Fall for the Zoo

Train driving through the Zoo surrounded by orange leaves

Posted Date

September 1, 2026

Category

In The News

The Milwaukee County Zoo is the place to be this season! Join us for a lineup of great fall activities along with autumn colors.

Check the fall schedule below and buy tickets online to save on your visit.

Throughout September and October, we’ll provide a fall color report showing when the leaves have reached 25%, 50%, 75%, peak, and fading peak. Follow us on our social media to track how the Zoo looks before your visit!

And, of course, don’t forget about the animals — and babies. Say hello to Humboldt penguin chicks Marlin and Pike, plus scimitar-horned oryx calves Zaman, Yaji, and Yashi.

 

Sunday, September 20: Milwaukee County Discount Sunday

  • Milwaukee County residents can visit the Zoo and receive the reduced County admission rate: $12 for adults and $9.50 for children (age 3 to 12).

 

Saturday, October 3: Family Free Day

  • Each year, the Zoo offers six Family Free Days when all guests receive free admission to the Zoo. Parking and regular attraction fees still apply. Celebrate fall at the Zoo on October 3 with free admission, sponsored by Tri City National Bank & FOX6.

 

Sunday, October 4: Last Day for Powerful Pollinators

  • Don’t miss your opportunity to level up and be a pollinator hero before the summer exhibit, Powerful Pollinators presented by Meijer, closes on Oct. 4! Explore more than 20 larger-than-life robotic pollinators and discover how the Zoo helps protect them through native gardens, honeybee hives, and conservation initiatives. Admission: $4/person.

 

Friday-Saturday, October 16-17 AND Friday-Saturday, October 23-24: Boo at the Zoo

  • Costumes, Halloween fun, and plenty of animals make this a favorite fall tradition. And this year, there are more ways to Boo, including a new daytime experience on Saturdays! Delightful, not frightful! Presented by Prairie Farms Dairy.

 

Thursday, October 22: Spooky Safari

  • An adults-only night of Boo at the Zoo. Leave the little ghosts and goblins at home and experience Halloween at the Zoo after dark! Presented by Milwaukee Uncut.

 

Saturday, November 7: Family Free Day

  • Each year, the Zoo offers six Family Free Days when all guests receive free admission to the Zoo, sponsored by Tri City National Bank & FOX6. Parking and regular attraction fees still apply. On November 7, take in the sights around the Zoo — check out the North American river otters or stop by Penguins of the Pacific to visit the Humboldt penguins.