Community Events

Enjoy a tractor ride through thousands of Christmas lights, inflatables, and more!

Farm animal cuddles, hot cocoa, popcorn, cookies decorating and crafts will provide the perfect environment for a wonderful new family tradition!

Join the Animal Care Team and one of our talented animal artists, meeting either the Zoo’s “VanGoat” or “Baaahlo,” and take home a unique work of art in this unforgettable experience.

Learn about the positive reinforcement training process of becoming an animal artist. See firsthand the ways this enrichment activity fits into high standards of care for animals at the Zoo when you meet a goat or sheep and see their art creation in action. Please note that we cannot guarantee a specific animal for your program.

• Meet at the Petting Zoo area of Outback Station 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter start time. 
• Availability is limited for all Wild Encounters. Advance registration is recommended.
• When space is available, encounter tickets can be purchased online for up to five minutes before the encounter begins.
• Includes one (1) take-home canvas per registered group.

Days Available:
Saturdays at 3:15 p.m.

Member Cost: $67.50 | Includes one painting per group of four people.
Non-Member Cost: $75 per group of up to four people, + individual Zoo Admission | Includes one painting per group of four people.

Age Range: All ages

Zoo Atlanta is home to a diversity of species of reptiles and amphibians from around the globe. From some of the smallest frogs to the most endangered lizards, join the Herpetology Care Team and immerse yourself in the science behind caring for reptiles and amphibians behind-the-scenes at Scaly Slimy Spectacular!

From some of the smallest frogs to the most endangered lizards, join the Herpetology Care Team and immerse yourself in the science behind caring for reptiles and amphibians behind-the-scenes at Scaly Slimy Spectacular!

Learn firsthand the level of care that is required to care for these unique and important species. Participants can expect to meet members of the Animal Care Team, meet an animal, learn about our positive reinforcement training and enrichment programs, and walk away with knowledge of how to save species. All participation in Keeper for a Day programs is voluntary for the animals. If you love these scaly and slimy creatures, this program is just for you! 

Before registering, please understand that during this program: 

• Participants will perform similar tasks as members of the Herpetology Care Team, which may include raking, sweeping, hosing, scrubbing, and shoveling, and should expect to do some hard work and be comfortable getting dirty. 
• Participants will be expected to participate in all weather conditions, lift up to 30 pounds, and be on their feet for up to four hours. 
• Participants must have the physical ability to bend, lift, stoop, kneel, and stand for extended periods of time. 
• Participants may be exposed to potential allergens such as insects, hay, animal waste, and other potential allergens. Please reach out in advance if you have any questions or concerns. 

Upcoming 2026 Dates:

Saturday, August 15
Wednesday, August 26
Saturday, September 5
Wednesday, September 23
Saturday, October 3
Wednesday, October 21
Wednesday, November 4
Saturday, November 21
Wednesday, December 9
Saturday, December 19

Times: 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Age range: 16 and up

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS ONCE YOU GET LOST! 

Wind your way through this twisting, climbing, head-scratching interactive exhibit that’ll challenge the whole family from the very first step. 

Can your eyes actually lie to you? Find out in the Maze of Illusions where nothing is what it seems. Think you’re coordinated? Climb, duck, and try not to get completely tangled in the Web Maze. Feeling ambitious? Build your own maze from scratch, then dare others to solve it.  

From giant finger mazes to brain-busting puzzle tables, art you can touch, and a labyrinth library, there are surprises to be found round every single corner.

Enjoy a tractor ride through thousands of Christmas lights, inflatables, and more!

Farm animal cuddles, hot cocoa, popcorn, cookies decorating and crafts will provide the perfect environment for a wonderful new family tradition!

Join the team at the Zambezi Elephant Center and immerse yourself in what it takes to care for the largest land animals on the planet! Spend the morning working alongside the Elephant Care Team to prepare the habitat for the day and ensure the elephants’ needs are met.

Spend the morning working alongside the Elephant Care Team to prepare the habitat for the day and ensure the elephants’ needs are met.

