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A pumpkin with a surprised face sits on top of a rock. A large Polar Bear stands beside it with the stem and top of the pumpkin hanging from its mouth.

Pumpkin Palooza

Event Dates
Sat, Nov 8 2025, 9am - 3pm
Sun, Nov 9 2025, 9am - 3pm

Pumpkin Palooza at the North Carolina Zoo, Nov. 8 & 9, 2025 

A Smashing Good Time!

Pumpkin Palooza is a fall tradition at the North Carolina Zoo where animals get tasty pumpkins for enrichment. Guests can enjoy watching the animals from around the Zoo pound, stomp, crush, and eat pumpkins.

Pumpkin Palooza is included with general admission and will be held November 8 & 9, 2025. Check back for habitat locations and pumpkin feeding times.

Saturday, November 8

9:30 Giraffe (Africa)

9:30 Baboon (Africa)

10:00 Black bear (North America)

11:00 Grizzly (North America)

1:30 Red River Hog (Africa)

1:30 Arctic Foxes (North America)

2:00 Polar Bear (North America)

3:00 Grasslands (Africa)

 

Sunday, November 9

10:00 Cougar (North America)

11:00 Elephant South (Africa)

11:00 Prairie (North America)

11:15 Sand Cat (North America)

11:35 Ocelot (North America)

1:30 Lemur (Africa)

2:00 North American River Otter (North America)

2:00 Chimp (Africa)

3:00 Bobcat (North America)

A profile view of an elephant standing in a field, hoisting a large pumpkin up to its mouth with its trunk, its head it slightly angled upwards. There are lush green trees in the background.