It’s spooky season in St. Louis, where you’ll find ghosts, goblins and ghouls galore at Halloween-themed events around town.
WHAT: BOO AT THE ZOO
WHERE: Saint Louis Zoo
WHEN: Oct. 14 to 30, 5 to 8:30 p.m. nightly
For the Saint Louis Zoo’s nighttime, not-too-scary Halloween tradition, there will be plenty of themed areas for spooky selfies, including Skeleton Soiree, Monster Mash, Haunted Harvest and Coachman’s Junction. Check out some slithering creatures like snakes, lizards, tortoises and toads in the Herpetarium, while the Insectarium will give you the heebie-jeebies with spiders, centipedes, beetles and more. Plus, entertainment includes roaming magicians, stilt walkers and jugglers, and live music on the weekends.
Food and drink will be available for purchase at Lakeside Café, Safari Grill and at other stops throughout the zoo. Admission includes entry into Dinoroarus, Stingrays at Caribbean Cove, “Chaos in Wonderland” at the 4D Theater and carousel rides. Timed-ticket reservations are required.
$11 to $13 ($9 to 11 for members), free for children younger than 2; stlzoo.org/boo
WHAT: FRIGHTS & HEIGHTS
WHERE: Gateway Arch
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 15, 6:30 to 10 p.m.
You’ll be scared to new heights with a “haunted” Tram Ride to the Top, a highlight of the Gateway Arch’s Frights & Heights Halloween party. Show up in costume and take part in a variety of scary stuff like Freaky Face Painting, Creepy Crafts, Boo-loon Animals and puppet shows, and enjoy some Freaky Fudge and free Halloween candy. A live DJ will spin the tracks for the ultimate Halloween dance party. Plus, each child gets a free one-hour St. Louis Riverfront Cruise ticket with the purchase of an adult admission.
A new feature this year is the option to pre-purchase meals, which are discounted with a ticket purchase.
$21 (free for children 2 and younger); gatewayarch.com/Halloween
WHAT: GHOST STORIES, GHOULS AND GUITARS – A HALLOWEEN CONCERT
WHERE: Missouri History Museum
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 27, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Wear your scariest, spookiest best to rock the night away to “Thriller,” “Monster Mash” and other terrifying tunes as the Dead Beats perform a Halloween-themed rock and pop concert.
The Missouri History Museum’s free Halloween offering will also feature mini-pumpkin decorating, a spooky selfie station and spine-tingling tales of haunted history, told by a “ghost” from St. Louis past. Browse through Vincent Price memorabilia and play some trivia to test your knowledge about the legendary horror king who hailed from St. Louis. And don’t forget to take the horror home with your own signed copies of “Missouri’s Murderous Matrons” and “Missouri’s Mad Doctor McDowell” by local author Victoria Cosner. Food and drinks for purchase will be available from Sugarfire Smoke House.
Free; mohistory.org/events/a-halloween-concert
WHAT: SCIENCE SPOOKTACULAR
WHERE: Saint Louis Science Center
WHEN: Oct. 29, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Oct. 30, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Science Center’s annual Halloween event is free and family-friendly, with lots of activities for all ages to enjoy. Check out the different galleries for science demos, a magic show and the Graveyard Golf putt putt challenge. There will also be a Raising Frankenstein Escape Room, plus a costume parade, spooking roaming characters, pumpkin-themed activities and a free feature film each day. Food and drink specials will be available.
Free; slsc.org/event-overviews/science-spooktacular
Look for Safaris, Glamping and More When the Zoo’s New Park Opens in 2027
