ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park will host its annual Creatures of the Night Halloween event on Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24, featuring trick-or-treating, animal encounters and a new free-flowing entry format.
The event will run from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. both nights, with gates opening at 5 p.m. To prepare for the festivities, the zoo will close early at 4 p.m. each day.
Organizers modified the event structure this year to eliminate timed entry slots, allowing guests to arrive at any point during event hours and move through the park at their own pace.
Josie Taylor, curator of education at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, explained that the operational change is designed to give families more flexibility. “We’re mixing it up this year to make the event more free-flowing,” Taylor said. “Instead of timed entry with a very directed flow of traffic, guests can enter anytime during their ticketed day and explore the themed areas and habitats as they wish. This will keep the interactive tables from backing up and allow families to take their time and just enjoy the experience.”
Visitors will enter through the green arched doorway located between the main entrance and the Anastasia Island Conservation Center. Once inside, guests can navigate themed stations where zoo staff will distribute candy, treats, and vintage collectible creature cards. Attendees are required to bring their own bags for trick-or-treating. Interactive stations will feature ambassador animals including snakes, lizards and crocodilians, along with viewings of habitats for Maximo and Sydney, two of the zoo’s famous resident alligators. The ToucanTina Café will remain open during event hours to sell drinks and food.
Tickets are available online, with park officials strongly recommending advance purchase due to limited day-of availability. Advance online tickets for members cost $18 for guests ages 12 and older and $14 for children ages 2 to 11. Non-member advance tickets are $20 for ages 12 and older and $16 for ages 2 to 11.
If available at the gate on the day of the event, tickets increase to $22 for adult members, $18 for child members, $24 for adult non-members, and $20 for child non-members. Admission is free for children under age 2, and any day-of ticket purchases must be made with a credit or debit card.
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