Come celebrate your birthday at the wildest place in town!

We offer multiple Party packages and extras to fit your budget.

Zoo-rific Birthday Party Packages

Prices are based on a 20 guest maximum (any amount of children or adults). Extra guests up to 30 will be added to your balance for a fee of $5 per person. 

Safari Party Packages are available most Saturdays and Sundays with two available time slots, 10 am – 12 pm OR 2 pm – 4 pm.

*Ultimate and Deluxe packages are only available May – September

Nocturnal Expedition Party Packages are available most Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays with one available time slot, 5:30 – 7:30 pm.

All Safari and Nocturnal Party packages will have the choice of booking one of the following locations: Auditorium (indoors), Eagle View Pavilion, or Zebra View Pavilion. (Booking is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.)

Ultimate Safari Party

  • Available Most Saturdays and Sundays
  • 10 AM - 12 PM OR 2 - 4 PM
  • Private party area for 2 hours
  • Gift for the Birthday Child
  • Presentation with 2 Ambassador Animals
  • Meal for each guest (choice of hot dog, burger, or mac & cheese bites, fries & drink)
  • 20-min private bounce session
  • FREE Clean Up/Recyclable and Garbage Removal
  • Members: $500 | Not-Yet Members: $555

Deluxe Safari Party

  • Available Most Saturdays and Sundays
  • 10 AM - 12 PM OR 2 - 4 PM
  • Private party area for 2 hours
  • Gift for the Birthday Child
  • Presentation with 2 Ambassador Animals
  • Meal for each guest (choice of hot dog, burger, or mac & cheese bites, fries & drink)
  • FREE Clean Up/Recyclable and Garbage Removal
  • Members: $409 | Not-Yet Members: $455

Safari Party

  • Available Most Saturdays and Sundays
  • 10 AM - 12 PM OR 2 - 4 PM
  • Private party area for 2 hours
  • Gift for the Birthday Child
  • Presentation with 2 Ambassador Animals
  • FREE Clean Up/Recyclable and Garbage Removal
  • Members: $230 | Not-Yet Members: $255

Ultimate Nocturnal Expedition Party

  • Available Most Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays
  • 5:30 - 7:30 PM
  • Private party area for 2 hours
  • Gift for the Birthday Child
  • Presentation with 2 Ambassador Animals
  • Meal for each guest (choice of hot dog, burger, or mac & cheese bites, fries & drink)
  • 20-min private bounce session
  • FREE Clean Up/Recyclable and Garbage Removal
  • Members: $635 | Not-Yet Members: $705

Deluxe Nocturnal Expedition Party

  • Available Most Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays
  • 5:30 - 7:30 PM
  • Private party area for 2 hours
  • Gift for the Birthday Child
  • Presentation with 2 Ambassador Animals
  • Meal for each guest (choice of hot dog, burger, or mac & cheese bites, fries & drink)
  • FREE Clean Up/Recyclable and Garbage Removal
  • Members: $545 | Not-Yet Members: $605

Nocturnal Expedition Party

  • Available Most Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays
  • 5:30 - 7:30 PM
  • Private party area for 2 hours
  • Gift for the Birthday Child
  • Presentation with 2 Ambassador Animals
  • FREE Clean Up/Recyclable and Garbage Removal
  • Members: $365 | Not-Yet Members: $405

*pricing structure subject to change without notice

*Unfortunately, none of the above party packages can be held in our large pavilion located by the concession. For more information on booking an event in our Rotary pavilion, please visit our pavilion rentals page or contact us by phone at 315-738-0472

Wild Party Extras

Important Things to Note Before Scheduling Your Party

  • For the safety of our ambassador animals, participants will NOT be able to touch mammals, amphibians, or invertebrates during the animal presentation. Touching of reptiles may be permitted for groups of 30 individuals or less at the discretion of the educator.
  • Eagle View Pavilion is located between the African Lion and Bald Eagle Exhibits, and features picnic table seating. 
  • Utica Zoo Members receive a 10% discount on their party package; BECOME A ZOO MEMBER TODAY!
  • Full payment is due upon booking and all sales are final.
  • All parties are allotted 30 minutes before and after their party for set up/break down.
  • For the safety of our animals and the environment, BALLOONS, NOISE-MAKERS, and CONFETTI are NOT permitted on zoo grounds.
  • Animals featured at parties are based on availability. We do NOT accept specific animal requests.

