Racine & Me: Jack-O'-Lantern Nights and more fall fun at The Racine Zoo!
RACINE, WI (CBS 58) -- Get ready for Jack-O'-Lantern Nights and more fall fun at the Racine Zoo! Beth Heidorn and McKenna Moats joined us in studio to talk about that and more in this week's Zoo Zone!
OctoBEARfest
Friday, September 26, 2025
6-9pm
https://racinezoo.org/product/oktobearfest
Happy OktoBEARfest! Prepare your taste buds for a German-themed night of beer tasting from your very own souvenir sampling glass. Dive into a great food selection and visit with an animal ambassador. Bring your friends and enjoy a night at the Zoo!
- October 2 – October 31, 2025
- Thursdays - Sundays
- 6pm - 10pm (last admission 9:30pm)
- $10 per person, 2 years and younger: free (Admission only at the door)
- In the crisp fall air, stroll through the Zoo along a dedicated paved pathway and become immersed in dazzling lights and charming decorations. Follow the path and be fully immersed in Halloween with each step you take. For the 4th annual Halloween-themed event, the Racine Zoo is giving a new and fresh look to Jack-O’-Lantern Nights from Thursday, October 2 through Friday, October 31. From its debut in 2022, this event earned recognition as a nominee in the Innovation Award category for the 2023 Wisconsin Governor’s Tourism Awards, and we are thrilled to bring it back for year four with a fresh new look!
This new company will help to change Jack-O’-Lantern Nights and help us create a show that is more unique and customary to the Zoo. Visitors will continue on the path lit with Halloween themed up lighting to fit with the ambiance that is Jack-O’-Lantern Nights. Once they continue around the corner, they will see a path filled with pumpkins displays, tractors, photo-ops with pumpkins and hay bales, and filled with spooky lighting all throughout.
Saturday, October 4, 2025
6PM – 9PM
Join the Racine Zoo in celebrating Wisconsin’s classic cocktail. Sample old fashioned cocktails from local competitors on Lake Michigan. Vote on your favorite and at the end of the night we will crown a winner! Food included. Additional drinks will be available for purchase. Must be 21 or older to attend. Get tickets at racinezoo.org.
Boo at the Zoo – Trunk-or-Treat Business Booth Registration
Boo at the Zoo
Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 10AM – 4PM
Business/organization will provide craft, candy, food or some sort of tangible gift for 3,000 kids visiting your designated space. You are welcome to set up your display in your vehicle's trunk or bring your own table or tent. Attendants must be at least 16 years of age.
Calling All Teens!
The Racine Zoo is proud to provide a volunteer program that is designed for young adults ages 13 to 18 years old. This is perfect for those who are considering a future career with animals, zoos, education, or for those just looking for a fun volunteer opportunity! Volunteens gain valuable experience and learn skills to help them in their future careers.
To learn more about our volunteen program, check out our Volunteen Description
Those that wish to participate in the Volunteen program will have to submit an application along with a letter of recommendation from a teacher or group leader, and a personal paragraph about why they want to be a part of the program.
Volunteers
The Volunteer Program is for adults ages 18 and older. This is perfect for those who are considering a future career with animals, zoos, education, or for those just looking for a fun volunteer opportunity to do in their spare time! Volunteering at the Racine Zoo is a fun, rewarding experience for volunteers of all ages, from young adults to retirees!
Where else can you surround yourself with some of the world's most spectacular creatures while working and interacting with individuals who are dedicated to the mission and values of the Racine Zoo? Those that partake in the Racine Zoo's volunteer program have opened the pathway to gaining valuable work experience that will help them in their future endeavors and careers.
We rely on the assistance, dedication, and enthusiasm of those who share our vision of continuing to make the Racine Zoo a sanctuary for positive interaction between people and the natural world. All positions require that the volunteer communicates effectively and pleasantly with the public, as well as represent the Zoo in a positive manner.