FONZ and the National Zoo host a variety of fun and
educational special events and celebrations. Some are
free, some are fundraisers, and all are a guaranteed
great time. 
a note about tickets
For information on membership or our events, please
call 
202.633.4470.
2008 Events
Friends of the National Zoo celebrates its 50th birthday this year. 
Get the details.
2008 is the Year of the Frog. Find out more.
May 9 – Guppy Gala
This special annual event is just for kids and their families. Tickets are on sale now.
May 15 – National ZooFari
ZooFari brings together 100 of the area's finest restaurants, and vintners from around the country for an evening of gourmet foods, fine wines, fabulous entertainment, a great auction, and dancing under the stars. Tickets are on sale now.
June 14 – Cockadoodle Zoo
This members-only morning event lets Friends of the National Zoo sneak a peek at how Zoo animals and staff rise and shine. Free and open to members only.
June 26–August 7 – Sunset Serenades
Our free summer evening concerts range from jazz and folk to blues and rock and roll. Free and open to the public.
August 21 – Brew at the Zoo
Join us for our third annual beer-tasting fundraiser.
September 21 – Fiesta Musical
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the Zoo's free Fiesta. Enjoy animal demonstrations, Hispanic
and Latino music, costumed dancers, traditional crafts,
and Latin American foods. Free and open to the public.
October 4–5 – Autumn Conservation Festival
Bring your family for a day of fun, tours, and activities at the Zoo's Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Virginia.
Open by donation.
October 24–26 – Boo at the Zoo
The Zoo offers the wildest trick-or-treat in town. Tickets will be on sale later this year.
Dates to be announced – ZooLights
At ZooLights, our biggest and brightest event of the year, the Zoo shines with thousands of environmentally friendly lights and animated exhibits for weeks. These larger-than-life displays featuring many of the Zoo’s most popular animals, plus fun activities and live entertainment, are sure to please people of all ages.
Sponsor
an Event
Find out how your company can partner
with FONZ to sponsor an event—and reach a
huge audience of people who love the renowned National
Zoological Park in Washington, D.C.
Host
an Event
The Zoo can also be a great venue
for YOUR special event! Corporations, associations,
and others who make unrestricted gifts to the Zoo are
invited to co-sponsor a special celebratory event and
can choose to hold a dinner, reception, picnic, or other
similar activity in accordance with our special
event policy and guidelines.
Birthday
Parties
FONZ family members have the opportunity to throw a
wild birthday celebration at the Zoo. Parties are held
on weekends throughout the year. more
Parking is limited at the Zoo. We encourage you to
use public transportation. Getting
to the Zoo
About tickets: As the popularity of the National Zoo's events have grown, the membership staff at FONZ has not. In an effort to provide better customer service to our members and guests, and to ensure reliable ticketing procedures, we have partnered with Ticketmaster for some of our event ticket sales. This is a service provided to us by Ticketmaster for free. A percentage of the fees added to your online orders is donated back to the Zoo. With Ticketmaster handling ticket sales, we are able to focus more on event planning and membership services.
You will be able to purchase tickets in several ways: on the Zoo's website, on Ticketmaster's website, at any Ticketmaster outlet, at the Zoo's Visitor Center (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.), and by calling Ticketmaster at 202.397.SEAT. Tickets purchased at the Zoo's Visitor Center have no added fees.
We understand that this seems like a big change for FONZ members, but we hope that you will stick with us through this period of growth and change.