FAQ

The Eagle View Pavilion is designed for smaller gatherings, with seating for no more than 50 individuals. For larger parties or events, we recommend contacting our events department for additional rental options: email info@uticazoo.org or visit our pavilion rentals page for more information.

Yes, all party packages include admission into the zoo for 20 people. A headcount will be taken by the party assistant during your party. Extra guests over the allotted 30 will be added to your balance for a fee of $5 per person.

The only age restriction that we have pertains to our ambassador animal presentations. Children 2 and under will not be allowed to touch our ambassador animals due to health and safety concerns.

We require the full payment to be made at the time of booking. Since space is limited, parties are reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis, and should be reserved at least one month in advance. However, it is recommended that you book your spring or summer party at least 3 months in advance.

Unfortunately, we are unable to grant refunds for birthday parties. The only exception would be if the Utica Zoo is closed on the date of your party due to inclement weather. All birthday party reservations are final and cannot be transferred to another date. Birthday parties are held rain or shine; we are unable to schedule rain dates.

Be sure to let your party guests know which area of the zoo your party will take place, and that they do not need to pay to enter the zoo that day. Party guests should also check in with our gift shop attendant upon arrival for your party. Be sure to check out our FREE printable invitations at the bottom of our main birthday party page!

Those having their party in our pavilions are welcome to bring in coolers or buckets for their food/drinks. The following are not permitted on zoo grounds: balloons, noise-makers, confetti, and alcoholic beverages. We reserve the right to have you to remove any items that we deem unsafe.

All parties are allotted 30 minutes before and after their party to set up/break down. After checking in with the party assistant to discuss the time of your guided exploration or ambassador animal presentation, you can plan your party however best suits your needs. Guided explorations or ambassador animal presentations may take up to 30 minutes.

As mentioned above, we can only allot up to 30 minutes of set up and break down time for all parties. Keep in mind that other events may be taking place before or after your party, so please plan your time wisely. You are welcome to pay for additional party time for your party, however, this option is upon availability, and may be removed from your online reservation if additional time is unavailable for your party date. Any parties that go over their allotted time will be charged a $30 fee per half hour.

Unfortunately, due to safety concerns, we cannot allow any non-zoo vehicles onto zoo grounds. Please be sure to check in with the attendant at the entrance building when you arrive, so that our party assistant can be notified of your arrival. A wagon will be available to bring your supplies into the zoo and our birthday party assistant will help you as well!

Yes! You and your guests are welcome to tour the zoo at any time on the day of your party, as long as the zoo is open. If your party is scheduled for 2:00pm-4:00pm or 5:30pm-7:30pm, please feel free to let your guests know that they are welcome to visit the zoo before your party. However, keep in mind that you will not have access to the party space until 30 minutes prior to your party start time, as we may have other events taking place before your party.
*Children 16 years and under must be accompanied by an adult while exploring the zoo’s buildings and
grounds.

Due to the high frequency of programs that our ambassador animals participate in, we cannot guarantee specific animal requests. When you arrive, the birthday party assistant will discuss when your presentation will take place, as well as check to make sure the birthday child does not have any fears of particular animals. However, the animals featured at your party are the educator’s choice. Parties choosing to have a guided exploration rather than an ambassador animal presentation, may choose any exhibit animal in the zoo that the birthday child or family would like to walk to and learn about from the educator. Keep in mind that some animals may not be viewable during certain times of the year.

For more information, contact the Education Department:

E-mail: birthdayparties@uticazoo.org

Phone: 315-738-0472 ext. 36

Go Giftless!

Want to help out the zoo!? We offer a ‘giftless’ option for those that request their family and friends presence, but not presents. Look for our “Go Giftless” free party invitation below to use for your party. We also include a small list of items that the animals and staff at the zoo can always use. Any contribution to the zoo is greatly appreciated, but is by no means required – thank you for your generosity!

Free Utica Zoo Party Invitations

Be sure to check out our free custom birthday party invitations below by clicking on the downloadable PDF files. Our invitations are printable from any home computer, and include all of the important information that your guests should know when attending a Utica Zoo birthday party. 

Basic Party Invitation

Giftless Party Invitation

Directions for invitation use: Fold paper in half horizontally keeping the words facing out. Then fold once more vertically, again keeping the words facing out. Be sure to fill out all of the blank spaces on the invitation, especially the space for the location of your party within the zoo!

The Utica Zoo will close at 3pm on 12/31 and will reopen with normal hours on 1/1!