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 for May through September will be opening in late March. Please check back for available dates and times! All parties for the Spring and Summer season will be held in outdoor pavilions. Indoor birthday party packages are not available at this time.
Zoo-rific Birthday Party Packages
Prices are based on a 30 guest maximum (any amount of children or adults). Extra guests over the allotted 30 will be added to your balance for a fee of $5.00 per person. Parties CANNOT exceed 50 individuals per NYS COVID-19 guidelines.
Safari Party
Price: $215.00
Available most Saturdays and Sundays (May – September) in the Eagle View Pavilion
10:00am – 12:00pm or 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Please read the ‘Important Notes’ section before booking your Safari Party!
Book Now
Includes:
- 2 hours use of outdoor Eagle View pavilion
- Dedicated party assistant
- Gift for the birthday child
- A presentation with two ambassador animals (Due to the fact that social distancing cannot maintained, participants will not be able to touch the animals during or after the presentation)
- Free clean up/recyclable and garbage removal
- Other add-on’s may be available (See ‘Wild Party Extras’ list)
Note: Eagle View Pavilion is located between the African Lion and Bald Eagle exhibits, and features picnic table seating. Rain or shine; see FAQ for additional information.
Nocturnal Expedition Party
Price: $315.00
Available most Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (May – 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 Eagle View Pavilion
- Dedicated party assistant
- Gift for the birthday child
- Utica Zoo souvenir for each attending child
- A presentation with two ambassador animals (Due to the fact that social distancing cannot maintained, participants will not be able to touch the animals during or after the presentation)
- 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, zebras, lemurs); others may not be view-able depending on weather conditions.
Wild Party Extras
- Additional ambassador animal for presentation – $15/animal
- Maximum of one additional animal
- Goodie Bag – $5.00 each
- Each goody bag includes a child’s day pass for a return visit to the zoo.
- Utica Zoo Souvenir
- Safari Sunglasses (Child Size) – $1.00 each
- Utica Zoo Flashlight – $3.00 each
- Utica Zoo Safari Hat – $5.00 each
- Animal Adoption Box – $50.00 each
- Sponsor an animal at the zoo on behalf of the birthday child! For more information about animal adoptions, please call 315-738-0472 ext. 37
Important things to know before scheduling your UZ birthday party:
- Masks are required for entry into the zoo. They must be worn at all times when walking around the zoo and visiting animal exhibits. Masks are not required when seated in the pavilion.
- 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, utensils, or decorations.
- 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
- Visit our birthday party FAQ page for more information –> Utica Zoo Birthday Party FAQ
For more information, contact the Education Department:
email: birthdayparties@uticazoo.org
phone: 315-738-0472 ext. 36
* Pricing structure is 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 – www.uticazoo.org/rentals or contact us by phone at 315-738-0472
Go Giftless!
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!
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.
