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Madrid, October 5 2026 -��IWhat happens when wildlife gets a little magical?

At Blackpool Zoo, Halloween swaps scares for spells as young visitors are invited to step into the world of the Wizarding Wildlife School. Returning for its second year, the experience combines the magic of Halloween with wildlife discovery, conservation, and plenty of imagination – transforming a day at the zoo into a wizarding adventure.

From magical classes and spooky trails to pumpkin carving and even spells with the sea lions, Halloween here has its own very distinctive personality.

Rebecca Reynolds, Head of Education, Conservation and Research, DEI and Social Impact Lead at Blackpool Zoo, shares how the team is bringing wildlife and wizardry together for Halloween 2026.

What makes Halloween at Blackpool Zoo different from anywhere else?

Halloween at Blackpool Zoo combines the magic of a zoo visit with a wizarding adventure, with real wildlife, conservation, and immersive theming. Returning for its second year, Wizarding Wildlife School allows young visitors to become wildlife wizards, attend magical classes, and graduate as official Wizarding Scholars.

Alongside these educational experiences, guests can explore our incredible Halloween attractions, including the Dinorion Spooky Safari, Talking Trees Trail, and skeleton-themed displays across the zoo, creating a unique blend of family-friendly Halloween fun and wildlife discovery.

If you could recommend just one Halloween experience that guests absolutely shouldn’t miss this year, what would it be – and why?

It would be embracing your inner wildlife wizard. Wizarding Wildlife School transforms a family day out into a magical adventure, where children can learn, explore, and play their way around the zoo.

From becoming a Poo Detective at Professor Pong's Poo School and joining the sea lions for Splash and Spells to uncovering the secrets of animal anatomy and carving a pumpkin in Pumpkin Hollow, every experience contributes to their journey toward graduation.

By the end of the day, they have not only visited the zoo, but they have also become part of the story.

What are you introducing or doing differently for Halloween 2026?

After the fantastic response to Wizarding Wildlife School last year, we are expanding the experience for 2026 with even more immersive activities, themed classes, and magical moments throughout the zoo.

One exciting addition is a refreshed sea lion demonstration where visitors can join the Academy of Aquatic Magic and take part in “Splash and Spells,” a wizard-themed training session that showcases the amazing intelligence, teamwork, and abilities of our sea lions.

We are also introducing the Headteacher’s Invitation VIP experience, offering exclusive activities including a journey on the Wildermere Express train and entry to Pumpkin Hollow, where guests can carve a pumpkin to take home.

Halloween takes months of work behind the scenes. What might surprise our guests about what it takes to transform the park for the season?

Many visitors are surprised by just how much planning goes into the event. Months before Halloween arrives, we are designing workshops, developing conservation activities, sourcing props and decorations, and finding ways to weave wildlife education into every experience.

From developing characters such as Professor Pong to transforming locations around the zoo into magical learning spaces, a huge amount of creativity and collaboration goes into bringing Wizarding Wildlife School to life each year.

Complete the sentence: “You haven’t really experienced Halloween at Blackpool Zoo until you have…”

…embraced your inner wildlife wizard by visiting every magical classroom, enjoying a magical face-paint makeover, casting spells at the Color Cauldron, braving the Dinorion Spooky Safari, carving a pumpkin in Pumpkin Hollow, traveling on the Wildermere Express, joining Splash and Spells with our sea lions, becoming a Poo Detective at Professor Pong's Poo School, and graduating from Wizarding Wildlife School with your official Scholar's Report Card!