By CHERYL PIROPATO
Education and Communications Director, Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

FORT WAYNE — Kids and families are invited to experience the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo’s Wild Zoo Halloween presented by Star Financial Bank event Oct. 16-18, 22-25 and 29-31 from 12-6 p.m. with last admission at 5 p.m.

Now in its 37th year, the Wild Zoo Halloween presented by Star Financial Bank offers adventure, family fun and tasty treats that are just right for pint-sized guests.

Guests can trick-or-treat for candy at the Treat Trails, view zoo animals, meet Broomhilda the friendly witch, visit the Beauty Shop of Horrors, see giant-sized pumpkins and more. Children can choose their own mini-pumpkin from the Pumpkin Patch. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes. Animal sculptures made out of pumpkins are always a guest favorite. Train riders will hear “Tale of the Twisted Tree” as they venture into the Franke Park woods.

New for 2015, the Wild Zoo Halloween path is rerouted to pass through the Indonesian Rain Forest, where guests can see Asmara the baby Sumatran orangutan before the zoo closes for the winter. Asmara was born Nov. 22, 2014.

Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered in the wild. In support of orangutan conservation, all treats at the Wild Zoo Halloween presented by Star Financial Bank are palm-oil free or are manufactured by companies that are members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.

The sustainable production of palm oil is crucial to the survival of orangutans, because their rain forest habitat is often destroyed to create poorly managed and unsustainable palm oil plantations.

Theme days at the Wild Zoo Halloween presented by Star Financial Bank include:

• Oct. 16 – Plumpkin Day – Guess the weight of the Giant Pumpkin
• Oct. 17 – Princess Day – Meet princesses from 1-3 p.m.
• Oct. 18 – Mascot Day – Meet mascots from 2-4 p.m.
• Oct. 22 – Free carousel rides
• Oct. 23 – Pumpkin Stomp and Chomp – Animals get pumpkin treats
• Oct. 24 – Hero Day – Meet local fire, police and military from 1-3 p.m.
• Oct. 25 – Star Wars Day – Meet Star Wars characters from 2-4 p.m.
• Oct. 29 – Free carousel rides
• Oct. 30 – Pumpkin Decorating Workshop – Decorate a mini pumpkin to take home
• Oct. 31 – Cans for Conservation – Bring an empty aluminum can and get a free ride ticket.

Details on all Wild Zoo Halloween presented by Star Financial Bank events are at kiszoo.org.

In addition to the Indonesian Rain Forest, the Central Zoo, portions of the Australian Adventure and portions of the African Journey will be open during the event.

The Wild Zoo Halloween presented by Star Financial Bank is a fundraiser for the zoo, which is a nonprofit organization receiving no tax funding for operations.

Admission to the Wild Zoo Halloween presented by Star Financial Bank is $5 for all ages; admission with treats is $9 for all ages. Zoo Members receive $2 off admission. Babies age one and under are admitted free but are charged $4 if they receive treats. Food will be available for purchase.

The zoo remains open for the regular season through Oct. 11 and re-opens for the Wild Zoo Halloween Friday, Oct. 16.