News and Stories

The Zoo gets a little more colorful each April, and it’s not just because of the thousands of tulips and hyacinths blooming in our garden beds. As you make your way across the Swan Lake Bridge or pass by on the Safari Train, you’ll catch a glimpse of a pop-up art gallery made up of pieces that are as beautiful as they are functional. It’s our 14th annual Rain Barrel Art Project, and if you place a bid or buy a raffle ticket, you might get the chance to take one of these works of art home with you!

Why Rain Barrels?

Stormwater runoff is a major waterway pollutant. Rain that flows into storm drains and streams can pick up harmful chemicals from lawns and roadways, which end up in our watersheds, carrying those chemicals all the way to the ocean. You might not think of marine wildlife when you look at your nearby creek or the Ohio River, but tools like River Runner can help you watch the journey of a raindrop that falls anywhere in the United States!

Enter the rain barrel: when connected to downspouts, barrels can be used to capture rainwater from rooftops to prevent pollution, flooding, and soil erosion. You can then use collected rainwater to water your lawn or garden, or wash your car—an effective and responsible way to both lower your water usage bill and have a backup in times of drought! (Please note: rainwater should not be used for human/pet consumption.)

Who’s Participating in the Project?

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden partners with Save Local Waters, a regional stormwater collaborative between municipalities and conservation districts in Ohio, Indianna, and Kentucky, to host the Rain Barrel Art Project each spring.

Each of the 40 barrels were painted by individuals and groups who submitted a design the previous fall. After they were chosen, they attended a workshop to learn about the painting process and to pick up their barrel, and have been spending their free time and energy for the past several months transforming bland plastic barrels into stunning works of art. Each year we welcome a mix of new and returning artists, novices and professionals, individual and class projects—if you want to participate in the 2027 project, be sure to visit Save Local Water’s website when the next entry period opens in October 2026!

How Can I Get a Barrel?

If you want to take home one of the 40 painted barrels currently on display, you have two options:

1. Place a Bid in the Auction: 36 of our barrels will go to the highest bidder! The auction window opened on April 1st and runs until Friday, April 24th at 10am. To place a bid, visit the auction site!
2. Enter the Raffle: 4 of our barrels will be raffled off! The raffle option was introduced in 2025 as a way to make participating in the project a little more accessible. Like the auction, the ticket purchasing window opened on April 1st and runs until Friday, April 24th at 10am. To purchase a raffle ticket, visit the raffle webpage!

Note: We do not ship barrels, so anyone entering the raffle or placing a bid must be willing to come to the Zoo to pick up their barrel if they win!

Save Local Waters also hosts rain barrel workshops throughout the year for folks to purchase and learn more about rain barrels—you can find dates for upcoming workshops on their website.

So when you’re visiting the Zoo this April, whether it’s to check out our new Bear Ridge and Sea Otter Coast habitats, enjoy Tunes & Blooms, or simply soak in the spring sunshine, be sure to make your way over to the Swan Lake Bridge to check out this year’s barrels—and maybe this will be your year to take one home and save it for a rainy day!