This unique experience is sure to educate and inspire you about these special individuals, help you learn more about the rigorous requirements of professional elephant care, and gain an understanding of the ways Zoo Atlanta is working to protect wild populations. Participants can expect to meet members of the Animal Care Team, meet an animal, learn about our positive reinforcement training and enrichment programs, and walk away with knowledge of how to save species. All participation in Keeper for a Day programs is voluntary for the animals.

Before registering, please understand that during this program: 

• Participants will perform similar tasks as members of the Elephant Care Team, which may include raking, sweeping, hosing, scrubbing, and shoveling, and should expect to do some hard work and be comfortable getting dirty. 
• Participants will be expected to participate in all weather conditions, lift up to 30 pounds, and be on their feet for up to four hours. 
• Participants must have the physical ability to bend, lift, stoop, kneel, and stand for extended periods of time. 
• Participants may be exposed to potential allergens such as insects, hay, animal waste, and other potential allergens. Please reach out in advance if you have any questions or concerns. 

Upcoming 2026 Dates:

Saturday, August 22
Thursday, September 3
Sunday, September 20
Sunday, October 4
Thursday, October 15
Thursday, November 5
Sunday, November 15
Thursday, December 3
Sunday, December 20
 

Times: 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Member cost: $325
Non-member cost: $360

Age range: 16 and up

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS ONCE YOU GET LOST! 

Wind your way through this twisting, climbing, head-scratching interactive exhibit that’ll challenge the whole family from the very first step. 

Can your eyes actually lie to you? Find out in the Maze of Illusions where nothing is what it seems. Think you’re coordinated? Climb, duck, and try not to get completely tangled in the Web Maze. Feeling ambitious? Build your own maze from scratch, then dare others to solve it.  

From giant finger mazes to brain-busting puzzle tables, art you can touch, and a labyrinth library, there are surprises to be found round every single corner.

Winter Safari Camp at the Zoo
December 21-23, 2026
December 28, 2026 – January 1, 2027
January 4, 2027
February 15-19, 2027

Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Extended care available for $15/day from 8 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.

When school is out, Camp is in!  We are here to engage and excite your young learners ages 5-11 during Winter Breaks. 

Safari Camp is a great opportunity to engage young explorers in learning about the wild world around them and beginning their journey of conservation stewardship. Through Zoo explorations, up-close animal encounters, STEAM-based projects, hands-on science activities, environmental games and more, campers learn about attainable strategies and goals to combat environmental issues and are charged with finding simple ways that they can make a difference.

Each week campers embark on a different Zoo expedition, exploring wildlife and wild places. Young explorers will be immersed in hands-on, minds-on learning while having fun!  

December 21-23 (3 days)
Training Treats: Did you know that animal training at modern zoological facilities is about much more than treats? Training is a powerful tool that helps Animal Care Specialists and Veterinarians build trust with the animals in our care, check regularly for healthy bodies, and provide engaging experiences that exercise animals’ brains in ways that support their well-being! This week, campers will learn about how Zoo Atlanta Animal Care Specialists train the wildlife we steward using positive reinforcement, discover how these behaviors help animals receive the best care possible, and uncover the problem-solving behind successful training sessions. From first attempts to big breakthroughs, campers will see that every training journey is a learning experience. At the end of the week, campers will propose a training plan for a new-to-the-Zoo species of their choosing! 

December 28-January 1 (5 days)
Interdependent Interests: All around the world, wildlife works together to survive and thrive! Sometimes, these relationships are really healthy for everyone, and other times, these relationships take an interesting turn. Spend the week exploring ways in which wildlife (including the occasional plant or fungus) impacts and interacts with other living things. On Friday, Camp groups will share their favorite interdependent relationship with their peers by writing and performing a skit or song describing the species and how they interact! 

January 4 (1 day)
Marvelous Monotremes: Mammals are warm-blooded, covered in hair or fur, feed their babies milk, and give birth to live young… or do they? Nose into the magnificent world of monotremes, the mammals that break all (or some) of the rules! We will explore how monotremes follow and have unfollowed our mammalian rules, dig into why we still call them mammals, and design a brand new monotreme that breaks all the rules! Our designs will be shared in an end-of-day presentation to highlight our creativity and rule-breaking skills! 

