animals, activities, and fall fun throughout the zoo. Trick-or-treating, vendors, animal shows, live music, costume contests, and more!
Regular zoo admission or membership includes access. No separate festival ticket required.
October 17–18 & 24–25
10 AM–6 PM
FAMILY NIGHTS
Stay later, explore the zoo after dark, and enjoy a more relaxed family evening at Howl-O-Ween.
Regular zoo admission or membership includes access all day and evening. No separate nighttime ticket required.
1. Friday, October 16
2. Saturday, October 24
10 AM – 10 PM
ADULT NIGHTS
Two adults-only nights with Monster Presents, shows, roaming characters, music, and after-dark zoo experiences.
The zoo closes at 6 PM and reopens at 7 PM for these separate 21+ ticketed events.
1. Saturday, October 17
2. Friday, October 23
7 PM – 11 PM
LEARN MORE
HOWL-O-WEEN HAPPENINGS
TRICK-OR-TREAT AT THE ZOO
Bring your candy bucket! Follow the zoo trails for trick-or-treating.
October 17–18 & 24–25
10 AM–6 PM
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
Enjoy live music and rotating entertainment throughout the festival. Family programming stays light and fun, while adult nights feature Monster Presents, roaming characters, and live shows.
VENDOR BOOTHS
Shop local vendors and small businesses throughout the festival. Find handmade goods, seasonal items, treats, and more along the zoo trails.
COSTUME CONTESTS
Come dressed for the occasion and enter one of our costume contests during Howl-O-Ween. Contest times and categories will be announced soon.
ANIMAL EXPERIENCES
Make the animals part of your Howl-O-Ween visit with special encounters and after-hours animal experiences offered throughout the event.
MORE FALL FUN!
Face painting, crafts, games, photo opportunities, a silent auction, and other seasonal activities will be added throughout the festival.
HOWL-O-WEEN AFTER DARK
Adults 21+ • Two nights • Two different Monster Presents!™ productions
Monster Presents!™ takes over Wilderness Trails Zoo for two adults-only nights of original characters, live entertainment, roaming performers, music, audience interaction, and after-hours zoo experiences.
The zoo closes at 6 PM and reopens at 7 PM for each separately ticketed event.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
CRITICALLY DANGEROUS!™
Hosted by Happy Birthday and the Monster Presents cast, Critically Dangerous!™ brings original characters, dark camp, horror-variety performances, specialty acts, audience interaction, and roaming entertainment to the zoo after dark.
Doors open 7 PM
Show begins 7:30 PM
Adults 21+
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23
MENACING MONSTERS: A SLIDESHOW OF SCARES
A second completely different Monster Presents!™ production featuring four Official Monsters, live entertainment, hosting, guest interaction, roaming characters, DJ programming, and after-hours fun throughout the zoo.
7 PM–11 PM
Adults 21+
HOWL-O-WEEN AFTER DARK
21+ Halloween Nights
7–11 PM
A Halloween night at the zoo with drag and horror-variety shows from Monster Presents!, roaming monsters, a costume contest and after-dark animal experiences.
All admission tiers include the show, two drink passes, appetizers from Tom Wood Catering, VIP animal appearances, and all-night Rainforest and Baby Barn access.
General Admission $65 • Premium Members $50 • VIP Members Complimentary
Choose Saturday, October 17: Critically Dangerous! or Friday, October 23: Menacing Monsters: A Sideshow of Scares below.
Doors open at 7 PM • Shows begin at 7:30 PM
Tickets available online and at the door.
PLEASE NOTE: EVENT TICKETS ARE FOR ADULT NIGHTS ONLY. ALL OTHER FALL FESTIVAL DAYS AND NIGHTS ONLY REQUIRE GENERAL ADMISSION OR MEMBERSHIP TO ENTER.
BE PART OF HOWL-O-WEEN
BECOME A VENDOR
Bring your business to the zoo’s fall festival. Tell us what you sell and which dates you’re interested in.
CLICK FOR VENDOR DETAILS
SPONSOR THE FESTIVAL
Help support Howl-O-Ween through a business sponsorship or a donation of goods or services.
CLICK FOR SPONSOR DETAILS
VOLUNTEER WITH US
Help us bring the festival to life. Sign up for your desired days and tasks. Volunteer ages: Daytime 16+ · Nighttime 18+
CLICK TO SIGN UP
HELP FILL THEIR TRICK-OR-TREAT BAGS
Please donate unopened bags of individually wrapped candy. Drop off with the cashier in the Wilderness Trails Zoo gift shop during regular zoo hours.
Donations by October 16 help us prepare for opening weekend. We’ll continue accepting candy through October 23 for our second festival weekend.
VENDOR INTEREST
SPONSOR INTEREST
VOLUNTEER SIGNUP
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