Zoo Boo 2007 Scheduled for October 26-31 at Kamper Park in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

There's been a flourish of activity at Kamper Park and Zoo lately. All along the railroad tracks-affectionately referred to as the Zoo Boo Choo this time of year-costumed inflatable balloons such as Tigger in his vampire cape and Winnie-the-Pooh in a robber's mask have cropped up. Their appearance suggests that Hattiesburg's 2007 Zoo Boo must be just about ready to start.

I first heard about Zoo Boo during my short stint as a member of the Delta Zeta sorority at the University of Southern Mississippi. At the time, our chapter's philanthropy project for the year was Zoo Boo, and we were required to volunteer at the park for the event. In my last days as a Delta Zeta, I was signing up to paint faces and work at various booths handing out prizes to participants.

As a college student trying to acquire the mandatory number of volunteer hours, Zoo Boo was a requirement I had to fulfill. But as a parent of two young children, it became a safe place for my children to enjoy Halloween and even do a bit a trick-or-treating.

And the annual event has become increasingly more popular over the years.

The 2007 Zoo Boo is sponsored by the local country radio station B-95, in addition to the Hattiesburg Parks and Recreation Department. As in the past, the event is held at Kamper Park and Zoo, which stays open for extended hours during the nights of Zoo Boo. While the main exhibits are closed, there are plenty of games to play and lots of candy prizes to win. The event is geared for children twelve and younger, and the last time I went, the admission fee might have been two or three dollars per child.

Everyone involved in the event really tries to ensure that the kids have fun, which is the best part about going to Zoo Boo. Children are allowed and encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes, there's lots of spooky/kooky music playing in speakers hidden among the trees, and volunteers help create a general atmosphere of lighthearted fun.