No one does Halloween like America. Houses go all out with the decorations, you’ll see incredible costumes on kids and adults alike, and there are always plenty of parties, events and parades taking place.

Washington DC is no exception. The city comes to life at Halloween, the streets lined with carved pumpkins and a spirit of devilish fun in the air. But for a Halloween with a difference, you’ll need to head to the zoo.

Smithsonian’s National Zoo is getting into the spirit of the holiday with two major events, for zoo-goers of all ages.

For the kids, there’s Boo at the Zoo, a fun and friendly evening event taking place on 23^rd, 24^th and 25^th October. Designed for kids aged between 4 and 12, the event features more than 40 treat stations, as well as apples from Whole Foods. There are Halloween themed trails, pumpkin decorating competitions, animal demonstrations and chats with the zookeepers. There’s also music and entertainment with jugglers, magicians and a spooky DJ. Everyone comes in costume, and kids love the hay maze and scarecrow field.

But Halloween isn’t just for kids (not any more, anyway). Night of the Living Zoo is an after-hours evening for over 21s, with a DJ, live music from local band Black Masala and a costume competition. You can sneak around the zoo’s exhibits and see what the animals get up to come nightfall, and there are plenty of local food trucks and craft brews available. 

Both events cost $20 per person, and tickets can be bought online. You can read more about both here.

(Picture Credits: Mehgan Murphy, Smithsonian's National Zoo)