Cooke County weekend: Frank Buck Zoo Costume Strut, Muenster throwback pep rally and revised football plans
City and school district listings set a Saturday morning costume event at the Gainesville zoo and a Friday decade-themed rally in Muenster. Thursday's junior high and JV games differ from the original schedule.
Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville will hold its Costume Strut from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 24, and Muenster ISD has scheduled a decade-themed pep rally for 3:05 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, according to the City of Gainesville and the school district. Muenster's seventh- and eighth-grade and junior varsity football games on Thursday, Oct. 22, also differ from the district's original schedule.
The city calendar lists the Costume Strut. The city's special-events page gives the zoo's address as 1000 W. California St. The zoo publishes 940-668-4539 as its telephone number and invites callers with questions, according to its hours and admission page.
The Muenster ISD calendar places the throwback pep rally in Hornet Gym and encourages clothing from a favorite decade. The district homepage says former Muenster High School cheerleaders are invited to perform at the rally. According to the district's Oct. 18 athletics update, junior-high and high-school students will follow the pep-rally schedule Friday, with lunch at 12:30 p.m.
That update and the district calendar send the seventh- and eighth-grade football teams to Nocona for a 5 p.m. kickoff Thursday. The junior varsity team will play Gunter in Whitesboro at 7 p.m. that day. The calendar marks both entries as updated. Muenster's original 2026 schedule grouped all three teams at Nocona that day with a 4:30 p.m. start, so families holding an older copy may see conflicting times.
| Event | Date and time | Location |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Seventh- and eighth-grade football | Thursday, Oct. 22, 5 p.m. | Nocona |
| JV football vs. Gunter | Thursday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m. | Whitesboro |
| Throwback pep rally | Friday, Oct. 23, 3:05 p.m. | Hornet Gym, Muenster |
| Costume Strut | Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to noon | Frank Buck Zoo, Gainesville |
The zoo's published general admission is $9 for ages 13 to 54 and $7.50 for children ages 2 to 12, seniors 55 and older, and military visitors with identification. Children younger than 2 enter free. Those are general prices; the sources reviewed do not confirm separate terms for this year's Costume Strut. The city's listing for last year's event, held Oct. 25, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon, advertised treat stations, keeper talks and regular admission. The zoo also advertises an $85 family annual pass covering two designated adults and up to four children under 18, with additional children $5 each.
Fort Worth Zoo schedules its Boo at the Zoo for Oct. 23 through 25, with treat stations open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to that zoo's website. The event is included with admission or membership. The zoo's published admission is $22 for ages 13 and older, and parking is $5 per vehicle.
What a Halloween zoo visit costs at the gate
Frank Buck Zoo, Gainesville
$9 for ages 13–54; $7.50 for ages 2–12, seniors 55 and older, and military with ID; under 2 free. General admission prices, not confirmed special Costume Strut terms.
$9 adult
Fort Worth Zoo
$22 for ages 13 and older; $18 for ages 3–12 and seniors 65 and older; 2 and younger free; $5 parking per vehicle. Boo at the Zoo is included with admission.
$22 adult
Muenster ISD previously scheduled a favorite-decade theme for a Sept. 12, 2025, pep rally and required theme clothing to follow the dress code. The district's cheer page records a 2016 Class 2A fight-song state title and a 2020 Class 2A crowd-leading state title.
UIL records show Muenster won consecutive Class 2A Division II football championships in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, according to the UIL archives. The UIL's 2026-28 alignment places Muenster in Class 2A Division I, District 6, with Alvord, Chico, Nocona, Olney and Tioga.
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