Join us for powerful fun at the NYPA Energy Zone & Utica Zoo on Saturday, September 9 from 10 am to 4 pm!

Admission to this event is FREE courtesy of the New York Power Authority. Come and visit for a day of animals, music, food, entertainment, vendors, and nature!

There will be FREE parking in the Zoo and Energy Zone parking lots with FREE overflow parking and shuttle buses available from the Parkway Rec Center and MVCC Payne Hall lot.

This event is rain or shine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Admission to the Utica Zoo for Wildlife Festival is FREE! This is one of the things that makes this event so special. 

Please note that ONLY admission is free. Separate purchases in our gift shop, at our concessionaire, or with one of the many featured vendors will – likely – have a charge! 

Wildlife Festival will be on Saturday September 9th from 10am to 4pm! The zoo will remain open until 4:30pm! 

The zoo offers FREE parking right here in our parking lot. In the event of high attendance, FREE overflow parking with shuttle buses will be available at the Memorial Parkway Recreation Center and at MVCC’s Payne Hall lot.

At Wildlife Festival, you can visit the zoo as normal to see our animals, but also enjoy LIVE music and other entertainment, shop with various vendors, have lunch with one of the event’s food trucks, and learn some great stuff from one of our featured informational booths! 

Wildlife Festival is a rain OR shine event, so dress accordingly and enjoy your day with us regardless of the weather!

Featured Entertainment:

Big Tasty & the Sass

Jim Okey Magic Comedy

Bippy's Big Shoe Clowns

Mark Tyoe, Chainsaw Sculptor

The Maple Experience

Food Options:

Vendors:

Car's Clay Art

B&B Burnables

And Stuff of That Nature

NerdZ ReZin

Love, Craft, Crochet

Stacy & Dan's Book Nook

A Lil Bling

Informational Booths:

Wolf Mountain Nature Center

NYPA

OHSWA

The Utica Zoo is closed for Thanksgiving (11/23)! Happy Thanksgiving from all of our staff and animals!

The Zoo will re-open on 11/24 at 10 am.