Wine in the Wilderness
June 7, 2025 | 6-9 PM | Utica Zoo
Wine in the Wilderness is the Utica Zoo’s annual 21+ wine tasting event that takes place right here on zoo grounds annually in June.
The 25th Annual Utica Zoo Wine in the Wilderness is Saturday, June 7th, 2025 from 6pm-9pm at the Utica Zoo! Sample New York State wines from wineries and enjoy LIVE music, food trucks, and a wide variety of vendors. NEW THIS YEAR – Wine & Seltzer Samples from City Liquors!
Wine in the Wilderness is rain or shine and strictly 21+ with valid ID.
Sponsorship opportunities are available. E-mail a.heath@uticazoo.org to inquire.
Interested in being a winery or vendor at this event? Email events@uticazoo.org for more details!
*Please Note: the Utica Zoo will close at 1pm on the day of the event for setup. We will reopen at 6pm for the event!*
Tickets:
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Member Admission - Pre-Sale $30
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General Admission - Pre-Sale $35
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Member Admission - At the Door $35
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General Admission - At the Door $40
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Designated Driver $20
Designated driver tickets do not get a wine glass and will not be served alcohol at the event.
Where to Buy Pre-Sale Tickets
Physical ticket locations:
We will announce any changes that get made to this list prior to the tickets being put on sale!
Online Tickets:
Purchase your tickets today!
*To get your Zoo Member discount for digital tickets, enter the email address associated with your zoo membership in the “promotional code” area of ticket checkout! For new members, it may take a few days for the code to register! If that still doesn’t work, you may not have entered an email when you made your membership. Reach out to events@uticazoo.org to verify your membership and enter an email.*
Online ticket sales will close on June 7 at 5 pm.
Live Music by:
Last Left
Parking
Free first come first served parking at the Utica Zoo with free overflow parking at MVCC Payne Hall parking lot and the Parkway Rec Center. Shuttle buses will take you to and from the zoo at no cost from 5:30 to 10:00 pm. Attendees may be dropped off and picked up at the zoo. Uber, Lyft, and local taxi companies are highly suggested.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Wine in the Wilderness 2025 runs from 6pm to 9pm on June 7th!
Everyone – regardless of age – will need to pass through our ID check when entering the zoo. Please make sure you keep you ID on you at all times!
Wine in the Wilderness is a wine and spirits tasting event, and your ticket (unless you are a Designated Driver) will get you a wine glass and FREE tastings at ALL of the featured wineries, breweries, and alcohol vendors, including samples from City Liquors! You will also be able to purchase bottles and other merchandise from these vendors to consume on grounds or to take home.
This year there will be plenty of choices from food trucks while here at the event.
Smoking will be permitted at the event IN THE DESIGNATED SMOKING AREA. This area will be located between our Kookie’s Q and Rotary Pavilion. There will be signs clearly marking its location.
While we will have SOME space available to visitors to park at the zoo, we will have OVERFLOW parking at the Parkway Rec Center AND MVCC’s Payne Hall lot. These overflow areas WILL have shuttle buses running to and from them from 5pm until 10pm.
Tickets will be purchasable at their Pre-Sale rate up until 5pm on June 1st!
Tickets are available digitally through the links on this page OR through one of the many ticket selling locations around the area (see above).
While cash is NOT required to enjoy the event, some food trucks and vendors MAY require it. If you don’t bring cash with you, there will be and ATM located in our Visitor Center’s Gift Shop!
Due to needing a few hours to setup for the event, the zoo will close down at 1pm on June 1st. So if you are planning to visit the zoo during normal hours keep that in mind!
Wineries Attending Wine in the Wilderness 2025
Wine in the Wilderness is Sponsored By:
Photos from Previous Years:
