March ROARS in with the all-new Dinosaur Expedition, ZOOfriends membership sale with Mathis Home, Spring Break camp and special activities, and much more!

 

 

ONGOING THROUGH SUNDAY, MARCH 8: ZOOFRIENDS MEMBERSHIP SALE AT MATHIS HOME

For a limited time, Mathis Home is selling every level of OKC Zoo’s ZOOfriends 12-month memberships at significant discounts. Mathis Home visitors can purchase discounted memberships starting at $51 for a single membership, all the way up to a membership for 10 for $269. The Zoo’s most popular membership, Passport for 4, regularly $149, is on sale for $124, a $25 savings! As a wild bonus, Mathis Home is providing a free plush and one free entry voucher into the OKC Zoo’s new exhibit Dinosaur Expedition presented by Mathis Home with the purchase of every membership along with exclusive perks for Mathis Rewards Members. ZOOfriends get free general admission to the Zoo for 12 months, discount admission to hundreds of accredited Association of Zoos and Aquariums members, a new Passport Perk every month, and more.

 

 

ONGOING THROUGH MONDAY, MARCH 9: VOTE TO NAME OKC ZOO BEST ZOO, BEST ZOO MEMBERSHIP, AND BEST ZOO EXHIBIT FOR EXPEDITION AFRICA

USA Today’s 10Best is searching for the Best Zoo, Best Zoo Membership, and Best Zoo Exhibit in the country and the OKC Zoo is nominated for all three. It’s easy to help put the Zoo on top of the rankings. Simply click here and vote once a day through Monday, March 9. No registration is necessary.

 

 

ONGOING: ENROLLMENT OPEN FOR OKC ZOO’S SCHOOLS OUT DAY CAMP FOR SPRING BREAK 2026

Sign your young animal enthusiasts up for a week of enrichment, learning, and togetherness during the OKC Zoo’s Spring Break Camp 2026. Enrollment is already open for this week-long camp experience focusing on Wild & Wonderful Oklahoma, which boasts more biodiversity than almost anywhere else in the country! The OKC Zoo’s education department offers students a week packed full of educational activities, in-park exploration, up-close animal ambassador visits and more. Spring break camps are set for Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 20, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (pick up goes to 4:30 p.m.) each day at the Rosser Conservation Education Center. Spring Break camp is for students from Kindergarten through 6th grade, with classes divided by grade brackets. The cost is $300 per camper (or $270 per camper for ZOOfriends members). Campers must bring their lunch, a water bottle, and snacks. Space is limited and advance registration is required. To register, visit okczoo.org/spring-break or call (405) 425-0218.

 

 

STARTING FRIDAY, MARCH 6: OKC ZOO’S DINOSAUR EXPEDITION PRESENTED BY MATHIS HOME

Get ready to travel through time with the new Dinosaur Expedition, presented by Mathis Home, at the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden. This immersive exhibit features more than 60 animatronics dinosaurs from the 4 foot-long Diplocaulid to the 82-foot-long Dreadnoughtus, dino skeletons, interactive fossil digs, and more! There are also dino-themed children’s rides and a walking dinosaur experience. For adventure seekers, discover the Zoo’s new Virtual Reality (VR) experience Dinosaur: Evolution, narrated by renown paleontologist Dr. Phillip Manning, uncovering how these apex predators and resilient survivors were wiped out by a single cataclysmic event: an asteroid impact. This immersive ride experience explores who perished, who survived, and why. This VR experience will only be available during Dinosaur Expedition in the Zoo’s Love’s Pachyderm Building.

Single entry tickets to Dinosaur Expedition are $9 per person ages 3 and up ($7 for ZOOfriends members). General Zoo admission is also required. Single rides are $6, or try a ride package with three rides for $15. Guests can bundle their experiences for additional savings by purchasing an “adventure ticket” which includes unlimited same-day entry to Dinosaur Expedition, Explorikeet feedings, and Endangered Species Carousel rides for $15 per person ages 3 and up (or $12 per person for ZOOfriends members). ZOOfriends members can keep the fun roaring with a Season Pass at just $28 per person for unlimited visits. Dinosaur Expedition is located adjacent to the Zoo’s Jungle Gym Playground and will be open daily through Sunday, November 1, 2026. Dinosaur Expedition sponsors include Mathis Home and Continental Resources

 

 

MONDAY, MARCH 2: OKC ZOO SPRING ATTRACTION HOURS BEGIN

A new season means new hours for your favorite Zoo activities. There’s always something happening at the OKC Zoo. 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 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 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 free. 
  • 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. 
  • Endangered Species Carousel: Carousel rides are available daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cost is $4 per person. 
  • Lorikeet Feedings: These feathered favorites are waiting to meet you! Feeding opportunities are available daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $4 per person. Participants under the age of 14 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 Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $8 per person. 
  • 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. 
  • Flamingo Mingle: Flock to the Flamingo Mingle feeding daily from 9:30 to 10 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 3:30 to 4 p.m. Cost is $5 per person.
  • Giraffe Feeding: Feed our tallest friends during the Giraffe Feeding Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to noon and Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m. Cost is $5 per person.
  • Cassowary Feeding: Meet the big birds of Sanctuary Asia. Feedings are 2:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $5 per person.

