Taste Fall at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park
It’s all treats—no tricks—this October at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, as HalGLOWeen and the Autumn Festival bring seasonal fun and a bounty of specialty bites—and beverages, as well.
As part of the San Diego Zoo’s HalGLOWeen, which runs Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October, guests can sink their teeth into frightfully festive fare including the Busy Bee Café’s spicy, sauced Green Goblin Chicken Wings; Lagoon Terrace’s pizza flavor-inspired Boo Bagel; or Sabertooth Mexican Grill’s “Chill”aquiles Diablo, a devilishly delicious dish that combines the comfort of the Mexican breakfast classic with the spice and crunch of nachos. Taste buds want things turned up a notch? Head over to the Safari Kitchen for Inferno Fries—a pile of hot, crispy french fries and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos smothered in nacho cheese sauce and jalapeños.
Looking to satisfy a sweet tooth? Front Street Sweet Shack’s Graveyard Sundae, Treetops Bistro’s Thriller Pudding, and Churros—available in special pumpkin spice and apple spice varieties—make for ghoulishly good dessert options. The Zoo’s beverage offerings are also decked out for Halloween and include choices ranging from Zoo Brew’s Witches Potion and Treetops Canteen’s Scream Float to more “spirited” sips like the Creepy Crawler Cocktail at Oasis Lounge Cocktails & Snacks, the Eyeball Martini at Albert’s Restaurant, and Bamboo Bar’s Vampire Cranberry Vodka Boba. All these tasty temptations can only be found daily throughout the San Diego Zoo during October, so don’t miss out and risk waiting-for-the-Great-Pumpkin-level regret.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s Autumn Festival takes a down-home approach to fall, and the seasonal treats are top notch. Pumpkin and apple are the flavors to savor in October, with extra added country fun and entertainment on weekends. For the unique pairing of creamy and crunchy, try the Pumpkin Hummus and Pita Chips being offered at several Safari Park locations including Thorntree Terrace, Mawazo Kitchen, Oasis Deli, and Okavango Outpost. This seasonal snack—a delicious blend of sweet and savory, with all the elements of cinnamon and pumpkin spice, with a little hint of maple syrup—is the perfect fuel to power you through the A-MAZE-ing Autumn Adventure hay maze. This classic fall celebration with a charming country flair also wouldn’t be complete without Mombasa Cooker’s decadent Pumpkin Pie Fudge, and one bite of Pumpkin Pie Brownie—with its moist texture and nutmeg-tinged frosting—will make you thankful you don’t have to wait for Turkey Day for a taste of the season. And since tapping your toes to bluegrass, taking part in an Autumn Festival Jamboree, and interacting with lively scarecrows can work up an appetite, Pumpkin Spice Doughnuts (at Safari Coffee), and Mombasa Cooker’s Pumpkin Praline Fudge and Fudge Apples will be available for that much-needed energy boost.
The Autumn Festival’s sippable specialties offer something for every taste—and temperature preference. From Pumpkin Spice Lattes to Pumpkin Crème Cold Brew (at Safari Coffee and Oasis Deli), your seasonal drink choice runneth over. There’s even a crop of specialty cocktails ready to be picked and enjoyed, such as the Apple Whiskey Fizz (with apple whiskey, lemon juice, and club soda, served in a souvenir cup); a Jack Apple Mule (with Jack Daniels Apple Whiskey and ginger beer, in a souvenir cup); and the Prickly Pear Margarita (with tequila, prickly pear syrup, lime juice, and Cointreau, in a souvenir cup).
HalGLOWeen and Autumn Festival in October offer treats for all your senses. And the icing on the cake? Every purchase made at the San Diego Zoo or the San Diego Zoo Safari Park supports San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s worldwide conservation work. Visit sdzwa.org for more information.
