ZooAmerica Celebrates 45th Anniversary of Creatures Of The Night Starting Oct. 3

ZooAmerica Celebrates 45th Anniversary of Creatures Of The Night Starting Oct. 3

Zoo in Hershey Open After Dark on Fridays and Saturdays in October 2025

The popular Creatures Of The Night event returns to ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park for its 45th anniversary starting Oct. 3, 2025. The Halloween-themed, after-hours experience will run on more dates than ever - from 6-9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays only through Nov. 1.

In celebration of the event anniversary, ZooAmerica will offer a special nighttime flashlight tour and new themed activities included with admission. Creatures Of The Night is the only time of year the Zoo is open after dark to explore the nighttime habits of the nocturnal North American animals.

• ZooAmerica_Creatures Of The Night_Hersheypark Entrance
• ZooAmerica_Creatures Of The Night_Buildings
• ZooAmerica_Creatures Of The Night_2023_Flashlight Tour_Snake
• ZooAmerica_Creatures Of The Night_2023_Displays_Tombstones
• ZooAmerica_Creatures Of The Night_2023_Decorations_Animal Lights
• ZooAmerica_Creatures Of The Night_2023_Decorations_Pumpkins
• ZooAmerica_Creatures Of The Night_2023_Bridge to Hersheypark

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Check out this guide of activities and educational displays for the whole family during Creatures Of The Night, weather permitting.

Flashlight Tour of the Zoo

During Creatures Of The Night, guests of all ages can explore the 11-acre zoo in the heart of Hershey by flashlight under the cover of night. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own flashlights for optimal viewing of the outdoor habitats, including the black bears, Canada lynx, gray wolves and river otters. There is no better way to see the wild and fascinating animal activity that only happens after the sun sets.

A special bonus: guests can see the nocturnal animals in the Great Southwest building in "daylight," a change from regular operating hours.

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New Activities for 45th Anniversary

• History-Themed Scavenger Hunt: Guests can participate in a scavenger hunt around the Zoo to learn about its history with items hidden in animal habitats and buildings.
• The Creature Kitchen: Magical Meals: Visitors can stop by a "spooky" tent on the bear patio to see furry friends, like ferrets or an opossum (animals will change nightly). They can also see and feel some of the food combinations given to the animals at ZooAmerica. Those who like arts and crafts can even color, with supplies provided.
• Find Bigfoot: Bigfoot will move to a new location every weekend (five spots in total). Guests are encouraged to find him and take a photo/selfie to share on social media using the hashtag #SasquatchSelfieZA.
• Flashlight Hide and Seek: Guests can read nocturnal animal facts while playing flashlight hide and seek with animal cutouts on the ramp between the Southern Swamps and Great Southwest buildings.
• "Modern Zookeeper" Exhibit: A Zoo Naturalist will work in the Great Southwest office for all guests to see what it's like in a typical zookeeper's office. The naturalist will be just like one of the animals to observe. This is a nod to the human exhibit that was done many years ago, where someone used to "watch TV" and act like a human at home while seemingly unaware of the observing visitors.

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Animal Enrichment Activities

Guests can watch an animal enrichment activity at 6:30 p.m. on each operating evening of Creatures Of The Night.

• Friday night: Great Southwest animals
• Saturday night: Gray wolves

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Decorate a Luminary

Guests should bring their curiosity and creativity to ZooAmerica after dark! Families can help light up the night by decorating luminary bags for a display in the Big Sky Country region. Supplies will be provided.

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Special Displays

Themed displays will be set up throughout ZooAmerica for guests to get an up-close look at some animals and learn about their survival.

• History Display (NEW): A display case will house photos and artifacts related to the history of ZooAmerica and Creatures Of The Night.
• Creepy Crawler Display (Inside the Woodlands Classroom): Creepy crawler invertebrates will be displayed. Guests can see tarantulas, cockroaches, walking sticks, scorpions, mealworms and superworms.
• Skull Display (Outside on the Woodlands Patio): A skull display will teach visitors about the diverse skeletal systems of the animals.
• X-ray Display (Inside the Great Southwest Building): Back by popular demand from last year, guests can see an animal X-ray display. Team members will be on-site to discuss the various X-rays and answer questions.
• Wolf Artifact Station (Wolf Habitat): Visitors can see and feel various animal fur and paw prints. Team members will be on-site to talk to guests and answer questions about the gray wolves.
• Recycled Treasure Display (Across from Prairie Dog Habitat): Visitors can view a recycled treasures display decorated by the ZooAmerica team.

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Creatures Of The Night is included in the one-price admission to Hersheypark Halloween only when accessing the Zoo from the bridge inside Hersheypark. Separate admission, starting at $14.50 plus taxes and fees, is also available online or at the ZooAmerica Admissions Building for guests who plan to attend just Creatures Of The Night.

If you can't make it to Creatures Of The Night, there are plenty of opportunities to visit ZooAmerica with daily operations this fall (closed Thanksgiving Day).