Events
The Utica Zoo hosts numerous events throughout the year from large premiere events that happen annually to smaller special events that occur more regularly. If you are interested in hosting your own even here on zoo grounds, feel free to visit our Pavilion Rentals page!
Upcoming Events:
Scroll below for detailed information about each event!
Saturday, August 22nd AND Sunday, August 2rd is GROSSOLOGY Weekend
This weekend, we’re turning what’s gross into the most! What we may think is disgusting can actually be incredibly significant when learning about an animal’s health, our surrounding environment, or even ourselves! Join us for our first ever GROSSOLOGY Weekend and learn about the amazing uses of poop, important roles of insects and creepy crawlies, and some of the most fascinating (and gross) practices in veterinary medicine.
As you venture around the zoo, you and your family will be able to take part in activity stations, educational games, and more!
During GROSSOLOGY Weekend, you can expect:
- Watch Executive Director of Utica Zoo, Andria Heath, clean the Bactrian Camel yard from 1pm-2pm on Saturday, August 22nd.
- A ‘Scatvenger Hunt’: roam zoo grounds while you learn about which animal defecates what! Use your detective skills to determine what poop belongs to which animal based on its size, shape, color, and consistency! Pick up and return at the gift shop.
- A visit to the ‘VetMed Museum’: a booth presented by our veterinary medicine department showcasing some truly disgusting finds. Learn how veterinary professional do manual fecal floatations and what wildlife intestinal parasites look like!
- Throwing your hand at ‘Turd Toss’: see how far your poo can go at the Zebra View Pavilion!
- Special appearances by our ambassador insects: watch our Madagascar hissing cockroaches devour rotting food when you step inside our Visitor’s Center.
- Find the poop matching game station to learn about the different types of animal feces.
- Keeper talks throughout the day specifically aimed at educating about poop or other gross animal activities. See the chalk board in the Visitor’s Center and listen to announcements.
- Storytimes read by our education department or docents about poo! Times of 10:30am and 2:30pm either outside by the White-handed Gibbon exhibit or inside the Visitor’s Center depending on the weather.
- Polly’s Concessions with dirt and worms sundae!
Thursday Evenings from July 9th – August 27th
It’s that time of year again! Previously Sunset Sips or Dino Nights, we’re returning for the 2026 season with a stellar lineup each WILD SUMMER NIGHT!
Our entire zoo is open late each Thursday until 8pm for the entire family to enjoy live music, concession food and drinks, activities, and more!
Click the button below to see our entire lineup of performers and entertainment for the summer, including our CINEMATIC SAFARIS.
There is no additional charge to attend these family friendly nights other than regular zoo admission. See below for outdoor movie tickets.
Stroller Safaris ARE BACK!
A Stroller Safari at Utica Zoo consists of a 30 minute mini zoo tour, a short book reading, an ambassador turtle/tortoise experience, a craft for children, and even a coffee cart for adults! Our stroller safaris will have different themes or topics each month that the book, mini tour, and craft are based around.
Safaris are in collaboration with the Mom Walk Collective of Utica, NY.
These safaris are 75 minutes in length before the zoo opens to the public from 9:00am to 10:15am monthly (Friday or Saturday each month). Topics and activities are aimed at children aged 0-5. See Safari dates and corresponding topics below:
- Aug 22nd: Cockadoodle Zoo
- Sept 25th: Back to ‘Schools’
- Oct 24th: Water Water Everywhere
- Nov 20th: Old McDonald Had a Zoo
To maximize experience quality, safaris will be capped at 40 child participants per safari with no cap for adults or parents who tag along. Tickets are regular zoo admission plus $5 for the safari. Babies under 2 years of age receive free admission per usual and no additional fee for the safari. Each adult and child above the age of 2 will be required to pay regular zoo admission plus the $5 for the private experience. Utica Zoo members receive free admission but are required to pay the additional $5 for the safari. Pre-booking for these experiences is highly recommended and can be completed online at the button below.
August 27th: ZOOTOPIA 2 SHOWING
Cinematic Safaris at Utica Zoo are the perfect addition to your Thursday night out. Popular movies you know and love will be projected on screen next to the White-handed Gibbon exhibit. So grab a comfortable chair or blanket, and get ready a movie experience you never thought of!
