This past Saturday we drove out to Winnipeg to attend Boo at the Zoo.
Boo at the Zoo was an annual event put on for families at the Assiniboine Park Zoo. My dad used to take my sisters and I every year. I have many early memories of haunted hay rides, games, Halloween lights and shows.
Boo at the Zoo was cancelled many years back when I was in my teens, but last year they made huge return. They held a mystical fair themed event for its grand return; complete with circus performers and rides.
I couldn’t go due to the COVID-19 measures that were in place at the time, but I was able to last minute throw together a plan for my son to go. My mom was heading to Winnipeg for something else during the final weekend, and I begged her to go a day early and take my boy. She was working that morning, but agreed if I paid for all the gas, food and hotel. I bought some of the last tickets that they had and made it work. My son wore an inflatable Pikachu costume, and was the belle of the ball, posing for pictures and everything.
Basically, I paid $500 for my mom and son to go to an event while I waited at the hotel because it was so special to me. But it was so worth it!
This year, I finally got to go.
The mystical fair was back and we got to soak up every second of it. They had fire breathers, aerial acts, and circus performers. Despite the snow we had left behind in Ontario, it wasn’t even too cold. We got by with just thick sweaters and mitts.
The Winnipeg zoo is my absolute favourite place. It holds so many of my best childhood memories; time with my father and sisters, field trips, taking my grandmothers foster kids, and dates with my (now ex) husband.
Being able to be at the zoo and the Boo at the Zoo event with my son and new boyfriend (my mom and sister came too) was an amazing experience — like my childhood and my new life coming together into a beautiful family evening.
Halloween was never really my thing, but I will always have a special place in my heart for Boo at the Zoo and trick or treating with my boy. He used to call it ‘chicken treating’ when he was really small.
I hope you are all finding ways to enjoy the change of seasons, the new snow and the start of Halloween festivities too!
