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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
It's such a boo-tiful thing
Assiniboine Park Zoo turns into a madhouse of mischief
A goulish group of volunteers and a few kids at Boo at the Zoo. (BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)
Leanne White took her eight-month-old son Lucas to his first Boo at the Zoo at the Assiniboine Park Zoo Thursday. It was the first night of the annual attraction which runs until Oct. 30. (BORIS.MINKEVICH@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)
The 14th annual Boo at the Zoo began Thursday night at Assiniboine Park Zoo, featuring some fun new attractions.
The event has more than 20 different themed areas, music, actors and several rides, including this year's new addition, the Kreepy Kastle.
Also new this year is an alien spaceship -- complete with aliens inside -- and some Star Trekkies.
Boo at the Zoo is the largest fundraising event of the year for the Zoological Society of Manitoba. Proceeds from this year's event are designated for the Polar Bear Conservation Fund, in tribute to Debby the Polar Bear.
The event will run for the next two weeks in the evenings. In previous years, the event has attracted more than 50,000 people.
The gates open even if there's a snowstorm, so event planners encourage visitors to dress for the weather.
And since it's all about Halloween, zoo general manager Julie Eccles has another suggestion for how people should dress.
"We love when people come dressed up," said Eccles. "Over 50 per cent of people who come through are dressed up."
The event is a fun night out for all ages, and all of the sites have something interesting for everyone.
The Fun House is made for toddlers, while Crypt Corner is more frightening and recommended for an older crowd. The same goes for Kreepy Kastle.
Other sites in the zoo include Ogre's Corner with Shrek and Fiona, Fairytale Lane, and the Indiana Bones Temple of Boom. The sites take about 90 minutes to get through.
Eccles recommends stopping by the Ed-boo-cation trailer.
"It combines fun, scary stuff with educational elements," said Eccles. "It has animals in the trailer and rats, snakes and cockroaches -- all those bug-like animals."
Expect to hear animals you can't see calling for you in the dark.
Remember, you're at the zoo and the tigers need to celebrate Halloween, too.
Some scary facts
Open tonight through Oct. 30 (closed Monday, Oct. 19 and 26)
Hours: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday to Sunday
Tickets $7.50 plus tax at Safeway locations. Also available online at www.zoosociety.com or through Pizza Hotline at 222-2222
Tickets cost $10.00 at the gate, free for children under 23 months of age
Costumes not essential, but always welcome
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 16, 2009 A2
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