Search


FONZ and the National Zoo host a variety of fun and educational special events and celebrations. Some are free, some are fundraisers, and all are a guaranteed great time. a note about tickets

For information on membership or our events, please call 202.633.4470.

2009 Events

More information and tickets for each event will be available as each event gets closer.

August 20 – Brew at the Zoo
Join us for our fifth annual beer-tasting fundraiser. Tickets are on sale now.

August 22 – Celebrate Asian Elephants
Come see how it takes an entire zoo to care for elephants. Free and open to the public.

September 13 – Grandparents Day
Celebrate Grandparents Day at the Zoo with this free event! Free and open to the public.

September 20 – Fiesta Musical
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the Zoo's free Fiesta. Enjoy animal demonstrations, Hispanic and Latino music, costumed dancers, traditional crafts, and Latin American foods. Free and open to the public.

October 3-4 – Autumn Conservation Festival
Bring your family for a day of fun, tours, and activities at the Zoo's Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Virginia. Tickets will go on sale later this year.

October 23-25 – Boo at the Zoo
The Zoo offers the wildest trick-or-treat in town. Enjoy animal encounters, keepers talks, and festive decorations along with tasty candy and delicious snack foods. Tickets will go on sale later this year.

October 30 – Night of the Living Zoo
Join us for our new adult Halloween bash! Tickets will go on sale later this year.

December 4-January 2– ZooLights
At ZooLights, our biggest and brightest event of the year, the Zoo shines with thousands of environmentally friendly lights and animated exhibits. These larger-than-life displays featuring many of the Zoo’s most popular animals, plus fun activities and live entertainment, are sure to please people of all ages. Tickets will go on sale later this year.

frog leaping


link toSponsor an Event
Find out how your company can partner with FONZ to sponsor an event—and reach a huge audience of people who love the renowned National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C.

link toHost an Event
The Zoo can also be a great venue for YOUR special event! Corporations, associations, and others who make unrestricted gifts to the Zoo are invited to co-sponsor a special celebratory event and can choose to hold a dinner, reception, picnic, or other similar activity in accordance with our special event policy and guidelines.


Birthday Parties
FONZ family members have the opportunity to throw a wild birthday celebration at the Zoo. Parties are held on weekends throughout the year. more


Parking is limited at the Zoo. We encourage you to use public transportation. Getting to the Zoo

About tickets: As the popularity of the National Zoo's events have grown, the membership staff at FONZ has not. In an effort to provide better customer service to our members and guests, and to ensure reliable ticketing procedures, we have partnered with Ticketmaster for some of our event ticket sales. This is a service provided to us by Ticketmaster for free. A percentage of the fees added to your online orders is donated back to the Zoo. With Ticketmaster handling ticket sales, we are able to focus more on event planning and membership services.

You will be able to purchase tickets in several ways: on the Zoo's website, on Ticketmaster's website, at any Ticketmaster outlet, at the Zoo's Visitor Center (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), and by calling Ticketmaster at 202.397.SEAT. Tickets purchased at the Zoo's Visitor Center have no added fees.

We understand that this seems like a big change for FONZ members, but we hope that you will stick with us through this period of growth and change.

Page Controls