- When
- Friday, October 30, 2026 · 3:00 PM EDT – 6:00 PM EDT
- Organizer
- Virginia Zoo
- Type
- Special Events
About this event
@ Paw-rchase tickets here! Bring your favorite pup to the Zoo for a howling good time at Howl-o-ween: Dog Day at the Zoo! Dog lovers and their well-behaved canine companions are invited to explore the Zoo together and enjoy festive Halloween fun. Pups will be treated to new sights, smells, and sounds along side their people while also providing enrichment to the Zoo’s animals. Guests are encouraged to dress their dogs in their best Halloween costumes and enter our dog costume contest for a chance to win prizes. For the safety and enjoyment of all guests, dogs must be well-trained and current on required vaccinations. Dogs behaving in an unruly or aggressive manner (i.e. excessive barking, growling, lunging, biting, etc.) will be required to leave without a refund. Canine advanced registration required by October 16. How to Join Us: Reserve a ticket for yourself AND your dog. Each adult ticket may only reserve a spot for ONE dog. Note: Our ticket form will not complete transactions that do not have a 1:1 ratio of adult humans to dogs. Submit a signed waiver (this link will be provided in your ticket confirmation email). Upload your dog’s veterinary records*. Medical records must be received no later than 2 weeks after ticket purchase OR 4pm on October 16. Medical requirements: Up-to-date vaccination for: Rabies Up-to-date vaccination for: Distemper virus, Adenovirus (also called canine Hepatitis) and Parvo virus Up-to-date vaccination for: Bordetella Proof of negative heartworm test within the past year AND proof of purchase for heartworm preventative *You will only have one opportunity to upload these documents, please verify before you select submit that all required documentation has been provided. Entry will not be permitted if your medical records have not been received by the Virginia Zoo, or if our veterinary staff determines that your dog’s records are insufficient. Activities & Schedule Included with your ticket: 4:30pm: Dog costume contest in Fountain Plaza Dress up your furry companion in their Halloween costume! Winners will be determined under the following categories: Best Group/Family (with dog) Best Individual (dog) 3 – 5:30pm: Asia: Trail of the Tiger and African Safari Trail open Donation Drive for the Norfolk Animal Care Center (NACC) Guests who donate items from the NACC’s donation list will receive a raffle ticket with the chance to win a basket from our participating vendors! Items include a raffle basket filled with dog-friendly items. Raffle basket drawing will take place at 5:30pm – you must be present to win! Dog Agility Course demos with Dogtopia in the Event Field Note: Dogs will remain on leash for this activity. Halloween-Themed Scent Trail in Animal Wellness Campus Dogs can sniff unique scents that they wouldn’t normally encounter on their daily walks to make their Howl-o-ween experience extra special. Available for an additional cost: Exclusive dog Zoodoption Packages featuring a Burmese python, two-toed sloth, yellow-footed tortoise, or red fox toy inside Virginia Zoo Gift Shop Sale: 20% off dog merch, including bandanas, toys, leashes, and collars *Dogs ARE allowed in the Gift Shop, please ensure your dog doesn’t go to the bathroom inside the shop 3 – 5:40pm: Virginia Zoo Express Train open (only service dogs allowed on train) Vendors $ = Additional cost Norfolk Animal Care Center Care-a-Lot Pet Supply RUBYSTARART (pet portraits) ($) Salty Paws Chics Beach Dogtopia Parti Pups LLC ($) Moondog Bakery ($) Earthwise Pet Nutrition Center The Wild One Project Muddy Paws Food & Drinks ($) Cool Concessions 757 located in Fountain Plaza 3 – 4pm: African Village Restaurant open 💲 Ticket Prices 💲 Tickets on sale to members starting September 4. Tickets on sale to the public on September 11. Please note, prices may increase as the event date nears, so don’t wait — early birds get the best deal! 🐾 Dog ticket: $18 🐾 Member Adult (18+): $8 🐾 Member Child (2-17): $8 🐾 Non-Member Adult (12+): $18 🐾 Non-Member Child (2-11): $13 🐾 Children under 2 are free but require a reservation Canine advanced registration required by October 16. Paw-rchase your tickets here! Frequently Asked Questions: Do I need to reserve tickets ahead of time, or can I walk up with my dog? All dog tickets must be pre-registered by the date listed above, so our vets can review your dog’s records to ensure they meet requirements. Only human tickets will be available at the gate. What veterinary records are required for my dog to attend this event? Medical records must be received no later than 4pm on October 16. Upload your dog’s veterinary records to the link provided in your canine ticket purchase confirmation email. You will only have one opportunity to upload these documents, please verify before you select submit that all required documentation has been provided. Medical requirements: Up-to-date vaccination for: Rabies Up-to-date vaccination for: Distemper virus, Adenovirus (also called canine Hepatitis) and Parvo virus Up-to-date vaccination for: Bordetella Proof of negative heartworm test within the past year AND proof of purchase for heartworm preventative These records are being required by the Virginia Zoo's board certified veterinarian for the safety of both your animals and those that call the Zoo home. If you have questions or or need clarification, please email us at events@virginiazoo.org . What if my dog’s records are rejected? If our vets do not approve your dog’s veterinary records, your ticket will be cancelled and refunded. You will be notified at the email you provided when tickets were reserved. Does my dog need to be on a leash at all times? Yes, dogs must be on a leash at all times during the event, even if they are in a carrier or a stroller. Leashes must be no longer than 6 feet