Dakota Zoo Schedule of Events
DECEMBER 2025
December 6 Story Time with Santa 1:15-1:45 PM
Pictures with Santa 2:00-4:00 PM
December 7 Story Time with Santa 1:15-1:45 PM
Pictures with Santa 2:00-4:00 PM
December 13 Story Time with Santa 1:15-1:45 PM
Pictures with Santa 2:00-4:00 PM
December 14 Story Time with Santa 1:15-1:45 PM
Pictures with Santa 2:00-4:00 PM
December 20 Story Time with Santa 1:15-1:45 PM
Pictures with Santa 2:00-4:00 PM
December 21 Story Time with Santa 1:15-1:45 PM
Pictures with Santa 2:00-4:00 PM
December 25 Merry Christmas! (Zoo is Closed)
JANUARY 2026
January 1 Happy New Years! (Zoo is Closed)
January 15 Toddler Time 10-11:30am (registration required online)
FEBRUARY
February 7 Sneaky Snow Leopards Camp Little Tykes Ed-Ventures ages 3-4, participants with parent/adult guardian, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
February 7 Sneaky Snow Leopards Camp Animal Ed-Ventures ages 5-7, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
February 12 Toddler Time 10-11:30am (registration required online)
MARCH
March 6 Annual Members’ Meeting, Bismarck Municipal Country Club 6:30-9:00 PM
March 7 Fantastic Farm Animals Camp Little Tykes Ed-Ventures ages 3-4, participants with parent/adult guardian, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
March 7 Fantastic Farm Animals Camp Animal Ed-Ventures ages 5-7, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
March 12 Toddler Time 10-11:30am (registration required online)
March 28 Easter Egg Hunt 1:00-3:00 PM, ages 0-12, $5.00 Fee for both members and non-members
APRIL
April 5 Easter Sunday (Zoo Closed)
April 7 Zoo Crew Open House, ages 13-17, 6:00-7:00 PM
April 18 Family Zookeeper Camp Parent(s)/Guardian(s) and any children ages 5-18
April 25 Opening Day of 65th Season, Open Daily 10:00 AM-6:00 PM, weather permitting
MAY
May 2 Endangered Species Celebration Day, 1pm – 4pm
May 9 Playful Primates Camp Little Tykes Ed-Ventures ages 3-4, participants with parent/adult guardian, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
May 9 Playful Primates Camp Animal Ed-Ventures ages 5-7, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
May 10 Mother’s Day All moms receive discounted admission and free train ride
May 14 Ambassador Animal Close-Ups 10:30-11:30 AM & 3:30-4:30 PM
May 23 Breakfast at the Zoo 8:00-10:00am
May 26 BioFact Talks 10:30-11:30 AM & 3:30-4:30 PM
May 28 Ambassador Animal Close-Ups 10:30-11:30 AM & 3:30-4:30 PM
JUNE
June 2 Ambassador Animal Close-Ups 10:30-11:30 AM & 3:30-4:30 PM
June 3 Open Late (until 7:00 PM)
June 4 BioFact Talks 10:30-11:30 AM & 3:30-4:30 PM
June 6 Snow Cones for Conservation 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
June 8-12 Conservation Camp 1 1:00-4:30 PM, ages 8-12, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
June 10 Open Late (until 7:00 PM)
June 13 Children’s Day Fun & Games 10:00 AM-1:00 PM, prize drawing at 1:00 PM
June 17 Open Late (until 7:00 PM)
June 16 BioFact Talks 10:30-11:30 AM & 3:30-4:30 PM
June 18 Ambassador Animal Close-Ups 10:30-11:30 AM & 3:30-4:30 PM
June 19-20 Family Zoo Snooze 1 6:00-9:00 PM (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
June 20 Breakfast at the Zoo 8:00-10:00am
June 21 Father’s Day All dads receive discounted admission and free train ride
June 22-26 Conservation Camp 2 1:00-4:30 PM, ages 8-12, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
June 24 Open Late (until 7:00 PM)
JULY
July 1 Open Late (until 7:00 PM)
July 2 Ambassador Animal Close-Ups 10:30-11:30 AM & 3:30-4:30 PM
July 6-10 Conservation Camp 3 1:00-4:30 PM, ages 8-12, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