Cinematic Safari Dates:
- Thursday July 9th: 2026 Disney Pixar’s HOPPERS “A 19-year-old animal lover uses technology that places her consciousness into a robotic beaver to uncover mysteries within the animal world beyond her imagination.” Rated PG.
- Thursday, July 23rd: 2003 Disney Pixar Finding Nemo “After his son is captured in the Great Barrier Reef and taken to Sydney, a timid clownfish sets out on a journey to bring him home.” Rated G.
- Thursday, August 27th: 2025 Disney’s ZOOTOPIA 2 “Brave rabbit cop Judy Hopps and her friend, the fox Nick Wilde, team up again to crack a new case, the most perilous and intricate of their careers.” Rated PG.
Saturday, August 29th is our Last SPLASH of Summer!
Make a last SPLASH this summer before it’s almost over! Join us on Saturday, August 29th between 10:00am and 3:00pm to enjoy fun family friendly activities on grounds with water conservation education to soak up! Activities include:
- DJ bubble party by Amos Donnell Productions: be prepared to sing and dance with Amos amidst the fun bubbles!
“Duck Rescue” station: rescue toy ducks from ‘polluted’ waters, help to rehabilitate, and release them back into their natural habitat! Learn about some major water pollutants and how we can protect aquatic species from them.
Stay tuned for more activities! All activities on this day are included with regular zoo admission!
Monday, July 27th AND Monday, August 31st from 4:00pm to 8:00pm
FREE NIGHTS at Utica Zoo are exactly how they sound: FREE admission for you, your friends, and EVERYONE who walks through our doors! We believe everyone should have the opportunity to visit our beautiful zoo and learn all we have to share about our amazing animals and wildlife conservation. Our entire zoo will be open late with extended hours until 8pm both nights for you to enjoy, along with:
- FREE SHUTTLES taking you from MVCC A1 lot or Parkway Rec Center to our Visitor’s Center, and back! Shuttles will run from 4pm-830pm.
- Informational community organization booths around zoo grounds offering education, resources, and sign-ups. These organizations include but are not limited to: Oneida County Public Health Department, Cornell Cooperative Extension, LIFEPlan CCO NY, Excellus, RCIL, Oneida County History Center, House of the Good Shephard, Kelberman Center, United Way – Mohawk Valley.
- Polly’s Concessions for dinner, a snack, slushie, sweet treat, or refreshing alcoholic drink. Please note Polly’s Concessions, other vendors, and items in our gift shop are not included in the free of the night.
- Gift shop open late for Utica Zoo apparel, merchandise, children’s toys, plush, and more!
Sunday, September 6th is the next TEDDY BEAR CLINIC
Visit the Utica Zoo Sunday, September 6th between 10:00am and 12:00pm to have your child’s favorite stuffed animal scheduled to see our highly qualified stuffed animal doctors, who are ready to give their favorite toy a quick check up or even some emergency care!
Reservations are recommended but not required, one stuffed animal per reservation. Clinic is free with admission and you are available to roam zoo grounds before or after your appointment!
- Each child will receive a printed bill of health certificate for their stuffed animal after the visit.
- If you’re in need of a new stuffed animal, you can always ADOPT one from our gift shop and get them checked up before you bring them to their new home!
Monthly Saturdays from 9:00am to 10:00am are Wellness Mornings with Wildlife
We know how busy life can get, which is why we want to prioritize your well-being. Have you ever wanted to rest, relax, and recharge on zoo grounds? Well, our Wellness Mornings with Wildlife are the perfect opportunity for you! These monthly Saturday classes from 9:00am to 10:00am allow you to start your weekend with a positive mindset.
We’ll be hosting a Wellness Morning with Wildlife each month designed to help you connect with wildlife and your inner self. These hour-long classes promote mental and physical well-being through pilates, yoga, nature walks, drawing, birding, and more. Locations for each class will vary monthly and always be near an animal exhibit to enjoy. Join our Wellness Mornings at Utica Zoo with a family member or friend you’ve been needing to spend quality time with, or devote this hour to yourself.