and should be non-retractable. Can I use a hands-free leash at this event? No, hands-free leashes are not permitted at this event to ensure the safety of all animals and guests in attendance. Can I bring more than one dog to the event? Each adult (18+) can only be accompanied by ONE dog. If you would like to bring more than one dog, you will need to have another adult present with you in your party. Can I bring a pet that is not a dog? No, only dogs are allowed at this time. Will dog supplies be provided? Guests are encouraged to bring their own treats, water bowls, and relief bags. Limited water stations will be available around the Zoo. Water will also be available for purchase. Can I go to all parts of the Zoo with my dog? Dogs are currently not permitted to enter the Zoo Farm, the World of Reptiles or Turtle Oasis. Other areas may not be available as programs or animals dictate. Dogs must remain behind the guest fences or stanchions, not go through them, and obey all posted signage. Where are the relief areas for my dog? The Zoo will be installing a designated dog relief area (see event map). All guests will be responsible for cleaning up after their dogs should it be needed. Are there any restrictions on the types of dogs that can attend? Puppies under 4 months, sick dogs, dogs with active injuries (i.e. stitches, bandages), unvaccinated dogs, and female dogs in heat are not suitable for the event. Am I allowed to attend if I don’t have a dog? Yes, of course! All dog and zoo-lovers are welcome! The Zoo will be open for extended hours for this event and guests are more than welcome to purchase a human ticket to attend without a dog. Can I go back in and edit my waiver submission? No, all documents and completion of the waiver needs to be done at one time. If you have trouble with your submission, email us at info@virginiazoo.org. Can I bring my service dog to this event? Yes, service dogs are welcomed to this event at their handler's discretion. If your service dog is on duty, while the handler will require to purchase a ticket, the dog will not. However, to assist with planning, a cost-free reservation is requested by contacting us at events@virginiazoo.org to let us know your working service dog will be attending. Emotional support dogs do not qualify as service animals according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) , and are therefore required to purchase a ticket to attend this event. Dog tickets are sold out, what now? For safety reasons, we have a limited number of dog tickets available for this event. Veterinary records must be submitted for all dogs with tickets purchased for this event, however, it could take our team a few days to ensure the records are sufficient and approved. Should records not be approved, some dog tickets may open up, so please reserve a free waitlist ticket at the ticket link to be added to our waitlist! What are you doing to ensure the Zoo animals are safe and not stressed? The health and safety of our Zoo animals is always our top priority. We are ensuring their wellbeing during this event in a number of ways, including: Our team has done extensive research and consulted with other AZA-accredited facilities who have hosted similar events. We have also reviewed in detail all aspects of the event with our Veterinary and Animal Care teams, including them in every step of the process and acting on their recommendations. For this event, dogs will not be permitted in some parts of the Zoo, including the ZooFarm, World of Reptiles, and Turtle Oasis. This is to protect our animals from close contact with the dogs, as well as prevent stress for some of our more reactive species. We conducted two test days with well-behaved pets of our Zoo Team and Members, which allowed our Animal Care Team to evaluate their animals’ responses to dogs. The open areas of the Zoo were selected because the keepers identified that the animals in that area did not exhibit concerning behaviors during the tests. During our test days, and through our research, we actually found that having some dogs on site was enriching for many of the animals here at the Zoo! Many of the animals were interested in our canine friends and it proved to be stimulating and exciting for them! We will continue to monitor our animals’ behavior during and after the event as well as make adjustments mid-event and for future events accordingly. On the day of the event, any dogs behaving in an unruly or aggressive manner (i.e. excessive barking, growling, lunging, biting, etc.) will be required to leave Zoo grounds without a refund. Bringing in other animals onto Zoo grounds is something we take very seriously. We are adhering to all recommendations by animal experts at our facility and other AZA organizations. Additionally, we require detailed vaccination and veterinary records to be submitted for review by our Veterinarian for all dogs attending this event. Event Reminders Limited number of tickets available. Advance ticket sales end when sold out (get yours early!). If tickets remain on the day of the event, gate sales may be limited to credit card transactions only. Tickets are non-refundable. All sales are final. Should a ticket holder be unable to attend the event, the purchase will be considered a donation. As an outdoor venue, events are rain or shine unless otherwise indicated. If any changes are made, an announcement via an email to our members and/or ticket holders and on the Virginia Zoo social media channels will be issued prior the event. The Zoo is a smoke-free facility; no smoking is allowed inside the Zoo. This also includes e-cigarettes and vaping. Inability to follow this rule will result in dismissal from Zoo grounds without a refund. By purchasing an event ticket, you agree to abide by the Virginia Zoo’s Rules & Policies .
Description from Virginia Zoo.
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