Make your Zoo Lights visit extra special with a private igloo rental! Enjoy cozy seating, festive décor, and exclusive perks as you sip, snack, and soak in the sparkle of the season.
Ring in the Holiday season with Zoo Lights Presented by Evergy, one of Topeka’s treasured holiday traditions returning for its sixth season.
Adventure, learning, and wild memories await! Sign up for Topeka Zoo Adventure Camps — with sessions offered in spring, summer, and fall/winter. Click through for details and registration links!
The Topeka Zoo is accepting clean, live Christmas trees December 26–January 8! Drop trees inside Gage Park near the horseshoe courts—no appointment needed. Trees free of decorations become enrichment for zoo animals and are later mulched for reuse.
Celebrate the New Year in style at the Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center with Toast at Ten, an exclusive cocktail event presented by SDG Architecture + Interiors, featuring a special plated dinner, entertainment, a silent auction, and a sparkling champagne toast at 10 PM.
🐻 Alt caption: A rescue Black bear cub (Taz) is seen chewing on a stick, dropping it on his stomach and picking it up using his back feet multiple times. Due to gaining winter weight, he is quite rotund and finds himself momentarily rocking & shifting his weight in order to get up off his back. Onlookers comment on his stick holding talents, then likeness to a beached whale.
Pt. 2 of Bear Check 2025 🐻✅ with @topekafiredepartment was taking them behind the scenes to visit our orphaned black bear cubs, Kiona & Taz. Kiona was content with napping on a log while Taz was VERY enriched with a stick (it’s the simple bare necessities).
Both cubs were brought to the Topeka Zoo after being deemed unfit to survive in the wild. Black bear cubs are often orphaned each year due to numerous reasons (though mainly traffic accidents, habitat loss/encroaching neighborhoods, and illegal hunting).
We advocate for THIS being the way first responders get to meet/see bear cubs, though we’d like less frequent chances of orphaned cubs. If you’re ever traveling in bear territory (ESPECIALLY spring!!) remember to go the speed limits, use your headlights, and take wildlife into consideration. 🐻
Experience the Zoo after hours and support wildlife conservation with every ticket.
✨ Because even the wild ones don’t wait until midnight.
Reserve your seat for this wildly elegant celebration: https://topekazoo.org/zoo-events/toast-at-ten/
Each winter, TFD helps the Zoo in ensuring black Bear Val is snug & living well inside her winter den! This year the department said Val is living cozy in a den that sits at about 45-55 degrees Fehrenheit. By being able to look at the changes in temperature, the fire department was able to indicate that Val is alive and well, deep in her den. We will likely see her start poking her head out in March! 🧑🚒🐻
📸: Kim B.
Spots are still available for the rentable Igloos, perfect for staying warm & sipping hot cocoa before or after your walk around ZOO LIGHTS. Did we mention they’ve got board games, books, and heaters?
Each Igloo has been decorated & themed by four amazing sponsors:
📖 Brian Laid - Stone & Story Real Estate Group
🏠 Anne Foust - Berkshire Hathaway
💙 Greta Carter-Wilson - Caldwell Banker
🪴 Melanie Gordon - Better Homes & Garden
Click the following to learn more & reserve your Igloo TODAY, before Bumble drinks all the hot chocolate. 🍫☕️
https://topekazoo.org/zoo-events/topeka-zoo-lights-around-the-world/private-igloo-rental/
See news on our facebook page here.
2025 DATES
•Membership Only Events are in orange.
September
- Brew at the Zoo - Sept 13
- World Rivers Day - Sept 27
- Member pricing for Zoo Lights (discount codes will be emailed to members)
October
- Boo at the Zoo - Oct - 18
- Boo at the zoo - Oct -25
- Boo at the Zoo (Member Only Lane) – Saturday, October 18 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.)
- Boo at the Zoo: (Member Only Lane) – Saturday, October 25 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.)
November
- Zoo Lights Begins - Nov 21
- Wake & Learn – Behind the Scenes of Zoo Lights: Tuesday, November 11 (8 a.m. – 9 a.m.)
- Member pricing for Zoo Lights (discount codes will be emailed to members)
December
- Cookies with Claus - Dec 6
- Zoo Lights Closes - Dec 31
- Member pricing for Zoo Lights (discount codes will be emailed to members)
- Cookies with Claus (Member Discount): Saturday, December 6 (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
- Gift Membership Drive – Purchase the gift of year-round Zoo Membership!
The last two weekends in October are all set for spooky, family fun! Visit vendors, collect candy, giveaways, and more! Dress up as your favorite characters, goblins, witches, and ghosts and we will see you SOON!
Ring in the Holiday season with Zoo Lights Presented by Evergy, one of Topeka’s treasured holiday traditions returning for its sixth season.
Enjoy a memorable night tucked away from the cold at the 2025 Topeka Zoo Lights! Our Igloos provide a cozy, secluded space to enjoy this Winter Wonderland all evening long. Whether celebrating a birthday, anniversary or having a night out with friends or coworkers. Elevate your experience with your very own private igloo!
Santa is stopping by the Topeka Zoo for a sweet holiday visit—before his big night! Come enjoy a magical morning filled with: Cookie decorating & hot cocoa, A festive holiday craft, Giraffe feeding, Storytime & music, A photo opportunity with Santa, and a candy cane hunt!
Our Mission is to enrich our community through wildlife conservation and education.
BE THE DIFFERENCE.
When you become a business partner, you become a huge part of the success of the zoo AND the community! Join us today!
