A WILD summer includes early entry for ZOOfriends members, Family Overnight experiences, Read for Adventure, and more!

 

SATURDAY, MAY 24 THROUGH LABOR DAY, SEPTEMBER 1: ZOOFRIENDS MEMBERS ONLY EARLY MORNINGS

Beginning Saturday, May 24 and continuing through Labor Day, Monday, September 1, ZOOfriends members will enjoy early access into the Oklahoma City Zoo with gates opening at 8:30 a.m. daily. This special perk is for ZOOfriends members only with proof of a current membership. The Zoo will open for all other guests at 9 a.m. The membership office in the entry plaza will be open for guests to purchase or renew ZOOfriends memberships, which can also be purchased online at www.okczoo.org/membership.

 

TUESDAY, MAY 27: OKC ZOO VOLUNTEER PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSION

Those interested in volunteering at the Oklahoma City Zoo can help families find their favorite animals, lend a hand to keep the gardens healthy, and even assist with prepping nutritious animal diets. Take the first step to learn more about the OKC Zoo’s robust volunteer opportunities at the Volunteer Program Information Session, Tuesday, May 27, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Rosser Conservation Education Building on the east end of the Zoo’s parking lot. Visit bit.ly/OKCZooVolunteerInfoSession to sign up for this free information session.

 

MONDAY, JUNE 2: OKC ZOO’S STATEWIDE LIBRARY PROGRAM, READ FOR ADVENTURE BEGINS FOR ANOTHER SEASON

Across the state, public libraries will begin the 2025-2026 Read for Adventure season on Monday, June 2. Library card holders who check out the original children’s book, Juniper’s Butterfly Garden—A Small Start for a Better World, from participating Oklahoma public or tribal libraries will receive a voucher redeemable for free general admission to the OKC Zoo for up to four people (child, adult, or senior). The program’s feature book conveys the story of a child’s passion and determination to help butterflies by creating a pollinator habitat. Readers will find resources in the back of the book about planting a garden for monarchs and other pollinators at home, providing vital habitat for monarchs along their migratory path through Oklahoma.  Since the program began eight years ago, more than 70,000 Oklahomans have had the opportunity to visit the Zoo at no cost. For additional details about Read for Adventure, including a downloadable coloring page and list of participating libraries, visit www.okczoo.org/readforadventure.

 

SATURDAY, JUNE 7: OKC ZOO AND BANK OF OKLAHOMA PRESENT WORLD GIRAFFE DAY ACTIVITIES FROM 9:30 A.M. TO NOON

The Oklahoma City Zoo and Bank of Oklahoma invite you to stretch your schedule to celebrate World Giraffe Day on Saturday, June 7.  Make your way to Expedition Africa, presented by Inasmuch Foundation, to learn more about the Zoo’s tallest residents with caretaker chats, enrichment events, and more activities than you can shake a tail at. The Oklahoma Zoological Society is celebrating with opportunities to support giraffe conservation. Those who make a $25 donation to conservation will receive a giraffe plush. On Saturday, Zoo guests will receive a free water bottle courtesy of Shape Your Future, a program of TSET, while supplies last. Water bottles will be given away beginning at 9 a.m. as guests enter the park. The fun continues to stack up as guests can participate in scheduled giraffe feedings for free presented by Bank of Oklahoma. These experiences will be free for all guests, while the food lasts for the giraffes, on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8 at both feedings, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. World Giraffe Day activities are free with regular admission.

 

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 20, and 27, 6 TO 10 P.M.: OKC ZOO’S SIP AND STROLL, 21+ EVENT SERIES

The Oklahoma City Zoo’s 6th annual Sip and Stroll season wraps up with three nights of conservation and cocktails. Event goers 21 and older are invited to enjoy evenings of tasty treats and refreshing libations on Friday evenings June 13 (sponsored by COOP Ale Works), 20 (sponsored by Duckhorn Vineyards), and 27, from 6 to 10 p.m. each night. Sip and Stroll connects guests to the Zoo’s wondrous wildlife while they enjoy time strolling through the park. Along the way, guests can quench their thirst at numerous bars and grab delicacies including mac and cheese bites, hot honey chicken biscuits, pork belly steamed buns, and more! Sip and Stroll is also an event with a purpose: $2 of every ticket sold goes to the George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center in Bartlesville and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Flamingo Saving Animals From Extinction: SAFE program. Friday, June 20 is the PRIDE Sip and Stroll celebration complete with a drag show performance, DJ, and more. General admission for Sip and Stroll is $25 per person for nonmembers and $20 per person for ZOOfriends members. Tickets and food and drink packages are on sale now at www.okczoo.org/sipandstroll.

