Nine Nights of Haunting at Brookfield Zoo

Halloween season is upon us and that means Creatures of the Night at , 3300 Golf Rd., is back with thrills and chills. The event will take place Oct. 14-16, 21-23 and 28-30, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. each night.

The night has something for everyone from children to adults, including some not-so-scary activities too. Families with younger children can enjoy the zoo’s Pavilions with the Monster Mash Dance Party led by a DJ playing a variety of Halloween-themed music. Pumpkin carving will be available along with the “Crazed Maze” a 7,000-square-foot maze to find your way through. The Carousel will be open also.

“The Haunted Tram” with Scream Vacations is not for the faint of heart. Take a ride on this tram and see human body parts lying along the trail as well as scary scenes with monsters, goblins, and other possessed beasts.

“The Trail of Terror-Underneath” is for the bravest guests. The trail is an indoor winding pathway that will take them through a research team’s dig site for pre-historic life. Along the trail, suspenseful surprises and utter mayhem unfolds as zoo-goers will try to escape from a colony of humanoid drones and grotesque creatures.

Craft activities will be available in the Hamill Family Play Zoo until 9 p.m. Decorate trick-or-treat bags to use on Halloween or create paper bats. Nightly scavenger hunts will take place with zoo staff too.

The West Mall will be home to The Creature Feature Center where guests can watch snippets from classic horror movies and have the opportunity to enter the Best Buy Chicago All Access on-line sweepstakes. Guests can use the equipment provided by Best Buy to take their photos and upload it to the All Access Web site. Participants who enter the sweepstakes will have a chance to win a variety of prizes, including a two-year Brookfield Zoo sustaining-level family membership that features unlimited general admission. The winner and a guest will also receive four special behind-the-scenes animal encounters.

On Oct. 15, from 6 to 10 p.m. don’t miss B96 broadcasting live from the zoo.                                

Guests should park in Brookfield Zoo’s main parking lot (First Avenue and 31st Street). Parking is free after 6 p.m. Activities are free (with the exception of the pumpkin carving activity and The Carousel) with paid admission of $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 3-11 and seniors 65 and older, while Brookfield Zoo members pay half price. Children 2 and under are free. For further information, visit www.CZS.org/Events or call (708) 688-8000.