News and Stories

See the Zoo in Bloom NOW Due to Warmer Weather

CINCINNATI (March 20, 2012) – With the first day of spring feeling more like the first day of summer,  the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is expecting over 100,000 spring guests, early!  Zoo Blooms, dubbed “Tulip Mania”, is NOW sprouting and showcases more than 100,000 tulips and solidifies the Zoo’s standing as one of the largest tulip displays in the Midwest. Due to the mild winter and early warm spring weather, the next two weeks will be the prime time to witness the Zoo at its finest – in full bloom!

“Now three weeks ahead of schedule, Zoo visitors can see tulips and other spring blooms earlier than ever at the Zoo over the next few weeks,” said Steve Foltz, Director of Horticulture at the Cincinnati Zoo.  “Typically mid April is the perfect time to see everything in full bloom.  This year, folks can expect to see the color explosion before Easter weekend even arrives.”

The Cincinnati Zoo will also feature FREE concerts to rock the garden every Thursday evening during Zoo Blooms from 6 – 8:30 p.m. Admission is free after 5 p.m. (Parking not included).  The Tunes & Blooms concert series is a compilation of Cincinnati’s finest and most-respected music veterans playing together in the Zoo’s beautiful gardens.  This year’s concert series kicks off on April 5 with performances by The Newbees and The Seedy Seeds, followed by the Comet Bluegrass All Stars and Magnolia Mountain (April 12), The Tillers and Shiny and the Spoon (April 19) and Jake Speed and the Freddies and The Turkeys (April 26).

On Saturday, April 7 from 10 am – 2 pm, hop on over to the Zoo for the Easter Celebration. This egg-citing event will feature treat stations, children’s activities, popular animal egg hunts and visits by the Easter Bunny.  Back by popular demand, “The Hunt for Golden Eggs”, four Special golden eggs will be hidden around the Zoo for you to discover! Find one and you could win amazing prizes provide by the Cincinnati Zoo.

Also due to the early arrival of spring, the Zoo has moved the annual Southwest Ohio Daffodil Society Daffodil Show, “Daffodils in the Treetops” up to next weekend, March 31 and April 1.  This spring show will showcase hundreds of daffodils in various shades and colors, varieties, shapes and sizes. On April 18, you can dine in the gardens at the Zoo’s “Tip-Toe through the Tulips Luncheon”. This event features guided tours through the garden, lunch, dessert, and a presentation by a member of the Zoo’s horticulture department. Proceeds will benefit the Zoo’s botanical collection and educational efforts. Tickets for the Tulip Luncheon are $75 a person. Those who would like to attend or would like more information contact Allison Gibbs at (513) 487-3327 or at [email protected].

Zoo Blooms is FREE with general Zoo admission.