SNEAK PEEK: 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 spooky whimsical place where clowns 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 ZooTampa says they have in store for you and your ghouls and goblins!
What's NEW at Creatures of the Night in 2025:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Returning Creepy Favorites in 2025:
- Vampire Ball: Instead of blood, Count Chirop and Countess Tera feed on fun and host a party made up of human and monster friends.
- 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.
- 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 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 for each attraction.
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!
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.