 

SATURDAY, JUNE 14 FROM 9 A.M. TO 2 P.M.: OKC ZOO SUMMER ANIMAL ENRICHMENT EVENT

Treat yourself to a day with the Oklahoma City Zoo’s animal family as they cool off, chill out, and chow down during the Summer Animal Enrichment event. Throughout the OKC Zoo, different species will enjoy special snacks and intriguing experiences that keep them engaged and interested in the world around them. Guests are also encouraged to stay cool by bringing or purchasing reusable water bottles and using ten free water bottle refill stations throughout the park sponsored by Shape Your Future, a program of TSET. Animal enrichment is one of many ways caretakers challenge and delight the animals they look after, ensuring they can take part in new experiences. Visit map.okczoo.org for the day’s schedule of events.

 

SATURDAY, JUNE 14 AT 6 P.M.: LOVE IN THE WILD, A SINGLES NIGHT AT THE OKC ZOO

Whether you’re looking for love, or just a wild night on the town, join the OKC ZOOtroop and OKC Social Singles for Love in the Wild: A Singles Night at the Zoo. This 21-and-older event is where animal mating rituals and human connection meet. Enjoy cocktails, animal encounters, and a hilarious presentation on bizarre courtship behaviors before mixing and mingling with potential matches. Tickets are $20 and proceeds from the event will benefit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Visit https://donate.ozsgiving.org/event/love-in-the-wild/e684766 to learn more and purchase tickets.

 

SATURDAY, JUNE 14 FROM 6:45 P.M. TO 9 A.M.: ELEPHANT AND RHINO ADVENTURE FAMILY OVERNIGHT

Spend a night at the OKC Zoo learning about some of the biggest members of the animal family during the Elephant and Rhino Adventure Family Overnight on Saturday, June 14. Guests will embark on a night and early morning hike through the Zoo accompanied by knowledgeable guides to see wildlife in a new light. Participants will learn cool bio facts and make an animal enrichment before watching the animals enjoy their creations. The cost is $55 per person. Overnights are suggested for ages five and older and run from 6:45 p.m. to 9 a.m. Visit www.okczoo.org/private-overnights to reserve your spot.

 

SUNDAY, JUNE 15: OKC ZOO FATHERS DAY WATER BOTTLE GIVEAWAY

Keep your favorite dad hydrated with a free water bottle, courtesy of Shape Your Future, a program of TSET. OKC Zoo staff will hand out 500 free water bottles to guests when the Zoo opens. Beat the heat by using the ten free water bottle refill stations throughout the park.

 

FRIDAY, JUNE 27 TO SUNDAY, JULY 6: DORA’S TREASURE HUNT IN CAT FOREST

Beginning Friday, June 27, the Oklahoma City Zoo’s Cat Forest will host the Dora’s Treasure Hunt experience to celebrate the upcoming Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado movie, premiering July 2. The film features Dora the Explorer, Diego, and their friends as they brave the treacherous Amazonian jungle to uncover the legendary Sol Dorado treasure. Zoo guests will receive a free Dora treasure map to help them search for prizes. Dora’s Treasure Hunt activities are free with general Zoo admission.

 

SATURDAY, JULY 5: OKC ZOO HOSTS INTERNATIONAL CAT DAY ACTIVITIES FROM 9:30 A.M. TO NOON.

Enjoy a purrrfect day at the OKC Zoo during International Cat Day on Saturday, July 5. Take your pride by Lion Overlook and into Cat Forest, home to the Dora’s Treasure Hunt experience, to learn more about the fabulous felines that call the OKC Zoo home. Enjoy caretaker chats, wild cat trivia, and more. The Oklahoma Zoological Society is raising money for conservation with plush adoptions for $25. Zoo guests will receive a free water bottle courtesy of Shape Your Future, a program of TSET, while supplies last. Water bottles will be given away beginning at 9 a.m. as guests enter the park. International Cat Day activities are free with regular admission.

 

FRIDAY, JULY 11: PRIMATE PAJAMA PARTY FAMILY OVERNIGHT

The family will be primed for an educational and inspiring learning experience when they join the Primate Pajama Party on Friday, July 11 at the OKC Zoo. This family overnight includes facts about chimpanzees, lemurs, and more primates, as well as night and early morning hikes through the Zoo. Guests will make animal enrichments and get to watch their primate pals enjoy their creations. The cost is $55 per person. Overnights are suggested for ages five and older and run from 6:45 p.m. to 9 a.m. Visit www.okczoo.org/private-overnights to reserve your spot.

 

ONGOING: SUMMER SHOWS AT THE ZOO AMPHITHEATRE

Oklahoma City’s wildest venue, The Zoo Amphitheatre, is rocking away the summer with a lineup of can’t-miss concerts. Visit www.okczooamp.com for more information and tickets.

