The Zoo at Chehaw will be open Saturday, Oct 27 as scheduled for the extremely popular Spooktacular event. Guests are invited to celebrate a not-so-spooky Halloween in the Zoo Plaza from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is always included in Zoo admission. Since some animals will not be on display due to the damage to their exhibits from Hurricane Michael, the Zoo will be open at a reduced price. Park, Zoo, and Spooktacular admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children, and free for Chehaw members. Costumes are encouraged but not required, and a costume contest at 1 p.m. in the Wildlife Theater.
 
Staff has dreamed up lots of new and fun events for this year’s Spooktacular. There will be Halloween themed games, face painting, cookie decorating, special Halloween enrichment for the animals, tons of fun prizes, and candy. Along with the Spooktacular fun, the Zoo will be open and the African Veldt ride will be running. Zookeepers will also have some special Creepy Critter talks throughout the day at no additional cost. There will be an Aviary Keeper Chat at 10:30, Rhino Feeding at 11:30, Meerkat Enrichment at 12:30, and Coati and Sulcata Enrichment at 1:30.
 
The damage from Hurricane Michael to the Zoo at Chehaw was immense. Staff and dedicated volunteers have been working around the clock to clean up the wreckage left behind. It will take several weeks to have the Zoo open again for guests on a reduced scale. The main priority for staff is the safety of guests and the welfare of animals in Chehaw’s care. Spooktacular will give guests and members a chance to see the destruction in the Zoo before it reopens in the future.