FONZ Birthday Parties
Have your child's birthday party at the National Zoo and support the Zoo's conservation and education efforts.
Your child and your child's friends, equipped with safari hats and expert tour guides, will explore the Zoo for an unforgettable day. Birthday parties are two hours long and are for children ages four to eight.
Register now for 2013 birthday parties!
Find out how to host a wild eco-friendly party of your own!
A FONZ Birthday Party includes:
- A choice between three indoor festive party rooms: the Rainforest Room, Otter's Den, or the Bear's Lair. You are welcome to add personalized banners or extra decorations that can be hung with removable tape. (Sorry, no balloons are allowed at the Zoo, and our party rooms cannot accommodate piñatas.)
- An engaging walking tour of selected Zoo exhibits led by FONZ staff. Tours are rain or shine, the Zoo tour will be fun and educational for all party-goers. Please ensure that children dress appropriately.
- A Zoo-themed goody bag of party favors for each child, including a safari hat to take home.
- A special birthday gift related to the tour you choose, including a plush animal and a photo.
- All the table setting items such as tablecloths, napkins, plates, and forks.
- Snacks include juice, goldfish crackers, and ice cream. You are welcome to bring additional food including birthday cake or cupcakes.
Tours and Party Rooms
Our staff will provide an engaging tour, though there is never direct contact with the animals or behind-the-scenes views of animal exhibits. Our program coordinator will contact you close to your party date regarding tour selection.
Tour options depend on the location of your party room.
Rainforest Room
Location: Amazonia
Maximum Capacity: 16
Tour Options:
- Rocking Rainforest: Amazonia Rainforest and the Science Gallery
- Swinging Safari: Great Cat exhibit (lions and tigers) and the Great Ape House (gorillas and orangutans)
- American Trail: Sea lions, seals, beavers, ravens, river otters, wolves, and bald eagles
Otter's Den
Location: Visitor Center
Maximum Capacity: 20
Tour Options:
- Asia Trail: Giant pandas, red pandas, Asian small-clawed otters, clouded leopards, fishing cats, and sloth bears.
- How Do You Zoo, our interactive play space where children can learn about and try out different Zoo careers, may be an option depending on availability.
Bear's Lair
Location: Visitor Center
Maximum Capacity: 20
Tour Options:
- Asia Trail: Giant pandas, red pandas, Asian small-clawed otters, clouded leopards, fishing cats, and sloth bears.
- How Do You Zoo, our interctive play space where children can learn about and try out different Zoo careers, may be an option depending on availability.
Time
Parties are held Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon, subject to availability. The party starts with games in the party room, followed by the Zoo tour, then guests return to the party room for dessert and goody bags.
Reserving a Party
The opportunity to hold a FONZ Birthday Party is a benefit of all FONZ members. Parties are for children turning ages four to eight, and for a maximum of 16 to 20 children, depending on the party room. Your hosts will help ensure that the party runs smoothly but cannot be responsible for child discipline. Please be sure that at least two adults attend the party to properly chaperone the children.
Parties are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and require an initial payment of $375, which covers up to ten children, including the birthday child. Dates cannot be held without this initial payment. Additional children may be added later (up to 16 or 20, depending on the room reserved) at $20 per child. You will receive an email from the FONZ Programs Department staff the week before your party to confirm the number of children attending and tour selection.
Cancellation and Transfer Policies
Cancellation requests received at least four weeks prior to the start of the birthday party date will receive a 75-percent refund. Transfer requests received at least four weeks prior to the birthday party date will be charged a 10-percent administrative fee. A request for a rescheduled date must also be made at least four weeks prior to the scheduled date. We will accommodate your request if a satisfactory date is available. Please email the FONZ Education Programs Office with cancellation and transfer requests. No refunds or changes will be made for less than four weeks notice.
Options
- For hungry adults, we offer a bagel platter for $25 and Bird Friendly® coffee (with cream and sugar) for $20. Each of these extras serves about 15 people.
- Discounted parking passes can be obtained for your guests for $12 each when you register for a party.
(If your guests are FONZ members, they are entitled to free parking. Please note that parking can be difficult at the Zoo. We recommend that your guests carpool or take the Metro.) - Zoo party invitations measuring 5” X 7” are available in packs of ten for $15 each. Envelopes are included.
For more information, see answers to frequently asked questions. Birthday parties are very popular, and dates often book up several months in advance.