  • Monday, July 7 – INCUBUS, with special guests Manchester Orchestra and Paris Jackson
  • Saturday, July 12 – Flatland Cavalry, with special guests Kaitlin Butts and Jason Scott & The High Heat
  • Saturday, July 26 – Old Dominion, with special guests Ernest and Redferrin

 

ONGOING: ART GONE WILD

Looking for a memorable, one-of-a-kind souvenir from the Oklahoma City Zoo AND a way to contribute to conservation initiatives around the world? Check out the Oklahoma City Zoo’s Art Gone Wild program, where guests can take home a work of art created by members of our animal family. Explore a new batch of paintings from elephants, stingrays, and more on sale in the OKC Zoo’s Guest Services Office in the entry plaza. Canvases range in size from 6-by-6 inches for $35 all the way up to massive 30-by-40 inches pieces for $300. Don’t delay: Art Gone Wild sells out quickly!

 

ONGOING: OKC ZOO PHOTO CREW: BEST OF 2024

See the wow-worthy wildlife photography of the Oklahoma City Zoo’s dedicated photographer volunteers in the OKC Zoo Photo Crew: Best of 2024 exhibit, now on display at the Patricia & Byron J. Gambulos ZooZeum, the Zoo’s historical museum. Showcasing 37 original wildlife photos taken at the Zoo by 11 members of the OKC Zoo Photo Crew, this exhibit gives guests a new view of their favorite animals. Adding to the fun of this exhibit is OKC Zoo Bricktopia, an artistic view of the Zoo with a unique medium–miniature bricks. Bricktopia features hundreds of brick pieces and figurines plus interactive lights. Guests are encouraged to see how many “photographer” figurines they can spot throughout the display. Bedford Camera & Video is sponsoring the exhibit open daily and free with park admission.

 

ONGOING: SUMMER ATTRACTION HOURS

All activities are dependent on weather and animal participation.

  • Scooter Pals: Take a ride on the wild side with the OKC Zoo’s new Scooter Pals. This new mobile entertainment opportunity is a fun way for guests 16 and older to explore the park. Scooter Pals are animal themed and available to rent daily weather permitting, located in the Zoo’s entry plaza. Cost is $5 activation fee, $0.35/minute.  
  • Primrose Schools Children’s Zoo Barnyard: The Primrose Schools Barnyard is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Elephant Express Tram: Take the tram for a relaxing, informative tour of the Zoo. Rides offered daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All day bracelets are $6 per person. Children two and under ride free with paid adult admission. 
  • Elephant Presentations: Head to the Inasmuch Elephant Pavilion for the free-to-attend elephant presentation in Sanctuary Asia at 2 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Memorial Day (May 26), Independence Day (July 4), and Labor Day (September 1). 
  • Endangered Species Carousel: Carousel rides are available daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cost is $4 per person. 
  • Explorikeet Feedings: These feathered favorites are waiting to meet you from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Cost is $4 per person. Participants under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a paying adult. 
  • Virtual Reality Wildlife Experiences: Guests can experience two different and immersive encounters with wildlife with the help of virtual reality. Gorilla Trek VR presents the life of gorillas in the Rwandan jungle and The Great Migration VR puts guests among African wildlife on their annual migratory journey. Each experience offers 360-degree live-action virtual reality film with surround sound and motion! Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $8 per person. A combination ticket is $12.
  • Rhino Feedings:  Discover this memorable experience with one of the largest residents at the Zoo – an Indian rhino! Feeding opportunities available weekends (Thurs.–Sun.) from 11 to 11:30 a.m. at Sanctuary Asia. Cost is $10 per person. Children age 2 and under are not permitted.
  • Stingray Bay: Stingray Bay provides up-close encounters and feeding opportunities with one of the most majestic creatures of the sea, stingrays! Participants under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $4 per person to enter. Feeding opportunities are available from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. daily, while supplies last, for an additional $4 per person.
  • Flamingo Mingle: Flock to the Flamingo Mingle feeding daily from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $5 per person. Children age 2 and under are not permitted.
  • Giraffe Feeding: Feed our tallest friends during the Giraffe Feeding daily from 11 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. from May 25 to June 29, Independence Day (July 4), and Labor Day (September 1). Starting June 30 through September 1, feedings are 11 a.m. to noon daily and 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Cost is $5 per person.
  • Camel Rides: Camel rides are available at the OKC Zoo from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Cost is $10 per person. Children under 6 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

 

The Oklahoma City Zoo’s regular daytime hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry at 4 p.m. From May 24 through Labor Day, ZOOfriends members can enter early at 8:30 a.m. to beat the heat. Purchase advance Zoo admission tickets at okczoo.org/tickets and avoid the entry lines. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District.

 

Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. Zoo more with a ZOOfriends membership! As a ZOOfriends member of the Oklahoma City Zoo, enjoy free admission for 12-months, plus additional benefits and discounts. You will also be supporting the Zoo’s animal family, education programming, and conservation initiatives both locally and globally. Join or renew today at www.okczoo.org/membership.