Presented by: 

September 19th • 9 AM to 3 PM • Included with Admission

A day built around the animals, plants, and people working to protect them. Meet conservation partners, dig into our first annual native Seed Sale, and see how small actions add up to big change.

Try Your Luck at the Raffle!

Enter into a  raffle to have a chance at winning some amazing items! $5 gets you six tries.

100% of the proceeds go to our Tiger Conservation Fund. You may enter online or at the event!

Winners will be notified by September 21st.

Download Raffle Item List Here
Enter Online Raffle Here

Our First Annual Seed Sale

Fall is prime planting season for pollinator gardens. Stop by the Seed Sale for native flower seeds, plus a quick class on how to get them growing at home.

Purchase a Native Wildflower Seed Package for $3 online or at the event.

100% of the proceeds go to our Tiger Conservation Fund and you are helping save pollinators and bringing beauty to your own backyard.

Purchase Online for $3 Each

How to Experience the Festival

Small Actions, Big Change

From local pollinator gardens to global field projects, the Festival is your chance to see how small actions create big change for animals and ecosystems everywhere.

Conservation Booths

Local and global partners share the work being done to protect species and habitats.

Keeper Chats and Docent Discovery Carts

Hear from our team about the wildlife right here at the Zoo.

Hands-On Activities

Crafts, games, and lessons the whole family can dig into together.

Pollinator Learning

See how backyard gardens connect to conservation work happening worldwide.

Old Phone? New Treat!

Bring in your old cell phones, tablets, and iPads. Each device earns you a chip, and every chip gets you a free fountain drink at the Café.

A Monarch Village

where kids of all ages can take part in activities to make and take items that support Monarch Butterflies, and earn their Monarch Marshall Badge for doing so.

Fold-Your-Own Zoo Animals

Pull up a seat at our Origami Tables and fold your very own zoo animal to take home, no experience necessary.

Birdhouse Building Station

Build a high quality birdhouse right here at the Festival, then take it home and give your backyard birds a new place to nest.

What's Happening

Booths, Chats, and Activities All Day Long

With Zoo staff and local partners on hand throughout the grounds, there’s always something new to find during the Festival. 

  • Docent Discovery Carts
  • Native Seed Sale & Planting Class
  • Keeper Chats
  • 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
  • Connect with us in the Animals & Man Conservation Center
Made Possible By

Our Community Partners

The Festival is made possible through the participation of local organizations who share our commitment to wildlife and conservation.

Presented By
  • Kansas Energy Program
  • Martins Hive & Harvest
  • SN Co Conservation District – Soil Tunnel
  • Friends of the Kaw (FOK)
  • Washburn University Ecobods
  • SN Co Household Hazardous Waste Facility
  • Auburn of Kansas
  • SN Co Conservation District – Streambed Trailer
  • Great Blue Heron (Lawrence)
  • Nature Edventures
  • SN Co Master Gardners

Join Us for the Wildlife & Nature Festival

Bring the whole family and spend the day connecting with wildlife, plants, and the people working to protect them.

Plan Your Visit

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.