Boo at the Zoo spook-tacular at Riverbanks

COLUMBIA - Things will get a little spooky at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden as Boo at the Zoo returns for its sixth year. The annual Halloween spook-tacular will run nightly October 24- 30.

By the end of October, Riverbanks will have passed out nearly 200,000 pieces of candy to costumed children as they stop at the 20 stations along Trick-or-Treat Trail. But, there is more to Boo at the Zoo than just candy. Boo-goers will rock the night away at the Mummy's Eeky-Freaky DJ Dance Party, frolic in a sea of suds at Frankenstein's Foam Zone (a Boo favorite) and watch in awe as magician Ray Hardee performs his Moonlight Magic.

If that is not enough, kids can take a scary spin on the Haunted Carousel, sit back and freak-out while watching the 3-D thriller Haunted Mine Ride or meander through Merlin's Medieval Maze. Guests can finish their evening by roasting marshmallows at the bonfire and participating in the nightly costume parade.

Boo at the Zoo will run from 6-9 p.m. on each of the scheduled days. Tickets are $6 for Riverbanks members and $8 for the general public. To avoid long lines the night of the event, tickets can be purchased in advance at www.riverbanks.org.

The Haunted Carousel, 3-D Movie and Marshmallow Roasting Pit require extra safari bucks that can be purchased at the zoo.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is located at I-126 and Greystone Boulevard near downtown Columbia. The Botanical Garden entrance is located in West Columbia off Hwy. 378 at Botanical Parkway.