February 15-19 (5 days)
Bizarre Behaviors: When survival is at stake, animals deploy a variety of methods to help them succeed in the wild. From communication, specialized diets, defenses and more, discover the variety of ways animals have adapted to flourish in their environments. Campers are sure to be amazed by these bizarre behaviors and inspired to take action to help species thrive in the wild.

Seven Ladies is a new exhibition focused on Katharine Judkins Clark, Elinor Adler Dillard, Anna Colquitt Hunter, Lucy Barrow McIntire, Dorothy Ripley Roebling, Nola McEvoy Roos and Jane Adair Wright. Together, these seven women joined forces to purchase and protect the Isaiah Davenport House, an 1820 Federal-style home on Columbia Square, from being razed and founded Historic Savannah Foundation, a permanent organization dedicated to saving and preserving historic buildings throughout the city.

Through historic photographs, archival materials and interpretative storytelling, this inspiring exhibition explores each of these influential women, including their personal histories, lived experiences and the convictions that compelled them to serve their community at a pivotal moment in Savannah’s history.

Open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., this exclusive exhibition will remain on display at the Murray C. Perlaman and Wayne C. Spear Preservation Center inside the Historic Kennedy Pharmacy throughout 2026.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS ONCE YOU GET LOST! 

Wind your way through this twisting, climbing, head-scratching interactive exhibit that’ll challenge the whole family from the very first step. 

Can your eyes actually lie to you? Find out in the Maze of Illusions where nothing is what it seems. Think you’re coordinated? Climb, duck, and try not to get completely tangled in the Web Maze. Feeling ambitious? Build your own maze from scratch, then dare others to solve it.  

From giant finger mazes to brain-busting puzzle tables, art you can touch, and a labyrinth library, there are surprises to be found round every single corner.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS ONCE YOU GET LOST! 

Wind your way through this twisting, climbing, head-scratching interactive exhibit that’ll challenge the whole family from the very first step. 

Can your eyes actually lie to you? Find out in the Maze of Illusions where nothing is what it seems. Think you’re coordinated? Climb, duck, and try not to get completely tangled in the Web Maze. Feeling ambitious? Build your own maze from scratch, then dare others to solve it.  

From giant finger mazes to brain-busting puzzle tables, art you can touch, and a labyrinth library, there are surprises to be found round every single corner.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS ONCE YOU GET LOST! 

Wind your way through this twisting, climbing, head-scratching interactive exhibit that’ll challenge the whole family from the very first step. 

Can your eyes actually lie to you? Find out in the Maze of Illusions where nothing is what it seems. Think you’re coordinated? Climb, duck, and try not to get completely tangled in the Web Maze. Feeling ambitious? Build your own maze from scratch, then dare others to solve it.  

From giant finger mazes to brain-busting puzzle tables, art you can touch, and a labyrinth library, there are surprises to be found round every single corner.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS ONCE YOU GET LOST! 

Wind your way through this twisting, climbing, head-scratching interactive exhibit that’ll challenge the whole family from the very first step. 

Can your eyes actually lie to you? Find out in the Maze of Illusions where nothing is what it seems. Think you’re coordinated? Climb, duck, and try not to get completely tangled in the Web Maze. Feeling ambitious? Build your own maze from scratch, then dare others to solve it.  

From giant finger mazes to brain-busting puzzle tables, art you can touch, and a labyrinth library, there are surprises to be found round every single corner.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS ONCE YOU GET LOST! 

Wind your way through this twisting, climbing, head-scratching interactive exhibit that’ll challenge the whole family from the very first step. 

Can your eyes actually lie to you? Find out in the Maze of Illusions where nothing is what it seems. Think you’re coordinated? Climb, duck, and try not to get completely tangled in the Web Maze. Feeling ambitious? Build your own maze from scratch, then dare others to solve it.  

From giant finger mazes to brain-busting puzzle tables, art you can touch, and a labyrinth library, there are surprises to be found round every single corner.

Join the Animal Care Team and one of our talented animal artists, meeting either the Zoo’s “VanGoat” or “Baaahlo,” and take home a unique work of art in this unforgettable experience.

