Boo at Akron Zoo

Once upon a time, Halloween was a one-day affair. Maybe the kids got to wear their costumes to school if it fell on a weekday. Other than that, it was a few hours of trick-or-treating, maybe a few more hours of bellyache, then on to drafting Christmas wish lists. Now there's an entire Halloween season packed with "come in your costume" events, and it starts somewhere around Memorial Day. This weekend, the Akron Zoo launches its Boo at the Zoo events (FYI: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's Boo festivities start next weekend). Bring the kids in costume, and when they get there, they can grab a goodie bag and hit a dozen themed trick-or-treat stations. The zoo will be decorated for the holiday, and you can visit all the animals while you're there. Akron's Boo runs from 5:30 to 8 tonight, and 3 to 8 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday. It also happens October 22 through 24 and October 29 and 30. Tickets are $10 for trick-or-treaters, $6 for observers. Grab dinner at the zoo too: An all-you-can-eat pizza buffet, open until 8:30 each night, costs $4.99 for kids and $6.99 for adults.The zoo is at 500 Edgewood Ave. in Akron; go to akronzoo.org to buy tickets. — Pantsios