The Louisville Zoo is the popular outdoor entertainment venue for Louisville families in the spring and summer, but head to the zoo for many holiday and wintertime events during November-February in particular. Many visitors flock to the zoo in the warmer months, but the zoo is open daily year round. The fall and winter hours for the zoo are 10am-4pm through March 13. Visitors can stay within the grounds of the zoo until 5pm.
A visit to the zoo during the winter can bring lots of holiday festivities to your calendar, as well as a visit with your favorite animals and great gifts to find in the gift store. One other way to use the zoo in the winter is to include camps, classes, memberships, gift cards to the gift shop, adopting animals or giving a monetary gift toward helping the zoo’s mission in your personal gift giving list. Personally, I love thinking outside the box for gifts, and giving a membership to the zoo or a set of education classes for your grandchildren or other little ones in your life is priceless. Many parents truly appreciate gifts such as these.
On December 6 and 7 and again on December 13 and 14, the Louisville Zoo hosts the popular holiday event, Santa’s Safari. The session times are 10am, noon, and 2pm. Activities include holiday treats, a holiday craft, meet and greets with holiday characters, a visit and photo with Santa and an appearance by Mrs. Claus, and a festive sing-a-long. Participants will also go on a special tour of the zoo with their special passports and take a safari through the heated buildings of the zoo. Tickets can only be purchased online. Prices range from $8.50 to $20.95 depending on age and membership. Also from November 1-February 28, the zoo offers 50% off general admission when you donate a canned good for Dare to Care through the Kroger Wild Winter Days program.
Some other fun news from the Louisville Zoo: births include a black-footed ferret, the male pygmy hippo named Jahari, six snakes who are the offspring of the 11-year-old python Thelma, and three new gorillas have joined the zoo as well.
Find the Louisville Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – it’s fun to follow them! The Louisville Zoo is located at 1100 Trevilian Way.
Photos courtesy of Louisville Zoo, Facebook
