OKLAHOMA ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY ANNOUNCES 2025 OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO GALA

The Gala, scheduled for Friday, June 6, will raise funding for the new Shore to Sea habitat and honor three long-term Zoo supporters.

 

Get ready to Waddle & Whirl away the night at the 2025 Oklahoma City Zoo Gala, presented by Expand.

This is the fourth annual fundraiser hosted by the Oklahoma Zoological Society, which last year raised $357,000 for conservation projects and improvements at the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden.

The 2025 event, scheduled for Friday, June 6, 2025, is themed “Waddle & Whirl” and will raise funding for the creation of Shore to Sea, the Zoo’s newest habitat expansion and an enhanced home for a rookery of African penguins. In 2024 African penguins were moved to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as a critically endangered species. Over the last 70 years, African penguin populations have plummeted by 93 percent to only about 19,000 left in the wild. Some estimate they could go extinct in the wild by as early as 2026.

While tuxedos are not required, Gala guests are encouraged to attend in black and white attire in honor of the penguins.

In addition to preparing for the new aquatic-focused habitat, the Gala will honor the following community members for their significant contributions to the OKC Zoo:

  • The late Gene Rainbolt and BancFirst, celebrating a legacy of leadership and community support.
  • Claudia Holliman, honoring decades of philanthropy and a steadfast commitment to the OKC Zoo.
  • Larry Mathis and Mathis Home, championing and investing in collaborative community partnerships.

 

“Since its inception, the Zoo Gala has become one of our most treasured annual events because it brings together so many people who care deeply about the OKC Zoo, wildlife conservation, and the Oklahoma City community,” said Oklahoma Zoological Society Executive Director Mandy Heaps. “Not only does this event support future development at the Zoo, it’s also a chance to thank our benefactors in person in the very place they’ve been so instrumental in improving.”

Gala attendees will be able to take part in select experiences, including animal feedings with giraffes, Galapagos tortoises, and flamingos, as well as attending caretaker chats about honey badgers, dwarf crocodiles, meercats, ring-tailed lemurs, and more.

Event chairs for the Gala are Paula and Don Beck. The 2025 Zoo Gala is seeking additional sponsors and details can be found at www.ozsgiving.org/zoogala. Tickets for the 2025 OKC Zoo Gala will go on sale in April.

The Oklahoma City Zoo’s daytime hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with the last entry at 4 p.m. 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. Make it a “brand zoo” day 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.