Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Face painter D'dee Ellis paints a finishing mustache for Patrick Marmon, then 6, who was dressed as Mario, at the inaugural Boo in the Zoo in 2016. The event has drawn around 7,500 people over its first two years.
CLOVIS — For the third year in a row, Hillcrest Park will embrace the Halloween spirit for Boo in the Zoo.
That means games, face painting, a bouncy house and candy galore for local residents.
Organizer Terri Chavez said organizers go into the zoo the night before the event and "transform it into a Halloween everything, from spooky to comical" with pumpkin trees and skeleton fences.
"It looks like the Great Pumpkin threw up on the zoo," Chavez said of the zoo's transformation, referencing the holiday figure of "Peanuts" and Charlie Brown fame.
Of course the big draw for many of the kids is the free candy. Chavez said 30 businesses and organizations, called boosters, will have booths set up throughout the zoo for trick-or-treaters.
"I don't even know how many pounds that is but it's a lot of candy," Chavez said, adding that a local radio station, which puts on the event, also receives candy and monetary donations and has a backup stash ready if any of the boosters run out.
They were told to have enough candy on hand for 4,500 people, the number of attendees to the second iteration of Boo in the Zoo last year.
Chavez said the event will also feature a "Creepy Critter Show" with some of the zoo's petable animals, including tortoises and snakes.
"Our reptile guy puts that on. He brings out snakes and lizards and you name it and kind of educates the kids about them," Zoo Director Vince Romero said. "They get to hold or pet some of them," and there will be some candy prizes handed out.
Chavez said people should come out on Sunday because, "it's a safe and fun way to trick or treat and it supports our zoo," noting that all of the money raised from the $1 entrance fee goes directly to the zoo.
Romero said the zoo can then use that money for any projects or future needs, given approval by the Clovis city commission.
"It's really nice, a dollar a head, and it really adds up," Romero said.
Chavez advised anybody interested in attending to purchase a ticket in advance, which can be done at the zoo, for quicker access and the ability to utilize the Sycamore Street entrance.
Romero said credit cards will only be accepted at the main entrance, while cash and pre-sale tickets can be used at either one.
Gates will be open from 1-4 p.m. and the zoo will be cleared out by 5 p.m.
