Events
The Utica Zoo hosts numerous events throughout the year from large premiere events that happen annually to smaller special events that occur more regularly. If you are interested in hosting your own even here on zoo grounds, feel free to visit our Pavilion Rentals page!
Upcoming Events:
Scroll below for detailed information about each event!
Sunday, November 1st is ZOOperhero Training Academy Day!
Thank you to Excellus BlueCross BlueShield for sponsoring this event! The Utica Zoo will be hosting a ZOOperhero Training Academy on Sunday, November 1st from 10:00am to 3:00pm for any and all superheroes to join! Academy will feature meet and greets with legendary superheroes we know and love, like Spiderhero and Spiderheroine, along with activity stations for superheroes to train at! Meet & greets and all other activities are free with regular zoo admission! See below for more of what to expect:
- Meet & greet with Spiderhero and Spiderheroine at our Hero Headquarters
- Learn about animals and their superpowers with the animal superpower scavenger hunt
- Train at hero activity stations throughout the zoo such as: obstacle course, facemask coloring, superhero naming, and so much more to come!
- Stamp your ZOOperhero Training Academy passport at each station and submit for a prize
- Find the villain hiding on grounds
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Enjoy Polly’s Concessions this day only 11:00am to 4:00pm
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Children are encouraged to dress up as their favorite (or even their own) superhero!
- and so much more to come!
Stay tuned for continued updates about this event. *Please note that this is an event, and not a children’s academy or day camp. All children will be required to have a parent or guardian with them at all times.
ZOOperhero Training Academy is free with regular zoo admission and no prior registration is required to attend!
Saturday, November 7th and Sunday, November 8th from 10:00am to 3:00pm is Pumpkin SMASH
All weekend long, we invite you to visit your favorite animals at the zoo while they enjoy special enrichment given to them by their zookeepers! Most of our animals do not receive pumpkins in their daily diets, so they often get very excited when given this treat, and watching them interact with it is a treat ourselves for us! Check our social media pages the week prior to see what day and what times each animal will receive your enrichment so you can prepare.
These activities are free with regular zoo admission and no prior registration is required to attend!
Saturday, November 14th from 4:00pm to 7:00pm
This event has been rescheduled from June 20th to November 14th. Join us for a magical evening of music, memories, and making a difference at the Utica Zoo’s Cubs Cotillion! This special parent‑and‑child dance invites families to dress up, dance together, and support an incredible cause.
Young guests will enjoy an elegant but fun atmosphere filled with music by Amos Donnell Productions, a light buffet with desserts, ambassador animal presentations, and even some royal guests!
Prior to the evening, children are invited to participate in a friendly fundraising effort to support our accredited zoo and our mission of wildlife conservation. Once registered, you will receive a downloadable fundraising sheet and digital donation page customized to your child, as well as social media graphics to share to help your child raise money for wildlife conservation! The downloadable fundraising form is below.
The boy and girl who fundraise the most for wildlife conservation by 4:00pm by November 14th will be crowned ‘King of the Jungle’ and ‘Queen Bee’ of Utica Zoo for 2026! Winners will also receive a free family membership. Runner-ups will win day passes to visit the zoo again!
Whether you’re twirling on the dance floor, cheering for your little cub, or simply soaking in the joy of a night out together, this event is designed to create lasting family memories while giving back to your local AZA-accredited zoo.
*This special parent-and-child dance is rain or shine, as it will be inside our decked-out Visitor Center. Individuals are encouraged to fundraise, but by no means have to in order to attend this magical event. This dance is recommended for children ages 3-12 years and their guardians, but all are welcome!
Tickets to this magical night are $35 per child and $10 per adult. See button below for more information and to purchase your tickets!
Upcoming Dates & Topics:
- Friday, September 18th – Fabulous Fall!
- Friday, October 9th – BOO at the Zoo!
- Friday, November 13th – Happy Hibernators
- Friday, December 11th – The Animal’s Santa
- Thursday, December 31st – Noon Years Cheer!
Homeschool Programs are in Session!
The Utica Zoo Home School Program is a STEM-based program that utilizes age-appropriate activities, on ground tours, and presentations to teach attending children about a range of ecology-related topics. For students 6-12 years of age. See more at the button below.
Upcoming Dates:
- Thursday, September 24th – Seed Strategies
- Thursday, October 22nd – Mighty Migrations
- Thursday, November 19th – Teeth, Claws, and Food Webs
- Thursday, December 17th – Winter Preppers
Stroller Safaris ARE BACK!
A Stroller Safari at Utica Zoo consists of a 30 minute mini zoo tour, a short book reading, an ambassador turtle/tortoise experience, a craft for children, and even a coffee cart for adults! Our stroller safaris will have different themes or topics each month that the book, mini tour, and craft are based around.
Safaris are in collaboration with the Mom Walk Collective of Utica, NY.
These safaris are 75 minutes in length before the zoo opens to the public from 9:00am to 10:15am monthly (Friday or Saturday each month). Topics and activities are aimed at children aged 0-5. See Safari dates and corresponding topics below:
- Aug 22nd: Cockadoodle Zoo
- Sept 25th: Back to ‘Schools’
- Oct 24th: Water Water Everywhere
- Nov 20th: Old McDonald Had a Zoo
To maximize experience quality, safaris will be capped at 40 child participants per safari with no cap for adults or parents who tag along. Tickets are regular zoo admission plus $5 for the safari. Babies under 2 years of age receive free admission per usual and no additional fee for the safari. Each adult and child above the age of 2 will be required to pay regular zoo admission plus the $5 for the private experience. Utica Zoo members receive free admission but are required to pay the additional $5 for the safari. Pre-booking for these experiences is highly recommended and can be completed online at the button below.
Monthly Saturdays from 9:00am to 10:00am are Wellness Mornings with Wildlife
We know how busy life can get, which is why we want to prioritize your well-being. Have you ever wanted to rest, relax, and recharge on zoo grounds? Well, our Wellness Mornings with Wildlife are the perfect opportunity for you! These monthly Saturday classes from 9:00am to 10:00am allow you to start your weekend with a positive mindset.
We’ll be hosting a Wellness Morning with Wildlife each month designed to help you connect with wildlife and your inner self. These hour-long classes promote mental and physical well-being through pilates, yoga, nature walks, drawing, birding, and more. Locations for each class will vary monthly and always be near an animal exhibit to enjoy. Join our Wellness Mornings at Utica Zoo with a family member or friend you’ve been needing to spend quality time with, or devote this hour to yourself.
See below for our list of upcoming classes and stay tuned for more announcements!
- Saturday, August 15th: YOGA WITH THE GIBBONS instructed by In Bloom Yoga
- Saturday, September 19th: PILATES WITH THE LIONS instructed by Sophia Hartnett from BurnToneSculpt. (this is a Stretch & Strength Beginner Friendly Class)
- Saturday, October 10th: YOGA WITH THE OTTERS instructed by The Good Latch Cat (this will be prenatal/postpartum/pelvic floor focused)
- Saturday, November 14th: YOGA IN THE CORAL REEF instructed by Mindful Moments
- Saturday, December 12th: Breathing & Meditation in the Coral Reef instructed by TrainQuality
