Daily Zoo News

Sunday, November 28th, 2021

Today’s Hours — 10am – 9pm

The Zoo will be closed all day on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

No timed entry! General Admission tickets are date specific. Purchasing online, in advance of your visit is highly recommended. You get the best price and skip the line! All sales final, tickets are non-refundable. Members may visit any day/time. Early entry for Members has ended.

Animal News

Today’s Updates

Brown Mountain Tortoises will be off habitat for the rest of the season.
Pelicans will be off habitat for the rest of the season.
The Butterfly Aviary is Closed.
Andean Bear, Cheetahs, African Lions, and Painted Dogs will have access to their indoor habitat.
Hippos will not be out until temperatures warm up.
Warty Pigs and Black Rhinos will have access.
Okapi will not be out.
Bird House and Elephant House will be closed.
The Discovery Forest building is now open daily!
The Zoo will be closed all day on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

While our goal is to provide opportunities for our visitors to see all the animals in our care, there are times when an animal may be off view or given access to their indoor space in order for our team to provide the best care possible.

Animal Encounters and Experiences Schedule

Getting Around the Zoo

Food location hours & animal appearances vary by season. Ask us when you arrive for details on how to make the most of your visit!

Zoo Map

Directions

The Cincinnati Zoo is located at 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45220.

The main Zoo lot is open! Please pay attention to signage in the event this parking lot fills, we will begin directing to the overflow lot on Louis Avenue.

Visitors may enter the Zoo using the Pavilion Entry Building from the Main Parking Lot, equipped with stairs & elevators to get to bridge level.

NEW!! When you’re at the Zoo, find your destination with our interactive mobile app! Learn more here.

Zoo Rides & Attractions

Train & Carousel

Train: weekdays and weekends 2:30pm-9pm*

Conservation Carousel: weekdays and weekends 4:00pm-9pm*

*weather permitting

More Info

Official North Polar Express Train Sponsor:

Rides are an included benefit of Platinum and Gold Members. Standard members and non-members may purchase tickets at each respective attraction.

Train- $4
Carousel- $3
Unlimited Rides Package – $8
Zoo Adventure Upgrade (Unlimited Rides and a Zoo Key)- $10

*Hours may vary due to inclement weather, maintenance, and low attendance.

Add A Wild Encounter To Your Zoo Visit

Add a wild encounter to your Zoo visit today! Get up close and personal with some of your favorite animals! We’re bringing you close enough to care with these special animal experiences.

Porcupine Time

Compare and contrast two species of porcupine while getting an up-close look at our prickly ambassadors Rico, the prehensile-tailed porcupine, and Quilliam, the African cape porcupine. Learn about their unique habitats, how they use their bodies for defense, and the challenges they face in their ecosystems.

Purchase Experience

Expand for More Info

Time of program: 2:00pm- 2:30pm (Meet at Welcome Center at 1:50pm)

Dates: 10/10, 10/17, 10/24 & 10/31

Program ticket price: $75.00

Age limitation: 5 and up; 15 and under should be accompanied by a guardian

Tickets are available until: 11am the day of the program

Potential allergens in the area: nuts

•This ticket is only good for this program, and a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo. Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers. As always admission for children under 2 are free.
•This experience is non-refundable, and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.
•Please plan to arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled experience time.
•This experience will be held rain or shine.
•Nuts may be used during the program

Parrots and Friends

Meet the stars of the Wings of Wonder! Get up close and personal with our flyers, squawkers and talkers. You’ll also get a chance to meet the newest member of the flock, Ori, the milky eagle owl.

Purchase Experience

$30 per person

Tickets are per person. Ages 5+ only (Must be at least 13 years of age to attend experience alone).

Expand for More Info

This ticket is only good for this program and, a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo.
Please arrive at the experience 10 minutes before the encounter time.
For this experience, please plan to meet attendant in Welcome Center.
This experience is non-refundable and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.
Only ticket holders will be permitted to attend this experience.
All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience.
Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers.

Clown of the Mountains

Fly on down to our free-flight aviary for an up-close experience with our Kea, the world’s only alpine parrot!

During this experience, our keepers will take groups into the aviary for a private interaction with our Kea. Guests will learn all about the natural history of these beautiful ambassadors as well as the conservation efforts the Zoo is involved with to support these birds.

Purchase Experience

$30 per person

Tickets are per person. Ages 5+ only (Must be at least 13 years of age to attend experience alone).

