INSIDE LOOK: Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa returns with NEW thrills in 2025!

Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa returns in 2025 for 13 select nights from September 27 to October 26 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.!

Get ready for a ghoulishly great night as ZooTampa transforms into a whimsical place where scarecrows delight and creepy creatures roam.

This is one of our favorite Halloween events in Tampa Bay because it’s truly one that people of all ages can enjoy, whether you’re attending with a small child or checking it out for date night.

Related: Explore our favorite pumpkin patches in Tampa Bay, where you can explore a corn maze in Tampa Bay with the kids, and evenadorable fall festivals to celebrate the season!

So let’s get to it, friends! Here’s what's in store for you and your ghouls and goblins in 2025!

What's NEW at Creatures of the Night in 2025: 

(Words in this section contributed by ZooTampa.)

• Mesozoic Mayhem: Experience the ultimate spooky adventure at ZooTampa. Embark on an unforgettable journey through a secret lab that leads to a thrilling prehistoric world where life-size dinosaurs lurk around every corner and chilling roars echo in the night.
• Carousel de los Muertos: Enjoy a vibrant, immersive celebration featuring towering sugar skull stilt walkers and festive décor. This enchanting area pays tribute to the Día de los Muertos, a cherished tradition honoring loved ones who have passed away and is celebrated across Mexico, Central America, and Latino communities across the U.S.
• Happy Harvest Hollow: The Australia realm is the center of family fun with a Harvest Festival, where there's something for everyone to enjoy! Colorful scarecrows come to life, dancing joyfully to the lively beats spun by a DJ. Adding to the festive atmosphere, the beloved Lucilla Lumpkin, enchants audiences of all ages with her dynamic pumpkin-smashing show.
• Enchanted Garden: Walk through an enchanted garden where living statues blur the line between fantasy and reality. Witness a mesmerizing living statue fountain show where water and dance unite with harmony and artistry for a memorable and breathtaking spectacle.
• The Dancing Dead: Get ready for an unforgettable night at our epic dance party, where the undead will be grooving under the disco balls and lights! Step into our vibrant 70s studio inhabited by zombies adorned in flashy outfits, busting out dance moves to classic disco hits while the dance floor pulses with energy.

Returning Creepy Favorites in 2025:

(Words in this section contributed by ZooTampa.)

• Vampire Ball: Instead of blood, Count Chirop and Countess Tera feed on fun and host a party made up of human and monster friends.
• Pirates Paradise: Prepare to set sail on an extraordinary adventure into a vibrant pirate's paradise, where the atmosphere is alive with enchanting mermaids and captivating décor. The experience culminates with an exhilarating performance by a skilled pirate magician, who will astound and delight with tricks and illusions that bring the magic of the high seas to life.
• Swamp Witch Way: ZooTampa guests courageous enough to seek out Blackwater Mattie for themselves may be lucky – or perhaps unlucky – enough to find her along Swamp Witch Way in the Florida’s Roaring Springs area. Though she’d prefer to be left alone, she does love to bargain, so make sure you have something to trade before you venture into her cursed territory.

• Haunted Light Show: Enjoy a colorful Halloween light show every 15 minutes in front of ZooTampa’s own haunted house.

• The Merry Old Land of Oz: The endearing characters from L. Frank Baum’s children's fantasy classic “Wizard of Oz” comes to life and interacts with the youngest Creatures of the Night guests and their families. Meet Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, and The Cowardly Lion, or face the Wicked Witch of the West and her Flying Monkeys.
• Troll Cave: Step into a mesmerizing landscape bursting with a vibrant sea of neon colors and some friendly trolls along the way!

The Eerie Scale

ZooTampa is bringing back the Eerie Scale that will let you know how spooky an attraction may be. You'll find the signs featuring pumpkins at the entrance of each attraction.

For your reference: Mesozoic Mayhem is rated three pumpkins, and Swamp Witch Way is two pumpkins. Everything else is at one pumpkin.

Even More SPOOKtacular Entertainment and Animals:

Be sure you stop by one of the different chats and animal connections throughout the zoo. It’s an opportunity to learn more about the animals and even get up close and personal with them! You can also book a giraffe feeding experience.

Here are the animal experiences on schedule for the 2025 Creatures of the Night:

• 4:00 pm: Komodo Chat at the Komodo Habitat, Asia
• 4:30 pm: Wildlife Connection at ZooVentures Theater, Florida
• 4:45 pm: Orangutan Chat at Orangutan Habitat, Primates
• 5:15 pm: Owl Chat at Owl Habitat, Florida Wilds
• 5:45 pm: Babirusa Chat at Babirusa Habitat, Asia
• 6:00 pm: Shoebill Chat at Shoebill Habitat, Africa
• 6:00 pm: Wildlife Connection outside Savanna Oasis, Africa
• 6:45 pm: Binturong Chat at Binturong Habitat, Asia
• 7:00 pm: Wildlife Connection at ZooVentures Theater, Florida
• 7:30 pm: Red River Hog/Pygmy Hippo Chat at Ituri Forest, Africa
• 8:00 pm: Goodnight Penguin Chat at African Penguin Habitat, Africa
• 8:00 pm: Wildlife Connection outside Savanna Oasis, Africa
• 8:45 pm: Goodnight Bear/Panther Chat at Bear/Panther Habitat, Florida Wilds

The Entertainment!

There are some cute live performances to experience during Creatures of the Night this year, including the return of Lucilla Lumpkins Smashes Pumpkins!

2025 entertainment schedule:

• Lucilla Lumpkins Smashes Pumpkins at Happy Harvest Hallow in Australia: 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:30 pm, 9:30 pm
• Pirate Magician at Saunders Theater in Florida: 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm, 8:00 pm, 9:00 pm
• Fountain of Life at The Enchanted Garden in Africa: 5:05 pm, 6:05 pm, 7:05 pm, 8:05 pm, 9:05 pm

Don't miss ZooTampa mascots Manny T and Flora in their adorable Halloween costumes!

We loved it when Manny T came out dressed in his Halloween best! You'll see them through the night in the park. We spotted them in Australia in the Land of Oz for this cute photo op!

Quick Facts about ZooTampa's Creatures of the Night:

When is Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa? 

Creatures of the Night takes place on 13 select nights from September 27 through October 26, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Event capacity is limited.

How much are tickets for Creatures of the Night?

General admission tickets after 4 PM are $29.95 (Friday & Sunday), $34.95 (Saturday), and can be purchased online at zootampa.org. The event is free with a membership or a Pay for a Day ticket; however, blockout dates apply for Pay for a Day ticket holders on Saturdays in October.

Are costumes allowed at Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa?

Children 13 years of age and under are invited to wear their most spooky Halloween attire. For the comfort and security of all guests, anyone older than 13 years of age may not wear Halloween masks, wigs, face paint, or costumes of any kind. Toy weapons are prohibited regardless of age.

What kind of food and drinks is available at Creatures of the Night?

The ZooTampa chefs have been hard at work curating a spooktacular menu for you and the kids! More to come soon!

For more information on the event and to purchase tickets visit: ZOOTAMPA.ORG.

*Photos by Laura Byrne.