Halloween starts early in this town. If you wait until the end of October, you are likely to find the costumes picked over, the candy aisle bare, and tickets to Boo at the Zoo snatched up by Washington's more foresightful parents.
There is a reason Boo at the Zoo is so sell-out popular. Kids ages two to 12 arrive in their costumes to find the zoological park all gussied up in Halloween decor. Zoo keepers give special talks. Volunteers man dozens of treat stations. And if the Halloween novelty wears off, there are always the animals.
Of course, all of this is hearsay. I waited too long last year to buy our tickets, and there were none left. This year's tickets are already in my pocket. Take my word for it--don't wait.
When: October 23-25, 2009, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Where: The National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC. Closest Metro Stops: Woodley Park/Zoo/Adams Morgan on the Red Line.
How: Buy your tickets through Ticketmaster, or at the zoo's visitor center between 9am and 5pm.
Cost: $25 for everyone ages two and older. Friends of the Zoo (FONZ) members pay less.