ZOO LIGHTS IS BACK FOR YEAR 5!
Zoo Lights is a delightful community celebration that helps Topeka and surrounding areas kick off the holiday season. Presented by Evergy, this cherished tradition continues to grow in popularity and promises to enchant visitors once again.
You can also rent igloos for holiday fun, company parties, girls/guys night out, or just to celebrate the season with the family!
HOLIDAY TRIVIA NIGHT - LEARN MORE
Are you smarter than Cora our Asian Elephant?
Come find out on Friday, November 29th for a holiday-themed trivia night that's fun for the whole family! Help us celebrate our 5th year of Zoo Lights with a night of brain-teasing questions, cozy winter vibes, and friendly competition.
Date & Time: Friday, November 29, 2024 (Black Friday)
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Trivia starts at 6:15 PM)
Gates Open at 5:30 PM (Enter through Turtle Gate at the Kay McFarland Japanese Garden)
COOKIES WITH CLAUS - LEARN MORE
Santa Claus is coming to town early and making a special trip to YOUR Topeka Zoo. You won’t want to miss this fun holiday experience! We're baking holiday memories one cookie at a time!! Tickets are on sale now. Limited Tickets Available!!
📸: Keeper Madison N.
#goat #getthatbread #topekazoo #nigeriandwarfgoat
https://topekazoo.org/membership-2024/
For everyone dressing as an arachnid superhero this year - make sure to see your friends inside our Schendel’s Bug Zoo!
📸 1: Black widow by Keeper Caroline
📸 2: Birdeater tarantula by Keeper Amber
📸 3: Striped-knee (aka Zebra leg) tarantula
by Keeper Amber
📸 4: Redknee tarantula by Brea S.
#arachnids #spider #spiders #tarantula #happyhalloween #topekazoo
At this time, we are unsure if there will be an opportunity to reschedule due to our already booked out calendar, but will post if there are any updates.
We’d like to thank our community for their excitement for this event and apologize for any inconvenience.
The Zoo itself will still be OPEN on Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm - just be sure to bring an umbrella if you visit!
***We will still be having Member Morning on Saturday, with gates opening only for Friends of the Topeka Zoo Members at 8 am***
We have decided for the safety of our guests, staff, and animals to close early today (October 30th). We appreciate our animal care staff that have remained on grounds to ensure our animals are in a safe, secure area to ride out today & tonight’s storm.
We will provide updates should any damages or changes occur, but plan to be open tomorrow from 9 am to 5 pm!
Sumatran tiger Nisha has been enjoying pumpkin season (as has her mate, Thomas). Not only do our big cats enjoy playing with + tasting whole pumpkins- but they also enjoy smelling & rolling on pumpkin spice! 🍂
📸s: Beth White
#nationalcatday #pumpkinseason #tiger #sumatrantiger
See news on our facebook page here.
2024 DATES
•Membership Only Events are in green.
January
- The zoo is open!
- Spring break camp enrollment opens - 15th
February
- The zoo is open!
- Annual Meeting - February 19, 2024. The meeting is in the Kay's Garden venue. We will meet at 12:30pm. Members can enter through the turtle gate to have direct access to the venue.
March
- Spring break camps - 11 - 15
- Docent Training - 19 - 22
- Members only giraffe feeding – Saturday, March 23
- Public early bird pricing for Roar and Pour
April
- Kansas Ballet Performance - 13 & 14
- Party for the Planet (Earth Day) - 20
- Roar and Pour - 27
- Public early bird pricing for Roar and Pour
- Special Exhibit – Member only preview – Thursday evening, April 18
- Special Exhibit Grand Opening – Saturday, April 20
- Coffee (juice) with Curators: 8 – 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 30
May
- Safe Kids Day at the Zoo - May 4
- Native Wildflower Sale - May 11
- Endangered Species Day - May 11
- Membership drive month – offer 10% off during month
- Member morning – open at 8 a.m., on Saturday, May 18
June
- Oceans Day - June 8
- Giraffe Day - June 15
- 20% off retail during the month
- Members only giraffe feeding – Saturday, June 8
July
- Global Tiger Day - July 27th
- Member morning – open at 8 a.m., Saturday – July 27
August
- World Lion Day - Aug 3
- World Elephant Day - Aug 10
- World Orangutan Day - Aug 17
- World Painted Dog Day - Aug 24
- Gage Park Founder's Fest/Free Day - Aug 31*
*Admission is free with suggested non perishable food item. - 20% off café during the month
- Coffee (juice) with Curators: 8 – 9 a.m., Friday, August 9
- Early bird pricing for Brew at the Zoo
September
- Brew at the Zoo - Sept 14
- World Rivers Day - Sept 21
- Member appreciation night (evening) – Sept 25
- Member pricing for Zoo Lights Begins
October
- Boo at the Zoo - Oct 19
- Boo at the Zoo - Oct 26
- Members only giraffe feeding – Saturday, October 5
- Members only lane for Boo
November
- Zoo Lights Begins - Nov 22
- Member mornings – open at 8 a.m., on Saturday, November 2
- Member pricing for Zoo Lights
December
- Zoo Lights closes - Dec 27
- Member pricing for Zoo Lights
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!