Santa Barbara Zoo

Select a month or scroll down to view all the exciting events this year at the Santa Barbara Zoo.

	Animal Event
	Social Event
	Lecture Series
	Education


Breakfast With the Butterflies
Saturday, June 6
8:30 - 10:15 a.m.; early opening at 8:00 for Club Wild! members
Grab Mom & Dad, Grandma & Grandpa and join all the creepy crawlies and CLUB WILD! for a fun-filled morning at the Santa Barbara Zoo! We'll have ant farm activities, animal encounters, a Theater Gone Wild performance, a coloring contest (print coloring contest entry form), and more!
Cost: Adult/child pair, $20. Individual adults, $15. Additional children, $10. For reservations, please call (805) 962-5339, ext. 112 for more information.
Keeper for a Day
Thursday, June 11
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
The Keeper for a Day program offers a unique once in a lifetime opportunity to work alongside a zookeeper, creating and providing enrichment toys for the animals at the Zoo! During this exclusive behind-the-scenes experience, you will begin with a delicious gourmet lunch with our Animal Care staff, and learn about conservation and the Zoo’s future plans. Next, you’ll spend two hours with your favorite animals, prepare enrichment and toys for them, and watch the animals enjoy your work! At the end of the day, you will receive a special certificate acknowledging your participation and an exclusive Keeper for a Day souvenir.
You can choose from the following animal groups: Mammal 1 (Bolivian grey titi monkey, lemur, white-handed gibbon, red panda, Asian small-clawed otter); Mammal 2 (Giant anteater, crested porcupine, opossum, sheep, golden lion tamarin, rabbit); Mammal 3 (Gorilla, giraffe, meerkat, Channel Island fox), Cats (African lion, Amur leopard, snow leopard, black-footed cat); Birds (Humboldt penguins, Toco toucan, ground hornbill, macaw, East African crowned crane); Herps (Alligator, tortoise, Bengal monitor, snakes, frogs, various invertebrates). Encounters with animals in each grouping are subject to change without prior notice. Must be 18 or older to participate.
Cost: Zoo Members, $250/person. Non-members, $350/person. Please contact Katie Conlan for more information: (805) 962-5339, ext. 111.
Sayaka Group Incan Dancing
Saturday, June 20
11:30 a.m.
Don't miss traditional Incan dances from Sayaka Group at the Zoo. Performance will be on Rolling Hill stage near the Kallman Play Area.
Cost: free with Zoo admission.
Summer Zoo Camp
Monday - Friday, June 22 - August 21
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. regular day; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. extended day
Voted "best summer camp" by both Independent and Santa Barbara News-Press readers' polls, this camp is fun and educational. Age-appropriate themed programs include games, teacher-led workshops, behind-the-scenes visits, up-close animal introductions, hands-on science, and crafts.
Visit our Zoo Camp page for more information. For ages 3-13. Online registration is available now. go to top

Zoovies!
Wednesdays, July 8, 15, 22, & 29
Gate opens at 7:00 p.m., movies start at 8:15 p.m.
Our popular outdoor movie program is back this year! Bring the family, spread your blanket out under the stars, and enjoy the film. Refreshments are available for purchase.
Cost: $6/adult, $4/children & seniors, with a special SB Zoo MEMBERS-ONLY price of $4/adult or $15/family (2 adults + dependent children under 13).
This year we're excited to add special features from Scholastic, which will show immediately prior to the main film. Movie schedule: July 8, Horton Hears a Who (previewed by: Click Clack Moo); July 15, Space Chimps (previewed by: Officer Buckle and Gloria); July 22, Princess Bride (previewed by: Where the Wild Things Are); July 29, Endless Summer.
Keeper for a Day
Thursday, July 9
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
The Keeper for a Day program offers a unique once in a lifetime opportunity to work alongside a zookeeper, creating and providing enrichment toys for the animals at the Zoo! During this exclusive behind-the-scenes experience, you will begin with a delicious gourmet lunch with our Animal Care staff, and learn about conservation and the Zoo’s future plans. Next, you’ll spend two hours with your favorite animals, prepare enrichment and toys for them, and watch the animals enjoy your work! At the end of the day, you will receive a special certificate acknowledging your participation and an exclusive Keeper for a Day souvenir.
You can choose from the following animal groups: Mammal 1 (Bolivian grey titi monkey, lemur, white-handed gibbon, red panda, Asian small-clawed otter); Mammal 2 (Giant anteater, crested porcupine, opossum, sheep, golden lion tamarin, rabbit); Mammal 3 (Gorilla, giraffe, meerkat, Channel Island fox), Cats (African lion, Amur leopard, snow leopard, black-footed cat); Birds (Humboldt penguins, Toco toucan, ground hornbill, macaw, East African crowned crane); Herps (Alligator, tortoise, Bengal monitor, snakes, frogs, various invertebrates). Encounters with animals in each grouping are subject to change without prior notice. Must be 18 or older to participate.
Cost: Zoo Members, $250/person. Non-members, $350/person. Please contact Katie Conlan for more information: (805) 962-5339, ext. 111. go to top

