Pandapalooza
We are going big because they are going home! To see the giant pandas off in style, the Smithsonian's National Zoo will host Panda Palooza, a nine-day celebration from Sept. 23 to Oct. 1, 2023, intended to engage audiences of all ages in a series of fun, family-friendly and conservation-forward events.
Panda Palooza programming will include hashtag-worthy photo backdrops, hands-on arts and crafts, 'Kids Area’ in the Great Meadow with a soft play section; chalkboard, coloring and stamping activities; morning family stretching and yoga along with panda talks, temporary tattoos, a conservation-themed scavenger hunt, live music concerts on the Mainstage by Lion-Tiger Hill and free film screenings of "Kung Fu Panda" and "The Miracle Panda" in the Visitor Center Theater. In addition, zoo food and beverage vendors will offer panda-themed items, and tasty celebratory treats will be provided courtesy of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.
Check out the Zoo’s map to find all locations noted below. All programming is free.
Panda Palooza is sponsored in part by The Boeing Company and entertainment by Events DC.
Free Pass Information
Zoo entry passes are released on a rolling schedule: If you were unable to secure an entry pass initially, please check again for both regular visitation days and for special free events such as the upcoming Panda Palooza.
Free entry passes and paid parking passes are available at staggered intervals. Additional passes are released one week out, the day before, and the morning of each day. Entry pass release timing is as follows:
4 weeks out | released at 12 a.m.
1 week out | released at 12 a.m.
Day before | released at 12 a.m.
Day of | released at 12 a.m.
Event Schedule
- Sept. 23 Events (Rain Schedule)
- Sept. 24 Events (Rain Schedule)
- Sept. 25-29 Events
- Sept. 30 Events
- Oct. 1 Events
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (ongoing throughout the day)
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Kids' Panda Art Station | Conservation Pavilion
Make your own panda-inspired art using stamps and paper.
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Conservation Scavenger Hunt | Conservation Pavilion
There are 10 stops on this all-ages Zoo-wide scavenger hunt.
9 a.m. (until the bears eat all the cake)
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Ice Cake Breakfast for Giant Pandas Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji | Asia Trail (giant panda yards) and live on the Giant Panda Cam
What’s a panda paw-tay without cake? Tune in online via the Giant Panda Cam or start your morning at the Zoo for a sweet time.
9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
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Smithsonian National Zoo Member Lounge Open | Panda Overlook Café (weather permitting; member lounge may be closed at times of high wind)
Zoo members can relax and enjoy special activities in this black-and-white-themed spot. Learn more about becoming a Member.
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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“Kung Fu Panda” as part of Panda Film Fest | Visitor Center Theater
Free; general admission seating.
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
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“The Miracle Panda” as part of Panda Film Fest | Visitor Center Theater
Free; general admission seating.
Smithsonian Channel’s documentary “The Miracle Panda,” narrated by award-winning actor Lucy Liu, takes us behind the scenes to experience preparations for giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji’s 1st birthday, as we discover that Xiao Qi Ji’s family are much more than just panda celebrities. They’re the symbol of a successful 50-year collaboration between scientists, keepers and conservationists at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and their counterparts in China.
3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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“The Miracle Panda” as part of Panda Film Fest | Visitor Center Theater
Free; general admission seating.
Smithsonian Channel’s documentary “The Miracle Panda,” narrated by award-winning actor Lucy Liu, takes us behind the scenes to experience preparations for giant panda cub Xiao Qi Ji’s 1st birthday, as we discover that Xiao Qi Ji’s family are much more than just panda celebrities. They’re the symbol of a successful 50-year collaboration between scientists, keepers and conservationists at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and their counterparts in China.