 

 

SATURDAY, MARCH 14 THROUGH SUNDAY, MARCH 22: OKC ZOO SPRING BREAK PRESENTED BY HOMELAND

Make the OKC Zoo your destination for Spring Break and enjoy a week of events and seasonal attractions, OKC Zoo’s Spring Break is a must for families. Check it out…

  • EXTENDED PARK HOURS: Visit the Zoo from Saturday, March 14 through Sunday, March 22, 2026 to enjoy an extra hour of fun as the Zoo will stay open until 6 p.m. with final entry allowed at 5 p.m.
  • OKC ZOO GOLDEN EGG SAFARI: Go on a Golden Egg Safari, March 14-22, throughout the Zoo to find prizes, including a plush animal from Safari Gifts, access to a Wild Encounter, Homeland gift cards, and more! Find one of 40 eggs hidden around the park daily. If you're one of our lucky guests to find an egg, return it to the Guest Services office in the Plaza to collect your prize. Limited to one Golden Egg per family, per day.
  • OKC ZOO ATTRACTIONS: Enjoy interactive animal experiences including giraffe feedings, Flamingo Mingle, Explorikeet Adventure, and more!
  • ANIMAL ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES: All week long, look forward to animal enrichment activities at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday, March 16 through Saturday, March 21, as well as the elephant presentation at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 19. See the schedule below or visit map.okczoo.org/home for more information on daily activities.
  • Monday, March 16: 10 a.m. Hyenas (Expedition Africa) / 1 p.m. Zebras and Wildebeests (Expedition Africa)
  • Tuesday, March 17: 10 a.m. Galapagos Tortoises (Children’s Zoo) / 1 p.m. Asian elephants (Sanctuary Asia)
  • Wednesday, March 18: 10 a.m. Indian Rhinos (Sanctuary Asia) / 1 p.m. Western Lowland Gorillas (Great EscApe)
  • Thursday, March 19: 10 a.m. Cheetahs (Predator Pass, Expedition Africa) / 1 p.m. African crested porcupines (Lakeside habitats)
  • Friday, March 20: 10 a.m. Galapagos Tortoises (Children’s Zoo) and Cichlids (Love’s Pachyderm Building, Expedition Africa) / 1 p.m. Macaws (Children’s Zoo)
  • Saturday, March 21: 10 a.m. Francois Langurs (Sanctuary Asia) / 1 p.m. Elk (Oklahoma Trails)

Map out your Zoo day in advance and discover all the unique experiences available at okczoo.org/plan_your_visit. Admission tickets can all be purchased in advance for faster entry into the Zoo at okczoo.org/tickets.

 

 

MARCH 15 THROUGH MAY 31: LIGHTS OUT OKLAHOMA CAMPAIGN

Conservation action starts with us! The Oklahoma City Zoo, a partner in the Oklahoma Animal Coalition, is asking Oklahomans to turn out non-essential outdoor lights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the spring migration season, happening now through May 31. Excessive outdoor lighting confuses birds as they migrate through Oklahoma, separating them from their flock, causing collisions with buildings and powerlines, and getting lost in dangerous environments. To learn more about LIGHTS OUT OKLAHOMA visit www.okczoo.org/lightsout.

 

 

SATURDAY, MARCH 21: OKC ZOO HOSTS OUR BLOOD INSTITUTE BLOOD DRIVE, 9 A.M. TO 1:30 P.M.

More than 1,200 donations are needed every day for local hospitals. The Oklahoma City Zoo and Our Blood Institute (OBI) are calling on the community to contribute by donating at the Zoo. Take time to attend this blood drive being hosted at the OKC Zoo’s Education Center on Saturday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All donors will receive a T-shirt and a general admission voucher to the OKC Zoo, as well as be entered into a drawing for a Dinosaur Expedition Adventure Ticket and a Homeland gift card. Vouchers may be used throughout the remainder of the year. To make an appointment click here.

 

 

THURSDAY, MARCH 26: READ ACROSS OKLAHOMA HOSTED AT THE OKC ZOO

Enjoy exploring the OKC Zoo and fun-filled experience with Read Across Oklahoma, Oklahoma’s premier literacy event for young readers. Read Across Oklahoma returns to the OKC Zoo on Thursday, March 26, 2026. This year’s theme is America250: Telling America’s Stories, celebrating our nation’s history and the stories that shaped it. The featured book is Will Rogers and His Great Presidential Pals by Oklahoma author Bart Taylor, an enjoyable story centered around Oklahoma’s own Will Rogers. Event activities are planned from 9 to 1 p.m. including special performances by featured author Bart Taylor and free books for children with Zoo admission while supplies last. Read Across Oklahoma event partners include the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Target, and Tinker Federal Credit Union. Event activities are free with Zoo admission. Learn more at Read Across Oklahoma.