July 7 BioFact Talks 10:30-11:30 AM & 3:30-4:30 PM
July 8 Open Late (until 7:00 PM)
July 11 Snow Cones for Conservation 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
July 14 Annual Members’ Appreciation Picnic 4:00-7:00 PM. ZOO CLOSES AT 3:00 PM
July 15 BioFact Talks 10:30-11:30 AM
July 15 Open Late (until 7:00 PM)
July 16 Ambassador Animal Close-Ups 10:30-11:30 AM & 3:30-4:30 PM
July 17-18 Family Zoo Snooze 2 6:00-9:00 PM (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
July 18 Breakfast at the Zoo 8:00-10:00am
July 20-24 Conservation Camp 4 1:00-4:30 PM, ages 8-12, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
July 22 Open Late (until 7:00 PM)
July 28 Ambassador Animal Close-Ups 10:30-11:30 AM & 3:30-4:30 PM
July 29 Open Late (until 7:00 PM)
July 30 BioFact Talks 10:30-11:30 AM & 3:30-4:30 PM
AUGUST
August 3-7 Conservation Camp 5 1:00-4:30 PM, ages 8-12, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
August 5 Open Late (until 7:00 PM)
August 6 Brew at the Zoo 6:00-9:00 PM, ZOO CLOSES AT 4:00 PM
August 11 BioFact Talks 10:30-11:30 AM & 3:30-4:30 PM
August 12 Open Late (until 7:00 PM)
August 15 Breakfast at the Zoo 8:00-10:00am
August 15 Snow Cones for Conservation 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
August 18 BioFact Talks 10:30-11:30 AM & 3:30-4:30 PM
August 19 Open Late (until 7:00 PM)
August 20 Ambassador Animal Close-Ups 10:30-11:30 AM & 3:30-4:30 PM
SEPTEMBER
September 5 Proud Penguins Camp Little Tykes Ed-Ventures ages 3-4, participants with parent/adult guardian, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
September 5 Proud Penguins Camp Animal Ed-Ventures ages 5-7, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
September 12 Breakfast at the Zoo 8:00-10:00am
September 24 It’s for the Animals Wine Tasting 7:00-9:00 PM. Zoo closes at 5:00 PM
September 27 Last Day of Summer Hours
OCTOBER
October 2 Begin Winter Hours, Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 1:00-5:00 PM, weather permitting
October 10 Daring Dinosaurs Camp 1:00-2:30 PM, Animal Ed-Ventures ages 5-7, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
October 10 Daring Dinosaurs Camp 3:00-4:30 PM, Little Tykes Ed-Ventures ages 3-4, participants with parent/adult guardian, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
October 24 Zoo Boo! Trick or Treat Event 1:00-4:00 PM, $5.00 Fee for both members and non-members
NOVEMBER
November 7 Tremendous Tigers Camp 1:00-2:30 PM, Animal Ed-Ventures ages 5-7, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
November 7 Tremendous Tigers Camp 3:00-4:30 PM, Little Tykes Ed-Ventures ages 3-4, participants with parent/adult guardian, (registration required at least 7 days in advance)
November 21 Family Zookeeper Camp Parent(s)/Guardian(s) and any children ages 5-18
November 26 Happy Thanksgiving! (Zoo is Closed)
DECEMBER
December 5 Story Time with Santa 1:15-1:45 PM
Pictures with Santa 2:00-4:00 PM
December 6 Story Time with Santa 1:15-1:45 PM
Pictures with Santa 2:00-4:00 PM
December 12 Story Time with Santa 1:15-1:45 PM
Pictures with Santa 2:00-4:00 PM
December 13 Story Time with Santa 1:15-1:45 PM
Pictures with Santa 2:00-4:00 PM
December 19 Story Time with Santa 1:15-1:45 PM
Pictures with Santa 2:00-4:00 PM
December 20 Story Time with Santa 1:15-1:45 PM
Pictures with Santa 2:00-4:00 PM
December 25 Merry Christmas! (Zoo is Closed)
Schedule subject to change. Please Visit www.dakotazoo.org for additional information and schedule updates!
Visit www.dakotazoo.org for additional information and schedule updates!