Spooktacular at Jacksonville Zoo
Fall festival · Jacksonville · Florida
Now in its 39th year, the Jacksonville Zoo's Spooktacular turns the grounds into an evening family Halloween festival with treat stations and carnival games, plus the Lost Swamp scare zone in Riverview Gardens for ages 13 and up.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Select nights: Oct 10, 15-18, 22-25, 29-31; 6 to 9:30 p.m.
Dates from the official announcement, checked August 20, 2026. Always confirm before you go.
Color nearby peaks: November 23–November 27
Color builds from November 12 · mostly bare by December 20
Sampled at Spooktacular at Jacksonville Zoo’s own coordinates and elevation (4 m) rather than a regional average.
Florida is sampled at 22 weather points, then moved 8 days later so the model agrees with 1 published peak date from explorefall.com. Against Florida's own climatology, the 2026 weather puts the peak 1 day earlier. How the forecast works
When to go to Spooktacular at Jacksonville Zoo
You get about 22 days of color here, from the first turn through to roughly December 4. Against Florida overall, that is 9 days earlier.
This one is within Jacksonville itself, which makes it an easy half day.
Spooktacular at Jacksonville Zoo on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Florida, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in Florida
Farms & harvest
Halloween
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When is Spooktacular at Jacksonville Zoo open in 2026?
- The 2026 season runs Oct 10 – Oct 31. Select nights: Oct 10, 15-18, 22-25, 29-31; 6 to 9:30 p.m.. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
- When does Spooktacular at Jacksonville Zoo peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for November 23–November 27 (best estimate November 25). Color starts around November 12 and is mostly bare by December 20.
- How do I get to Spooktacular at Jacksonville Zoo?
- Spooktacular at Jacksonville Zoo is in Jacksonville. The closest city is Jacksonville, about 5 mi away (it's right in town). It's part of Florida's fall lineup.
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