All classes are BYO (bring your own yoga or pilates mat, notebook, etc.) Sip on complimentary lemon water before, during, or after your class. Feel free to stay and walk around the zoo afterward, as it opens daily at 10:00am and your class ticket includes regular zoo admission.
These classes are rain or shine and will not be accepting refunds. Rained-out classes will take place inside our stunning brand-new Bull Reef exhibit boasting hard and soft salt-water corals, vibrant species of fish, shrimp, crabs, an eel, and more!
Please note that these classes do not include behind the scenes animal experiences, and are simply located outside an animal’s exhibit for viewing throughout the duration of the class.
See below for our list of upcoming classes and stay tuned for more announcements!
- Saturday, August 15th: YOGA WITH THE GIBBONS instructed by In Bloom Yoga
- Saturday, September 19th: PILATES WITH THE LIONS instructed by Sophia Hartnett from BurnToneSculpt. (this is a Stretch & Strength Beginner Friendly Class)
- Saturday, October 10th: YOGA WITH THE OTTERS instructed by The Good Latch Cat (this will be prenatal/postpartum/pelvic floor focused)
- Saturday, November 14th: TBA
- Saturday, December 12th: Breathing & Meditation in the Coral Reef instructed by TrainQuality
Saturday, October 3rd
Join us for an art and tattoo festival at the beginning of the fall season! This all-day event is inspired by the historical and cultural significance of tattoos and its common representation of animal patterns. Visit the Utica Zoo on this day to further connect humans and nature through activities and booths like:
- Flash tattoos provided by local tattoo artists/shops (additional charge)
- Children’s face painting
- Temporary tattoo application station for children and adults alike
- Art vendors to peruse that will have different paintings, crochet, beading, and more!
- Animal pattern education stations provided by the zoo
- Keeper talks throughout the day highlighting some of our animals’ magnificent patterns, like the Hartmann’s Mountain zebra
- and so much more to come!
We are thrilled for our very first Patterns of the Earth event! If you’re reading this, we are still in the process of accumulating interested tattoo artists/shops to provide flash tattoos, henna artists, hair wrapping/embellishments, permanent jewelers, and art vendors. If your business is interested in joining the zoo for this art and tattoo festival, please do not hesitate to reach out to kathleen.mcgill@uticazoo.org. We would love to bring your business in on all the excitement!
Utica Zoo would also be pleased to offer an exclusive sponsor for this event. Sponsors not only generously support our mission to provide conservation education through fun that matters, but will also see their company logo on all digital and print media for the event, our zoo event map for that day, and so much more. If your company wants to make a valuable difference, please do not hesitate to reach out to a.heath@uticazoo.org with your interest.
Saturday, November 14th from 4:00pm to 7:00pm
This event has been rescheduled from June 20th to November 14th. Join us for a magical evening of music, memories, and making a difference at the Utica Zoo’s Cubs Cotillion! This special parent‑and‑child dance invites families to dress up, dance together, and support an incredible cause.
Young guests will enjoy an elegant but fun atmosphere filled with music by Amos Donnell Productions, a light buffet with desserts, ambassador animal presentations, and even some royal guests!
Prior to the evening, children are invited to participate in a friendly fundraising effort to support our accredited zoo and our mission of wildlife conservation. Once registered, you will receive a downloadable fundraising sheet and digital donation page customized to your child, as well as social media graphics to share to help your child raise money for wildlife conservation! The downloadable fundraising form is below.
The boy and girl who fundraise the most for wildlife conservation by 4:00pm by November 14th will be crowned ‘King of the Jungle’ and ‘Queen Bee’ of Utica Zoo for 2026! Winners will also receive a free family membership. Runner-ups will win day passes to visit the zoo again!
Whether you’re twirling on the dance floor, cheering for your little cub, or simply soaking in the joy of a night out together, this event is designed to create lasting family memories while giving back to your local AZA-accredited zoo.
*This special parent-and-child dance is rain or shine, as it will be inside our decked-out Visitor Center. Individuals are encouraged to fundraise, but by no means have to in order to attend this magical event. This dance is recommended for children ages 3-12 years and their guardians, but all are welcome!
Tickets to this magical night are $35 per child and $10 per adult. See button below for more information and to purchase your tickets!
