Celebrate Earth Day 2026 at the Topeka Zoo
Club Car Wash
Join us on April 18th for PARTY FOR THE PLANET, our annual community celebration dedicated to protecting the world we share. Explore hands-on activities, keeper chats, and conservation education for the whole family.
How to Experience Earth Day 2026
Everything you need to know to make the most of your visit to Party for the Planet at the Topeka Zoo.
Check admission
and hours
Earth Day is included with regular zoo admission, or free for Friends of the Zoo members.
Enter the Writing
& Art Contest
Show your creativity while raising awareness for wildlife and conservation. Contest entries are due April 5, 2026, and participants receive free zoo admission on Earth Day.
Discover what
awaits you
From educational stations and hands-on activities to local partner exhibits and creative crafts, there's something for everyone.
01. Vendor Booths
Meet local conservation partners
Browse over 30 exhibits from conservation partners as well as over two dozen more exhibits and activities from zoo staff working to protect Kansas wildlife and habitats. Discover products and services that support a healthier planet.
02. Keeper Chats
Hear from our animal experts
Our keepers share stories about the animals in our care and the conservation work happening behind the scenes. Get answers to your questions about wildlife.
03. Hands-on Activities
Engage with nature through creative experiences
Make crafts, play games, and learn conservation lessons designed for all ages. Every activity teaches something real about protecting our world.
04. Educational Classes
Plant pollination and Monarch gardens
Learn how plants and pollinators work together, visit our monarch garden, and join our horticulture team for a hands-on class on planting your own pollinator garden at home.
Activities
With participation from Zoo staff and more than 30 local organizations and agencies, Earth Day will feature nearly 60 booths and activities for guests to explore throughout the Zoo.
Zoo-Led Activities Include:
- Keeper Chat – Elephants 10:30 AM
- Keeper Chat – Giraffes 1:30 PM
- Horticulture Chat on How To Make Your Own Pollinator Garden 2:00 PM
- 13 different Docent Discovery Carts
- Toad Abodes
- Seed Bombs
- Edible Earths
- Animal Hats
- RSPO booth
- Micro-beads
- This-Not-That booth
- Recycling
- Endangered Species Tower
- Freshwater Mussels station
- Waterways Protection
- Streambed Trailer
- Earth Tattoos
- Docents interpreting in the A&M Conservation Center
Making Our Party for the Planet Possible
thank you to our presenting sponsor, Club Car Wash
Earth Day at the Zoo is made possible through the participation of local organizations and agencies who share a commitment to conservation. Their time, knowledge, and enthusiasm help bring hands-on environmental learning and inspiration to our community.
Join us for Earth Day
Proceeds from this event directly support the Zoo’s conservation efforts, animal care, and educational programs that inspire our community to protect wildlife and wild places.
