Boo at the Zoo 2026: Trick-or-Treating at Safari Niagara

Two weekends of Halloween fun at Safari Niagara in Stevensville

More than 100 local vendors hand out treats around Safari Niagara, and costume contests run every day of the event. Kids 12 and under in costume get in for $5.

💡 Trams are not running for Boo at the Zoo, so wear comfortable shoes and pack a trick-or-treat bag.

📅 Dates, Hours & Tickets

Boo at the Zoo takes over Safari Niagara for two weekends this fall. The second weekend is new for 2026, added because of popular demand, which gives you five days to pick from. Every day runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the last entry is at 4 p.m., so aim to arrive with a few hours in hand.

Safari Niagara is closed on Thanksgiving Monday, October 12, so there is no bonus day tacked on the end. Tickets are sold through the Safari Niagara website.

🎃 What to Expect

The main event is the trick-or-treat route. More than 100 local businesses set up around the park and hand out treats, so the walk between animal habitats doubles as a candy circuit. Bring your own bag, because you will fill it.

Beyond the candy there is Halloween music and dancing, photo spots set up for the season, and crafts, games and activities scattered around the grounds. The costume contests are the one part of the day with posted times, so plan around those first and let everything else fall into place. Nobody is going to hurry you along the route.

Two things are different from a regular zoo day. The trams are parked for the event, so you will be on foot the whole time. And some animals may not be out on display, because of dietary restrictions and the risk of visitors feeding them when they should not. Safari Niagara posts both notes on its event page, and it is worth telling the kids ahead of time so nobody is disappointed if a favourite is having a quiet day.

🏆 Daily Costume Contests

Contests run every day of the event at Wonders of Flight. Winners are picked daily in age categories and a group category, and the event page promises prizes for the winners. The schedule is tight, with a new age group starting every half hour.

If the whole family has coordinated as the same thing, the 12:30 slot is the one for you, since group costumes compete alongside the teens and adults. Get to Wonders of Flight a few minutes before your time, because the contests run back to back.

📍 The Essentials

🚗 Getting There & Parking

Safari Niagara is at 2821 Stevensville Road in Stevensville, in the Town of Fort Erie. From Niagara Falls or Toronto, follow the QEW south, take the Sodom Road exit, turn right, and drive about 4 km to the park. Coming from Buffalo, follow the QEW north, exit at Sodom Road, and turn left instead. In normal traffic, plan on roughly half an hour from Niagara Falls and around an hour and a half from the Toronto area.

💡 A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Go

🎒 Bring your own trick-or-treat bag. The vendors hand out the treats, but you supply the container. A sturdy one beats a flimsy paper bag by the second hour.

👟 Wear comfortable shoes. With no trams running, the park is a long walk, and small legs get tired faster than expected. A wagon or a sturdy stroller helps, and both are welcome at Safari Niagara.

🥫 Pack a non-perishable donation. Safari Niagara collects food throughout the event for a local food bank. A tin or two from the pantry is all it takes.

🕚 Plan around the contest for your age group. Ages 0 to 3 go first at 11 a.m., so families with toddlers should be at Wonders of Flight early.

🧥 Dress for October. It is an outdoor day at the end of the season. Layers under the costume are easy to add and easy to strip off if the sun comes out.

🦒 Leave the feeding to the professionals. Staff say some animals may stay out of view partly because of unauthorized feeding, so keep snacks and candy away from the habitats.

📅 Remember Thanksgiving Monday. The park is closed on October 12, so the last day to go is Sunday, October 11.

✨ Why Boo at the Zoo Is Worth the Trip

Neighbourhood trick-or-treating is great, but it also means cold porches, dark streets and a lot of parents quietly counting how many houses are left. Boo at the Zoo swaps that for daytime, an open park and a supply of candy that does not depend on whose porch light happens to be on. With kids in costume paying only $5, it is an easy outing to say yes to.

Then there are the animals. The route runs through a working zoo, so a stop at an animal habitat is never far away, and the mix of Halloween chaos and wildlife is what makes the day feel a bit different from either a regular zoo trip or a regular Halloween outing. Just go in knowing that some residents may be out of sight.

The timing matters too. October 11 is the last day of Safari Niagara’s 2026 season, so this is one of the final chances to visit before the park closes for the year. Add in the food bank drive, and it is a day out that gives something back to the community while the kids burn through their candy budget.

❓ Common Questions