Expand for More Info

This ticket is only good for this program and, a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo.
Please arrive at the experience 10 minutes before the encounter time.
For this experience, please plan to meet the attendant in Welcome Center.
This experience is non-refundable and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.
Only ticket holders will be permitted to attend this experience.
All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience.
Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers.

Behind the Bugs

Great things come in small packages. Come behind the scenes with a World of the Insect keeper and learn what it takes to care for the most diverse department in the whole zoo. You will get up close and personal with some of our most impressive bugs and even have a chance to hold some of them! Keepers will explain the details of invertebrate husbandry and share their knowledge of insect biology in this informative and very interactive experience.

Purchase Experience

$50 per person

Tickets are per person. Ages 5+ only (Must be at least 15 years of age to attend experience alone).

Expand for More Info

This ticket is only good for this program, and a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo.
Please arrive at the experience 10 minutes before the encounter time.
For this experience, please plan to meet attendant in the Welcome Center located just inside the main entrance.
This experience is non-refundable and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.
Only ticket holders will be permitted to attend this experience.
All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience.
Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers.

“Van Goat” Painting Experience

Tickets are per person. Ages 5+ only (Must be at least 15 years of age to attend experience alone).

Come on down to Blakely’s Barnyard and meet our some of our friends on the farm. During this experience, you’ll hold the canvas as our goats paint you your very own masterpiece. This new and exciting experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the animal-loving child – or adult!

Purchase Experience

Expand for More Info

This ticket is only good for this program, and a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo.
For this experience, please plan to meet the attendant 10 minutes prior to your event time, in the Welcome Center located just inside the main entrance.
This experience is non-refundable and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.
Only ticket holders will be permitted to attend this experience.
All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience
Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers.
This experience is ADA accessible.

The Tremendous Tour-toise

During this experience, one of our animal care staff members will introduce you to our resident Galapagos tortoises, and fill you in on everything that goes into taking care of the largest species of tortoise in the world! Guests will get a hands-on experience while they learn all about the history of these amazing animals, as well as the conservation efforts that the Zoo supports to help preserve their precious native islands.

Purchase Experience

Expand for More Info

Days/Times Available – Everyday 1:00pm

Capacity – Up to 5 guests for each program; slots will be filled by units of 1.

Age Restrictions – 8 & up (Must be at least 15 years of age to attend experience alone)

Cost – $50 per person

More Info

Please note:

This ticket is only good for this program, and a separate admission ticket is required to enter the zoo.
Please arrive at the experience 10 minutes before the encounter time.
For this experience, please plan to meet attendant in the Welcome Center located just inside the main entrance.
This experience is non- refundable, and tickets will be forfeited if your party is not present at the start time.
Only ticket holders will be permitted to attend this experience.
All participants will be required to wear a mask for this experience
Attendees without tickets will not be admitted or be able to watch this experience. This includes children in arms or strollers.
We cannot accommodate strollers or wheelchairs on this experience.
Tortoise FAQ
Tortoise Waiver

Upgrade your day with more Behind the Scenes and Virtual Experiences!

Gift Shops & Food Locations Open Today

Gift Shops

Historic Vine Village Main Gift Shop*: 9am-9pm

Mai Tai’s Marketplace Gift Shop: 9am-5pm

*For a wider variety of retail items, please shop our online store.

Face Painting

Location	Open	Closed
Vine Street Village	Closed	Closed
Safari	Closed	Closed

Food

Check out of PNC Festival of Lights Food Menus!

New mobile food ordering allows touchless transactions with food pickup at Base Camp Cafe & Outpost Cafe at Mai Thai’s Market. From Food Trucks featuring chicken strips, tacos, and burgers to snack stations and Hops, overlooking Roo Valley, the Zoo has something for everyone!

See what is open today!

Location	Open	Closed
Historic Vine Street Village
Hops:	10am	9pm
S’mores and More	4pm	9pm
Africa & Train Station
Base Camp Cafe:	10am	9pm
Candy Cane Cottage:	4pm	9pm
Tuskers:	4pm	9pm
Twisted Tracks:	4pm	9pm
Train Dots:	Closed	Closed
Jungle Trails & African Veldt
LaRosa’s:	4pm	8pm
LaRosa’s Dots:	Closed	Closed
Canopy Canteen:	Closed	Closed
The Grove
Cup & Cone @ Mai Thai’s Market:	10am	9pm
Outpost Cafe @ Mai Thai’s Market:	4pm	8pm
The Coop:	4pm	9pm
Wild Burger:	4pm	9pm
Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen	4pm	9pm
Sweet Retreat:	4pm	9pm