 

 

SATURDAY, MARCH 28: OKC ZOO OVERNIGHT EVENT

Get ready for a wild evening of fun and learning during the Spring Into Sustainability overnight at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Public overnights are designed for multiple families ages 5 and older. Celebrate the start of spring with an overnight experience at the OKC Zoo, seeing how caretakers repurpose items that might seem past their prime and learning easy ways to live more sustainably. Help create enrichment for the animals, enjoy a special after-hours night hike, play games, and get admission to the Zoo the following day. Jumpstart your own spring refresh by bringing in unwanted spices, seasonings, extracts, old cell phones or small electronics for recycling to help make a difference for wildlife and the planet. The event runs from 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 28 to 9 a.m. on Sunday, March 29. The cost for each participant is $55. All children must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the program. Sign up at okczoo.org/private-overnights.

 

 

ONGOING: DISCOVER NEW ZOOZEUM EXHIBIT, OKC ZOO PHOTO CREW: BEST OF 2025

Explore the Zoo through the eyes of talented photographers in the Oklahoma City Zoo’s new exhibit, OKC Zoo Photo Crew: Best of 2025, now on display at the Patricia & Byron J. Gambulos ZooZeum, the Zoo’s historical museum. OKC Zoo Photo Crew: Best of 2025 showcases original photos in four categories—Enrichment, Seasonal, Wild for Wildlife, and Zoo Animal Family—taken by members of the OKC Zoo Photo Crew, dedicated Zoo volunteers who capture photos of the animals, gardens, and events throughout the year. Bedford Camera & Video is sponsoring the exhibit open daily and free with park admission.

 

 

ONGOING: LEARN FROM OKC ZOO EXPERTS WITH FREE CARETAKER CHATS

Get to know the Zoo’s animal family from the people who know them best: the caretakers! Caretaker Chats are a chance to ask questions, get behind-the-scenes information, and get better acquainted with the animals. This activity is free with general admission. Caretaker Chat Schedule:

  • African Hoofstock – 10 a.m. at Expedition Africa
  • Asian Elephants – 11 a.m., Monday-Thursday at Sanctuary Asia
  • Common Dwarf Mongoose – 11 a.m. Friday-Sunday at Love’s Pachyderm Building
  • African Lungfish – 1:30 p.m. Thursday-Tuesday at Love’s Pachyderm Building
  • Flamingos – 3 p.m. Thursday-Monday at Primrose Schools Children’s Zoo
  • Primates – 2:30 p.m. at Chimpanzee Interpretive Center
  • Vet Talk – 11:30 a.m. at Joan Kirkpatrick Animal Hospital

 

 

ONGOING: GORILLAS ON THE LINE CELL PHONE CHALLENGE

Have you recently upgraded to a new phone? Clean out those old tech toys and make a huge impact by donating cell phones and other small electronics to help save gorillas. Support the Oklahoma City Zoo in its efforts to protect wild gorillas and their habitat by donating to the Gorillas on the Line Cell Phone Challenge now through Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Donate a cellphone or small electronic and receive a free general Zoo admission ticket! Recycling old cellphones and electronics raises funds to directly support gorilla conservation initiatives through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Gorilla SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction programs. Schools, organizations, businesses and individuals are encouraged to collect as many cell phones and electronics as they can in support of gorilla conservation. Donated items can be dropped off for recycling in the Zoo’s Guest Services office located in the entry plaza during regular park hours.

 

 

ONGOING: ART GONE WILD

Art Gone Wild, the Oklahoma City Zoo’s selection of animal paintings, are one-of-a-kind gifts for any occasion. With assistance from their caretakers, the Zoo’s talented animal artists have created an array of paintings available for purchase. Art Gone Wild is part of the Zoo’s enrichment program and use animal-safe, non-toxic paints. New art pieces are created regularly and available to view in the Zoo’s Guest Services office located in the Zoo’s entry plaza, open during regular park hours. Original pieces range from $35 to $300, depending on size. All net proceeds benefit one of the Zoo’s conservation initiatives.

 

 

ONGOING: ROUND UP FOR CONSERVATION

Conservation is hard work, but the OKC Zoo’s Round Up for Conservation program makes it easy. When you make a purchase at the Zoo, you can round up to the nearest dollar, sending those pennies, nickels, and dimes into a fund benefitting local and global conservation organizations including Sri Lanka Elephant Project, The Nature Conservancy (Oklahoma), Oklahoma Department of Wildlife, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Foundation for the Conservation of Endangered Species of Guatemala and more. Since 2011, OKC Zoo has raised more than $1,000,000 though Round Up for Conservation. Learn more about the program here.

 

The OKC Zoo is located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35 and a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, and Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. During the OKC Zoo’s Winter Hours, now through Sunday, March 1, 2026, the park will be open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with last entry at 4 p.m. Purchase Zoo admission in advance at okczoo.org/tickets to avoid the entry lines. For more Zoo information, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Linktree, TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories.