Photo by Lindsey Mogel.
Utica Zoo Birthday Parties
Come celebrate your birthday at the wildest place in town!
We offer multiple Birthday Party packages and extras to fit your budget.
ONLINE BOOKING NOW AVAILABLE;
See contact information below to schedule your party over the phone
Zoo-rific Birthday Party Packages
Prices are based on a 30 guest maximum (any amount of children or adults). The birthday child plus (2) parents/guardians are free, and not included in the guest count. Extra guests over the allotted 30 will be added to your balance for a fee of $4.50/adult and $3.00/child.
Basic Party
Cost: $170
Available most Saturdays and Sundays (year-round);
10:00am – 12:00pm or 2:30pm-4:30pm
Please read the ‘Important Notes’ section before booking your Basic Party!
Book Now
Includes:
- 2 hours use of indoor Auditorium space
- Dedicated party assistant
- White table covers for the main eating tables
- Gift for the birthday child
- Choice of: a guided exploration to the animal exhibit of the birthday child’s choosing; OR a presentation with two ambassador animals
- Free clean up/recyclable and garbage removal
- Other add-on’s may be available (see ‘Wild Party Extras’ list)
Note: Auditorium has a private family restroom, refrigerator/freezer, and central air.
Zebra View Pavilion Party
Cost: $170
Available most Saturdays and Sundays (May – September);
12:00pm – 2:00pm
Please read the ‘Important Notes’ section before booking your Zebra View Pavilion Party!
Book Now
Includes:
- 2 hours use of outdoor Zebra View pavilion
- Dedicated party assistant
- Gift for the birthday child
- Choice of: a guided exploration to the animal exhibit of the birthday child’s choosing; OR a presentation with two ambassador animals
- Free clean up/recyclable and garbage removal
- Other add-on’s may be available (See ‘Wild Party Extras’ list)
Note: Zebra View Pavilion is located across from the Ostrich/Zebra exhibit, and features picnic table seating. Table covers are not provided for pavilion parties. Rain or shine; see FAQ for additional information.
Nocturnal Expedition Party
Cost: $275
Available most Thursdays and Fridays (April – September);
5:30pm-7:30pm
Please read the ‘Important Notes’ section before booking your Nocturnal Expedition Party!
Book Now
Includes:
- 2 hours use of either our indoor Auditorium space or outdoor Zebra View Pavilion
- Access to the zoo after hours (not all animals will be out and view-able)
- Dedicated party assistant
- White table covers for main eating tables (Auditorium only)
- Gift for the birthday child
- Utica Zoo souvenir for each attending child
- Choice of: a guided exploration to the animal exhibit of the birthday child’s choosing; OR a presentation with two ambassador animals
- Free clean up/recyclable and garbage removal
- Other add-on’s may be available (see ‘Wild Party Extras’ list)
Note: Please be advised that there are several animals that may not be on exhibit during a Nocturnal Expedition party (these include but are not limited to: African lions, Canada lynx, serval, zebras, lemurs); others may not be view-able depending on weather conditions.
Wild Party Extras
- Additional 30 minutes of party time (upon availability) – $25
- Available to add to Basic or Pavilion parties only
- Additional ambassador animal for presentation – $15/animal
- Maximum of one additional animal
- Available to add to Basic or Nocturnal parties only
- Guided Exploration – $15
- Available to add to Basic or Nocturnal parties only
- Goodie ‘Boxes’ – $4/box
- Available to add to any party package
- Utica Zoo Souvenir – $2.75 each
- Available to add to any party package
- Utica Zoo Cups with goat feed – $1.50 each
- Available to add to any party package
- Rainforest Bingo Game – $1.25/child
- Available to add to any party package
Important things to know before scheduling your UZ birthday party:
- Since space is limited, we recommend booking your party 3 months in advance for spring or summer birthdays or at least 1 month prior to the date.
- Utica Zoo members receive a 10% discount on their party package; become a zoo member today – http://uticazoo.org/membership/
- Full payment is due upon booking (all sales final; see FAQ for additional information)
- All parties are allotted 30 minutes before and after their party for set up/break down
- Packages do not include food, drinks, plates or utensils
- For the safety of our animals and the environment, please no BALLOONS, NOISE-MAKERS, or CONFETTI
- Animals featured at parties are educators choice; we do not accept specific animal requests
- Visit our birthday party FAQ page for more information –> BIRTHDAY PARTY FAQ
For information or to book your Utica Zoo birthday party over the phone or email, contact the Education Department:
email: birthdayparties@uticazoo.org
phone: 315-738-0472 ext. 34
* Pricing structure is subject to change without notice. Please check with a staff member before booking your birthday party to confirm that there have not been any price changes.
*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 – www.uticazoo.org/rentals or contact our events coordinator by phone at 315-738-0472 ext. 22
Utica Zoo Gift Suggestions
Animal Adoption Gift Box – $50
Sponsor an animal at the zoo on behalf of the birthday child, who will receive a 5 x 7 photo of the animal, adoption certificate, and a 8″ plush toy. If you purchase your adoption box at least two days prior to your party date, our staff can have your box ready the day of your party to be presented to the birthday child.
Animal Encounter Certificate – See encounters page – www.uticazoo.org/encounters
Have you or your child ever wanted to get up close and personal with some of the animals at the Utica Zoo? With our animal encounters packages, you can make this year’s birthday extraordinary! Goats, African Porcupine, African Tortoises, Camels, Sea Lions, Red Pandas and even African Lions are part of our encounters program. Please email encounters@uticazoo.org to check availability.
*We recommend that you schedule your animal encounter on a different day than your Utica Zoo birthday party. Other restrictions may apply – please see encounters page.
Gift-less Birthday Party
Want to help out the zoo!? We off a ‘giftless’ option for those that request their family and friends presence, 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.
Want to help out the zoo!? We also offer a ‘giftless’ option, for those that would like to have their guests bring a donation rather than gifts. Below is a small list of items that the Utica Zoo staff and animals could always use. Be sure to print both the invitation and the list when choosing to ‘Go Giftless’. Thank you very much for your generosity!
PDF Giftless Party Invitation + Donation List
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 (which would either be the Auditorium or Zebra View Pavilion).