Dignatarios
Thursday, August 6
5:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Presented jointly by Old Spanish Days and the Zoo, this event honors Santa Barbara's elected officials. The event features live entertainment, dancing, mariachis, margaritas, and tempting treats from over 20 local restaurants and 10 local wineries. It's Fiesta's wildest party! Food is served from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Cost: $85 in advance; $100 at the door. To buy tickets, go to Brown Paper Tickets, Santa Barbara Albertsons stores, or the Zoo. This event for guests 21 & older only.
Early Closing: the Zoo will close at 3:30 p.m. on August 6. General admission ticket sales will end at 2:30 p.m., and Zoo Member admission ends at 3:00 p.m.
Zoofari Ball XXIV: Wild, Wild, West
Saturday, August 29
5:00 – 10:00 p.m.
This fundraiser for the animals features an elegant dinner, cocktails, silent and live auctions - this year with a Western flair! For updated information on this event, including auction items and sponsorship opportunities, please check our Zoofari Ball event page.
Cost: tickets purchased at the exclusive Preview Party are $250/person; tickets purchased before August 1 are $275/person; tickets purchased after August 1 are $300/person. For tickets, call Pieter van Meeuwen at (805) 962-5339, ext. 110. Buy early, as tickets will sell out for this event.
Early Closing: the Zoo will close at 3:30 p.m. on August 29. General admission ticket sales will end at 2:30 p.m., and Zoo Member admission ends at 3:00 p.m. go to top

Zoo-B-Que
Friday, September 11
4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
This popular after-hours picnic at the Zoo is open to the public. Activities for the kids, a BBQ dinner, live music, and Zookeeper talks are all part of the fun.
Cost: tickets are $16/adult, $12/child and SB Zoo Members get $2 off. To purchase, call (805) 962-5339, ext. 127.
Early Closing: the Zoo will close at 3:30 p.m. on September 11. General admission ticket sales will end at 2:30 p.m., and Zoo Member admission ends at 3:00 p.m.
Keeper for a Day
Thursday, September 17
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
The Keeper for a Day program offers a unique once in a lifetime opportunity to work alongside a zookeeper, creating and providing enrichment toys for the animals at the Zoo! During this exclusive behind-the-scenes experience, you will begin with a delicious gourmet lunch with our Animal Care staff, and learn about conservation and the Zoo’s future plans. Next, you’ll spend two hours with your favorite animals, prepare enrichment and toys for them, and watch the animals enjoy your work! At the end of the day, you will receive a special certificate acknowledging your participation and an exclusive Keeper for a Day souvenir.
You can choose from the following animal groups: Mammal 1 (Bolivian grey titi monkey, lemur, white-handed gibbon, red panda, Asian small-clawed otter); Mammal 2 (Giant anteater, crested porcupine, opossum, sheep, golden lion tamarin, rabbit); Mammal 3 (Gorilla, giraffe, meerkat, Channel Island fox), Cats (African lion, Amur leopard, snow leopard, black-footed cat); Birds (Humboldt penguins, Toco toucan, ground hornbill, macaw, East African crowned crane); Herps (Alligator, tortoise, Bengal monitor, snakes, frogs, various invertebrates). Encounters with animals in each grouping are subject to change without prior notice. Must be 18 or older to participate.
Cost: Zoo Members, $250/person. Non-members, $350/person. Please contact Katie Conlan for more information: (805) 962-5339, ext. 111.
Play the Animal Way
Saturday, September 26
10:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. early entrance for SB Zoo Members only)
As in the wild, Zoo animals encounter new and unusual situations on a daily basis which provides variety and mental stimulation in their lives. On Saturday, September 20, find out what our Zookeepers do to keep paws pouncing, trunks sniffing, tongues licking, and beaks pecking.
Cost: free with Zoo admission. go to top

