Tulsa Zoo Celebrates Hallowzooeen

Tara Vreeland, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- By day, they're deputies and dispatchers but when night falls, they head to the Tulsa Zoo and transform into lions and tigers and bears.

News on 6 Anchor Tara Vreeland followed the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office and Dispatch down the yellow brick road for Hallowzooeen at the Tulsa Zoo Wednesday night.

"We're doing Hallowzooeen," Joey Phillips, a 911 Dispatcher, said. 

This is the fourth year the Sheriff's office and dispatch have participated in the spooktacular event.  They were dressed from head to ruby red-slippered toe as characters from the Wizard of Oz.

"It's a lot of fun because I get to be goofy," Phillips said. "I get to fall down which I do a lot of anyways so now everyone thinks it's a part of the act.

"I was told if the witch shows up tomorrow [Friday] with a little green on her, I"ll let it slide," said Sheriff Stanley Glanz.

Many of the costumes are homemade. The flying monkey, also known as Sergeant Jody Britt, spent six months making his monkey wings.

"A lot of research went into actually seeing the still footage from the movie and then trying to fit your costume as realistic as possible," Britt said.

On your way to Oz, you may see the Good and Wicked witches, the lollipop guild and the scarecrow dance and boogie their straw off.

There's more than just Oz. There is a pumpkin patch playroom and a haunted train ride.

Hallowzooeen runs through Halloween night from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Tulsa Zoo. Costumes are encouraged.