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Halloween is most strongly associated with the United States. Still, over the past two decades, the celebration has increasingly found its way into calendars around the world, including here in South Africa.
Some might argue that Halloween has even become part of our local festive calendar. Children and families go door-to-door collecting sweets and treats, while costumes range from traditional ghosts, witches and vampires to characters plucked straight from pop culture. At its heart, Halloween is an excuse to dress up, have fun and play with fear and fantasy.
And there was plenty of that at the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) Halloween experience on Saturday 31 October.
Billed as an evening of thrills and chills celebrating family, friendship and imagination, the event largely delivered. Arriving was a busy affair, and full parking areas and long queues meant a roughly 30-minute wait to get inside. Once through the gates, however, things flowed much more smoothly, with the spacious zoo grounds giving visitors plenty of room to explore.
Not all of the zoo’s animals were on display during the evening, but the Halloween attractions gave visitors plenty to see along the way.
Costumes, scares and spooky surprises
Many visitors embraced the occasion and dressed up. We spotted plenty of witches, skeletons, Scream-inspired costumes and a few recognisable pop-culture characters roaming the grounds.
The decorations were a mixed bag, with some digital posters and animations feeling more effective than others, but together they still helped create the eerie atmosphere the evening was aiming for. There were certainly a few genuine scares along the way, including from yours truly.
Different areas offered their own Halloween experiences. The Environmental Education Centre featured themed exhibits, while the reptile section and eerily illuminated pathways offered surprises, playful scares and plenty of laughs.
Harry Potter-inspired elements, a pumpkin patch, a graveyard theme, zombies and spooky science rooms added to the immersive feel and gave families tons to explore.
Treats for younger visitors
The pumpkin patch appeared to be a particular hit with younger visitors, as were the trick-or-treat stations dotted around the zoo. There was also a wide selection of food and drink stalls for families looking to make a full evening of it.
The experience leaned heavily towards families, particularly those with younger children, and that worked well for the setting. Events like these offer families an opportunity to spend time together outdoors while experiencing the zoo in a completely different way.
They can also introduce visitors to the zoo’s environmental education and conservation work, allowing a fun family outing to open the door to a greater appreciation for wildlife.
JCPZ managing director, Mr Thanduxolo Mendrew, said: “A city’s wellbeing is reflected in the spaces where its people can come together and find joy. When families laugh, explore and make memories at the zoo, we nurture bonds between generations and a connection with nature that can inspire a lifetime of care.”
A few tricks among the treats
There were, however, a few areas where the experience could have been smoother. Parking and entering the event took time, with the sold-out crowd creating considerable congestion around the venue. At points, arriving and leaving felt closer to navigating a busy festival than a family evening at the zoo.
For families looking for a playful way to celebrate Halloween, the evening offered plenty of reasons to dress up, explore and enjoy a few scares together. And judging by the costumes, the overflowing trick-or-treat bags and excited crowds making their way through the zoo, Joburg has certainly developed an appetite for spooky season.
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