Learn about the positive reinforcement training process of becoming an animal artist. See firsthand the ways this enrichment activity fits into high standards of care for animals at the Zoo when you meet a goat or sheep and see their art creation in action. Please note that we cannot guarantee a specific animal for your program.

• Meet at the Petting Zoo area of Outback Station 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter start time. 
• Availability is limited for all Wild Encounters. Advance registration is recommended.
• When space is available, encounter tickets can be purchased online for up to five minutes before the encounter begins.
• Includes one (1) take-home canvas per registered group.

Days Available:
Saturdays at 3:15 p.m.

Member Cost: $67.50 | Includes one painting per group of four people.
Non-Member Cost: $75 per group of up to four people, + individual Zoo Admission | Includes one painting per group of four people.

Age Range: All ages

IF YOU’VE YEARNED TO GET CLOSER TO THE ANIMALS, NOW YOU CAN WITH A WILD ENCOUNTER!

No creature looms larger over the savanna than the African elephant, and you’ll agree when you come face-to-trunk with one at Zoo Atlanta! Meet Tara or Kelly while learning why they are such important ambassadors for their species.

During this Wild Encounter experience, you will learn about elephants with a Zoo Educator before heading behind the scenes to meet up with members of the Elephant Care Team and find out more about elephant care at the Zoo. Of course, no Elephant Wild Encounter would be complete without the opportunity to hand-feed one of the “girls” an afternoon snack.

• Meet at the Zambezi Elephant Center 15 minutes before the Wild Encounter.
• Availability is limited for all Wild Encounters. Advance registration is recommended.
• When space is available, encounter tickets can be purchased online for up to five minutes before the encounter begins.

Days Available:
Sunday, Monday, Friday, and Saturday at 2 p.m.

Select Thursdays at 2 p.m. between May 26 and September 7

Member Cost: $117 | Non-Member Cost: $130 + Zoo admission

Age Range: 4 and up

Seven Ladies is a new exhibition focused on Katharine Judkins Clark, Elinor Adler Dillard, Anna Colquitt Hunter, Lucy Barrow McIntire, Dorothy Ripley Roebling, Nola McEvoy Roos and Jane Adair Wright. Together, these seven women joined forces to purchase and protect the Isaiah Davenport House, an 1820 Federal-style home on Columbia Square, from being razed and founded Historic Savannah Foundation, a permanent organization dedicated to saving and preserving historic buildings throughout the city.

Through historic photographs, archival materials and interpretative storytelling, this inspiring exhibition explores each of these influential women, including their personal histories, lived experiences and the convictions that compelled them to serve their community at a pivotal moment in Savannah’s history.

Open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., this exclusive exhibition will remain on display at the Murray C. Perlaman and Wayne C. Spear Preservation Center inside the Historic Kennedy Pharmacy throughout 2026.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS ONCE YOU GET LOST! 

Wind your way through this twisting, climbing, head-scratching interactive exhibit that’ll challenge the whole family from the very first step. 

Can your eyes actually lie to you? Find out in the Maze of Illusions where nothing is what it seems. Think you’re coordinated? Climb, duck, and try not to get completely tangled in the Web Maze. Feeling ambitious? Build your own maze from scratch, then dare others to solve it.  

From giant finger mazes to brain-busting puzzle tables, art you can touch, and a labyrinth library, there are surprises to be found round every single corner.

Enjoy a tractor ride through thousands of Christmas lights, inflatables, and more!

Farm animal cuddles, hot cocoa, popcorn, cookies decorating and crafts will provide the perfect environment for a wonderful new family tradition!

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS ONCE YOU GET LOST! 

Wind your way through this twisting, climbing, head-scratching interactive exhibit that’ll challenge the whole family from the very first step. 

Can your eyes actually lie to you? Find out in the Maze of Illusions where nothing is what it seems. Think you’re coordinated? Climb, duck, and try not to get completely tangled in the Web Maze. Feeling ambitious? Build your own maze from scratch, then dare others to solve it.  

From giant finger mazes to brain-busting puzzle tables, art you can touch, and a labyrinth library, there are surprises to be found round every single corner.