Member Appreciation Month
Month of October
Join us as we celebrate the wildest family on California’s Central Coast! As a thank you to our Members, this month will feature various special perks just for Santa Barbara Zoo Members. Details will be in the Fall 2007 issue of Zoo News, our quarterly Member magazine. Check out our Member Month page for special offers valid October 1-31, 2009.
For Santa Barbara Zoo Members only.
Santa Barbara Smooth Jazz Festival
Saturday, October 3
time: tbd
Join us at the Zoo for a day of great music, fine wines, and delicious foods - all in one of the most majestic settings to be found anywhere – the Zoo’s Hilltop! Relax to the sounds of some of the world’s preeminent smooth jazz musicians, taste beer and wine from some of your favorite California producers, and enjoy the Zoo’s diverse animal collection and more than 30 acres of landscaped gardens.
Cost: tbd
Fox Festival
Sunday, October 4
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Learn all about the Channel Island Fox at this event that's equal parts education and fun! Craft-making booths, a discovery booth, and a play telling the story of the Channel Island Fox are just some of the fun things going on at this kid-organized event.
Cost: free with Zoo admission.
Member Morning
Saturday, October 10
8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
This special Member event provides a sneak peek at the Zoo before we open to the general public. Special animal feedings and keeper talks will be a highlight at this event. This year's theme is Zoo Poo: although it’s often thought of as gross, stinky, and unmentionable, “poo” actually has an important role in the lives of animals (and humans, too)! And, this October, you can learn all you ever wanted to know about the subject (and more!) at your very own Santa Barbara Zoo.
Cost: free, for Santa Barbara Zoo Members and Foster Feeders only.
Keeper for a Day
Thursday, October 15
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
The Keeper for a Day program offers a unique once in a lifetime opportunity to work alongside a zookeeper, creating and providing enrichment toys for the animals at the Zoo! During this exclusive behind-the-scenes experience, you will begin with a delicious gourmet lunch with our Animal Care staff, and learn about conservation and the Zoo’s future plans. Next, you’ll spend two hours with your favorite animals, prepare enrichment and toys for them, and watch the animals enjoy your work! At the end of the day, you will receive a special certificate acknowledging your participation and an exclusive Keeper for a Day souvenir.
You can choose from the following animal groups: Mammal 1 (Bolivian grey titi monkey, lemur, white-handed gibbon, red panda, Asian small-clawed otter); Mammal 2 (Giant anteater, crested porcupine, opossum, sheep, golden lion tamarin, rabbit); Mammal 3 (Gorilla, giraffe, meerkat, Channel Island fox), Cats (African lion, Amur leopard, snow leopard, black-footed cat); Birds (Humboldt penguins, Toco toucan, ground hornbill, macaw, East African crowned crane); Herps (Alligator, tortoise, Bengal monitor, snakes, frogs, various invertebrates). Encounters with animals in each grouping are subject to change without prior notice. Must be 18 or older to participate.
Cost: Zoo Members, $250/person. Non-members, $350/person. Please contact Katie Conlan for more information: (805) 962-5339, ext. 111.
Boo at the Zoo
Friday-Sunday, October 23 - 25
5:30 -8:30 p.m.
This year's theme is The Zoo Before Time! Have a spooktacularly good time as the Zoo transforms for three nights of safe, traffic-free trick-or-treating during this merry-not-too-scary event. Features monster-ous thrills and chills including a Trick & Treat Trail, Boo-Choo-Choo train rides, Creepy Crawly encounters, Spooky Storytelling, Goblin Games, nightly Costume Parades, Ghoulish Goodies and much more.
Cost: $11/adults, $9/children 2-12. SB Zoo Members get $1 off. Boo-Choo-Choo priced separately: $3/adults, $2.50/children 2-12. This event is for children 2-12 (accompanied by an adult). Buy tickets only at the Zoo's front gate. For the safety of our visitors, no adult guests (12+) will be permitted into the Zoo with masks or painted faces.
Early Closing: the Zoo will close at 3:30 p.m. on all three days of Boo at the Zoo. General admission ticket sales will end at 2:30 p.m., and Zoo Member admission ends at 3:00 p.m. go to top

