Membership 
Buy Tickets 
Tunes & Blooms
Celebrate the Zoo’s 150th anniversary by visiting during Tunes & Blooms!
See a collection of Cincinnati’s finest and most respected music veterans playing together in the Zoo’s beautiful gardens, for FREE! Why tip-toe through the tulips when you can rock the garden?
On Thursdays during Tunes & Blooms, admission is free after 5pm. Parking is $10. Music starts at 6pm.
The LaRosa’s truck will be available for pizza in addition to other specialty food stations in Vine Street Village and The Grove! Enjoy concessions at Hop’s, Tusker’s, Wild Burger, The Coop, and Mai Thai’s Market.
Guests can explore wildlife habitats until dusk, such as Africa, Giraffe Ridge, Cat Canyon, Wolf Woods, and Roo Valley. Discover indoor habitats until 8:00 pm, including the Reptile House, Night Hunters, World of Insects, and Manatee Springs.
2025 Lineup
Vine Street Village
Moonshine Drive is a high-energy bluegrass band hailing from Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio. Our music is rooted in traditional bluegrass with elements of country, folk, and classic rock that offers a unique and captivating sound.
The Grove
Tia Martini and Leon Elam create an original modern sound on two traditional instruments. Together the Pickin’ Pear take the banjo and ukulele down the road of folk, rock, and bluegrass. Sometimes the ukulele will launch you straight into outer space! A blend of top-notch songwriting and improvisational jamming makes each performance exciting and new.
Vine Street Village
Johnny Fink is a premier Blues/Rock artist in the Midwest, known for his exceptional musicianship and dynamic performances. Inducted into the Northern Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2023, he has won multiple Cincinnati Blues Society Challenges. Johnny and his band deliver a high-energy mix of blues, blues rock, and classic rock, keeping audiences on their feet at festivals and venues across the region.
The Grove
Linus Tate combines an energetic performance, great musicianship, vocal harmonies and a classic, memorable song selection to create a unique live entertainment experience perfect for outdoor events, music lovers, and audiences of all ages. The band blends elements of rock/pop and roots/americana music covering artists like The Beatles, The Eagles, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne, Matchbox Twenty and many more to make for a must-see live music event!
Vine Street Village
Cecil Jackson & Dry Ridge
Cecil Jackson & Dry Ridge is a dynamic bluegrass group known for their engaging performances and rich, traditional sound. Blending energetic instrumentation with heartfelt harmonies, they bring a fresh yet authentic take on the genre. Whether performing at festivals, local venues, or special events, their music resonates with audiences of all ages, creating an unforgettable experience filled with storytelling, rhythm, and soul.
The Grove
Inspired by the haunting melodies of Old-Time Appalachian music and the beauty of the mountains where it was born, The Laurelys are a folk duo from Newport, Kentucky. Despite coming from very different musical backgrounds, the two distinct voices of The Laurelys intertwine effortlessly. Inspired by classic country, modern folk, and Appalachian music, this duo feels familiar but has a completely unique sound that is all their own.
Celebrate the Zoo’s 150th anniversary and Earth Day at a one-of-a-kind Tunes & Blooms on Thursday, April 24th! The Earth Day Celebration will feature interactive stations hosted by our Horticulture, Sustainability, Conservation Impact, and Education teams, where you can learn how the Zoo helps the planet through hands-on activities and demonstrations.
Vine Street Village
My Brother’s Keeper is a contemporary bluegrass band from Cincinnati, OH signed to Robust Records. They feature an energetic show, original music, brother duets, tight family dynamics and harmonies. My Brother’s Keeper won the 2023 Josie Music Award for Bluegrass Band of the Year, and the 2023 Appalachian Arts and Entertainment Award for Gospel and Spiritual Band and Best String Musician (Titus Luckhaupt). My Brother’s Keeper has shared the stage with such acts as the Earls of Leicester, Mountain Heart, The Grascals, The Isaacs, Dr. Ralph Stanley, John Cowan and more.
The Grove
ZOO started with Cory Pavlinac writing and recording to a Boss 16 track digital recorder, reel-to-reel machine, guitars and a drum machine. ZOO’s first album, released on cassette, soon followed as well as a 6 track EP recorded at Sabbath Studios in Cincinnati.
Tunes & Blooms Playlist
Cincinnati Zoo Tales Podcast
Listen to Steve Foltz, our Horticulture Curator, on the Cincinnati Zoo Tales podcast!
Our goal is for all Tunes & Blooms concerts to be Zero Waste events. Please help us achieve this goal by not bringing any single-use plastic items to the Zoo. Thank you!
- As a reminder, NO outside alcohol is permitted to be brought inside the Zoo. Beer will be available for purchase.
- Bags will be inspected at the turnstiles before entering the Zoo.
- Guests can bring in their own chairs or blankets
- LaRosa’s truck will be available for pizza!
This is a Zero Waste Event. Net Zero Waste Partner Sponsored By:
