Birthday Parties - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden®

flamingos kids

Face Painting

kids tortoise

The Zoo will close to the public starting March 15. Birthday parties are currently postponed through the end of May.

While there have been no known cases of exposure to COVID-19 at the Zoo, the health and safety of our staff, volunteers, guests, community and animals is our top priority. More info

Birthdays here at the Cincinnati Zoo are truly special and unique!

We provide an experience and atmosphere you can only get at the zoo! Our birthday parties are decorated in a Safari theme and include pizza and drinks. The only thing you really need to bring is your cake, gifts and most importantly the birthday child!

One of the best parts about celebrating your child’s birthday at the zoo is that we bring animals to your event! Our informed animal care team are happy to answer your guests’ questions and share their knowledge about your animal visitor. Want to add to or upgrade your animals? We can do that too!

As we only do birthdays on Sundays, there are a limited number of spots so be sure to book as soon as possible to get your date! Our birthday parties are best suited for ages three to ten.

Book Your Party

Non-Member | Members

We offer 2 birthday party options!

Birthday Safari

Available Year-Round
Non-member $550 | Member $460
Max 25 guests
2-hour Fig Orchid Room Rental
25 tickets
2 Category A Wild Encounters
1 Plush Certificate
3 Pizzas (choice of cheese or pepperoni)
Beverages for 25: Water & Choice of Lemonade or Fruit Punch
Safari Themed Decorations
Safari Selfie Station
Critter Cards & supplies
Party Coordinator

Venue: The Fig Orchid Room downstairs in Discovery Forest.

Times: 11:00am-1:00pm or 2:30pm-4:30pm

Ultimate Birthday Safari

Available January to October
Non-member $915 Member $795
Max 60
3-hour Safari Lodge Rental
40 tickets
1 Category A and 1 Category B Wild Encounter
1 Plush Certificate
5 Pizzas (choice of cheese or pepperoni)
Beverages for 40: Water & Choice of Lemonade or Fruit Punch
Safari Themed Decorations
Safari Selfie Station
Critter Cards & supplies
Party Coordinator
1 Face Painter for 1 hour
All Day Ride Pass for the Birthday Child*

Venue: Safari Lodge located up the hill past the Carousel.

Time: 11:00am-2:00pm

*Both the Train and Carousel close for winter maintenance.

Extras

Extras

Additional Tickets $10
Face Painter 1 hour $120 (20-25 child faces)
Additional 1/2 hour rental
- Birthday Safari $50
- Ultimate Birthday Safari $75
Parking Pass $6 each
All Day Ride Pass $6 each
Train Ticket $3 each
Carousel Ticket $2 each
A.D.O.P.T. an animal $30
Craft $5 each
Additional Birthday Child
- Birthday Safari $20
- Ultimate Birthday Safari $25

Extra Pizza & Beverages

Additional pizzas: $21.99
Extra Beverages $2 per person

Wild Encounters

Category A $75

Tortoise
Medium Snake
Armadillo
Blue Tongue Skink
Spiny-Tailed Lizard
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
Chicken

Category B $175 (Upgrade $100)

Savannah Monitor Lizard
Tawny Frogmouth
Large Snake
Tortoise Twister (Ages 5 and up)
Chicken Training Demo

Category C $300 (Upgrade $225)

Tamandua
Wallaby
Porcupine
Penguin

FAQ

General Birthday Information

Package price subject to sales tax and service charge where applicable
Tickets included in party packages can be used for children or adults. Any children 2 years old or younger receive free admission.
Guests who are Zoo members may use their membership for admission and do not need a ticket. Guests who are not Zoo members must have a general admission ticket. There are No Refunds on Zoo Tickets.
Animal Encounters are included in our birthday packages. Additional animals and upgrades are available.

Birthday Party FAQ

How old does my child have to be to host their party at the zoo?

Our birthday parties are best suited for children between the ages of 3-10.

What type of food and drinks can I bring?

No outside food other than your birthday cake/cupcakes is permitted. *

Large LaRosa’s Pizzas are provided for each party and more can be added if you need them. You have a choice of any combination of cheese or pepperoni pizzas for your party.

*We are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions to the best of our ability. Please contact our birthday planner for options. If you are having the Ultimate Birthday Safari and would like to upgrade your food and beverage options ask your planner!

Can I bring cake?

Of course! You can bring your own cake, cupcakes, or cake pops. You are responsible for bringing your own plates, napkins, cake cutter, and cutlery. We recommend cupcakes or cake pops to make it easier for you.

Where is the Fig Orchid Room Located?

The Fig Orchid Room is located downstairs in Discovery Forest.

What does the Fig Orchid Room look like?

The Fig Orchid Room is a curved rectangular room with plant graphics. We set up several 6ft tables in a U shape with our animal print table covers and chairs along the perimeter of the U. There will be a gift/cake table, food/drink table, and small selfie station table props and Critter Cards.

The max occupancy for the Fig Orchid Room is 25.

Where is Safari Lodge Located?

Safari Lodge is located just past the Carousel.

What does Safari Lodge look like?

Safari Lodge is a rustic long room with private bathrooms. We set up rounds with animal print table covers. There will be a gift/cake table, food/drink table, and a small selfie station table with props.

Table and chair set up are based on the number of guests.

The max occupancy for Safari Lodge is 60 people.

What type of decorations can I bring?

We decorate in a Safari Theme for you! We have safari decorations and table covers. You are welcome to bring in favors or other decorations if you wish, but you really only need to bring your cake, gifts and the birthday kid! The only restrictions for decorations are no balloons, piñatas, thumbtacks or confetti/glitter/table sprinkles.

Can I leave party items or personal belongings in the room after the party is over?

Unfortunately, no. Any items you bring into the zoo for the party must be taken out of the zoo after the party ends. No items can be stored in the party rooms. Your day-of Event Coordinator will assist you in transporting these items to and from the room.

How does admission for birthday parties work?

Everyone (both children and adults) must have a ticket or a Zoo membership to enter. You cannot purchase discounted tickets on the day of your party. Tickets are included in both of our party packages. You will receive these admission tickets via an attachment sent directly to your email after booking. These tickets can be used for both adults and children. If you or your guests have zoo memberships, these can be used for entry as well. Children 2 or younger do not need a ticket.

25 tickets for the Safari Birthday Party

40 tickets for the Ultimate Safari Birthday Party

If you need extra adult and child tickets, or discounted parking passes, you can add these on during your initial package purchase or add them on after by contacting your event planner.

Can I make changes to my party package?

Unfortunately, no. All party packages are set and nothing can be removed or traded from the package. You may only upgrade or add additional items onto the package. Once items are purchased, you cannot receive a refund for any item.

Can parents drop children off for a party?

No. We encourage parents to stay with their kids and enjoy the party!

What are Critter Cards?

Your child and their guests will have the opportunity to color and write Critter Cards to their favorite animals in the zoo or the animal’s care team. The care teams love getting these cards and reading them to animals.

What comes with adopting an animal?

A.D.O.P.T. stands for Animals Depend On People Too. A.D.O.P.T. an Animal and share the care! By becoming a Cincinnati Zoo A.D.O.P.T. parent, you provide food, toys, and fun enrichment items for our Zoo’s animal family. Your child will receive an A.D.O.P.T. Certificate with Color Photo and an Education Fact Sheet about the selected Animal.

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