Keeper for a Day
Thursday, November 12
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
The Keeper for a Day program offers a unique once in a lifetime opportunity to work alongside a zookeeper, creating and providing enrichment toys for the animals at the Zoo! During this exclusive behind-the-scenes experience, you will begin with a delicious gourmet lunch with our Animal Care staff, and learn about conservation and the Zoo’s future plans. Next, you’ll spend two hours with your favorite animals, prepare enrichment and toys for them, and watch the animals enjoy your work! At the end of the day, you will receive a special certificate acknowledging your participation and an exclusive Keeper for a Day souvenir.
You can choose from the following animal groups: Mammal 1 (Bolivian grey titi monkey, lemur, white-handed gibbon, red panda, Asian small-clawed otter); Mammal 2 (Giant anteater, crested porcupine, opossum, sheep, golden lion tamarin, rabbit); Mammal 3 (Gorilla, giraffe, meerkat, Channel Island fox), Cats (African lion, Amur leopard, snow leopard, black-footed cat); Birds (Humboldt penguins, Toco toucan, ground hornbill, macaw, East African crowned crane); Herps (Alligator, tortoise, Bengal monitor, snakes, frogs, various invertebrates). Encounters with animals in each grouping are subject to change without prior notice. Must be 18 or older to participate.
Cost: Zoo Members, $250/person. Non-members, $350/person. Please contact Katie Conlan for more information: (805) 962-5339, ext. 111.
Open Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 26
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Get the kids out of the house this Thanksgiving and come to the Zoo for a Smashin’ good time! Watch as the elephants, gorillas, and more of your favorite Zoo animals get pumpkins to play and interact with.
Cost: free with Zoo admission.

Snow Leopard Festival-Sledding at the Zoo!
Sunday, December 6
time: 10:00 a.m. until snow melts;(9:00 a.m. early entrance for SB Zoo Members only)
Sledding at the Zoo, snow for the animals too! Don't miss the Snow Leopard festival where kids and Zoo animals get the chance to romp and play in snow. Kids can sled down the Zoo's hilltop and many animals will be given icy treats and mounds of snow. Open at 9:00 a.m. for SB Zoo Members.
Cost: $2.00 additional cost for kids & parents to play, romp, or sled in the snow. Sledding for children 12 & under.
Keeper for a Day
Thursday, December 12
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
The Keeper for a Day program offers a unique once in a lifetime opportunity to work alongside a zookeeper, creating and providing enrichment toys for the animals at the Zoo! During this exclusive behind-the-scenes experience, you will begin with a delicious gourmet lunch with our Animal Care staff, and learn about conservation and the Zoo’s future plans. Next, you’ll spend two hours with your favorite animals, prepare enrichment and toys for them, and watch the animals enjoy your work! At the end of the day, you will receive a special certificate acknowledging your participation and an exclusive Keeper for a Day souvenir.
You can choose from the following animal groups: Mammal 1 (Bolivian grey titi monkey, lemur, white-handed gibbon, red panda); Mammal 2 (Giant anteater, sheep, golden lion tamarin, rabbit, crested porcupine, opossum); Mammal 3 (Gorilla, giraffe, meerkat, Channel Island fox), Cats (African lion, Amur leopard, snow leopard, black-footed cat); Birds (Humboldt penguins, Toco toucan, ground hornbill, macaw, East African crowned crane); Herps (Alligator, tortoise, Bengal monitor, snakes, frogs, various invertebrates). Encounters with animals in each grouping are subject to change without prior notice. Must be 18 or older to participate.
Cost: Zoo Members, $250/person. Non-members, $350/person. Please contact Katie Conlan for more information: (805) 962-5339, ext. 111. go to top
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