It’s summertime. It’s early June. It’s already getting hot and humid around Louisville. If you’re going to be out in the summer heat, you and your family should make it an educational outing! Head to the Louisville Zoo all summer long for some entertainment that is sure to thrill your whole family.
One way that my family likes to cool off from the summer scorch is to enjoy the splash parks and spray grounds all over Louisville. The Louisville Zoo is home to Papa John’s Splash Park and it is now open for a cool down. This splash area is a hit with my own kids and thousands more! It features many dump buckets, two water slides, and interactive spray stations. According to the zoo’s website, there are over 40 ways to get wet! The splash park is free with zoo admission or a zoo membership and is open daily now through Labor Day. It does close 30 minutes before the Zoo closing time each evening. There is also a special perk for Zoo members: you can enjoy member-only mornings weekdays in June and July from 10am-11am. This is a perk I have made use of for the past five years or so and is a nice way to avoid the crowds that flock to this very popular Zoo spot.
With summer at the Zoo also comes the recurring Summer Twilight Hours. These extended hours occur In June and July; the zoo remains open until 7pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. Families who are members and other zoo-goers can remain in the zoo gates until 8pm. From the zoo website: NOTE: There will be no extended hours Saturday, June 8 due to the Zoo’s annual fundraiser Zoofari! The Zoo will close at 2 p.m. (exit by 3 p.m.) this day.
There are also some great summer twilight deals during those Twilight Hours of which you’ll want to take advantage. These include $5 per person (for those who are not members) admission during Twilight Hours (after 5pm), an extra 10% discount for zoo members in the gift shops after 5pm, and the Zoo Safari Adventure Bracelet for certain rides and attractions. There’s also a new Twilight Meal Deal option for $5 per person which gets you your choice of a hot dog or hamburger, chips, and a soft drink. This option is available at the Walkabout Café. There are also other discounts going on for cool summer treats such as ice cream and ICEEs.
Additionally, there are some exciting events in June, presented by Ford Motor Company, including the following:
- June 14, Friday Night Movie Night featuring Hotel Transylvania
- June 15 and 16, Super Hero Weekend featuring Iron Man
- June 16, Ford’s Father’s Day featuring free admission for dads
- June 22, WAKY Rock-n-Roll Reunion Concert featuring band music from the 60s and 70s
To become a member of the Louisville Zoo, click here for online registration or call the Membership office at 502-459-CATS(2287). My family and I have been members since 2003 and have made significant use of the membership over the years. The Louisville Zoo trains will be running again in the near future and that is sure to be a huge reunion with many families and children!
Photo courtesy of Louisville Zoo, Facebook
