2021 May Buzz
Eat And Drink!
Tickets are on sale for Eat and Drink at the Zoo! This brand new 21 and over event is May 15, 2-5 pm. You will need your ID to join us for this fun event, and the Zoo is closed for regular hours that day.

We’ll have around 25 food and beverage stations around the Zoo so you can try samples from local eateries and breweries, plus scoop stations to cleanse your palette.

We also have local artists Dennis Anderson, Kim Hoffmann, as well as musical guests Ultrafab and Jake from Starheart joining us. Plus, unlimited train and carousel rides and a whole Zoo to walk around!

Tickets are $75 per person and include samples from places like Oh Mamma’s on the Avenue, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Hacienda, Franky’s Tacos, Metazoa, Round Barn, Great Lakes Brewing Company, and lots of other awesome vendors. The full list of vendors is on our website.

This event is a fundraiser for the Zoo and will be held rain or shine. Thank you for joining us!
Giraffe Construction Update
The Big & Loud capital campaign continues in full force! We have topped $4.6 million, making this the biggest campaign in the Zoo’s history.

We were recently given the good news that we are the recipients of $500,000 from round 3 of the State’s Regional Cities funding for this project. We also have the support of both our county’s Community Foundation as well as neighboring Elkhart County’s, highlighting the region’s and state’s recognition of the Potawatomi Zoo as a regional destination, economic driver, and quality of life amenity.

Construction is right on target, with the goal of having giraffes here by fall. We can’t wait to show you our newest, tallest additions!

But we’re not done yet! You can help us reach our goal by joining our Big & Loud Campaign. We appreciate every single gift, from a named gift to the $3.16 one of our youngest visitors shared with us this week. Thank you to everyone who has supported us on this historic campaign!
Birthdays With The Zoo

There are two ways to have a birthday party with the Zoo this year!

We've recently started scheduling birthday parties at the Zoo again! You and your guests will enjoy all-day admission to the Zoo, a private space for up to 2 hours, a personal party host.
You can book your date and choose your options on our website. There is a 10% discount for Zoo members, but they must be logged in to our purchasing site at time of purchase.

If you’d rather have a party at home or send a party to someone far away, you can buy a Zoo Birthday Box. Birthday Boxes include a painting by our North American Porcupine, Humvee, a small plush toy, and other surprises, as well as a fun video to learn more about Humvee!
New Zoo Animals

There are two new species in the Learning Center: sand cats and common genets.

Sand cats are a species of small, wild cat native to desert regions of Africa and parts of Asia. It’s most a nocturnal animal in the wild. Because of their unique adaptations, they can get most of the water they need from the food they eat, which includes rodents, birds, small reptiles and even bugs. There are five male sand cats!

Common genets are a nocturnal species native to Africa. They look a little like a cat or a ferret, but they’re actually related to civets and binturongs. You might have to look carefully because they live in a darker room. We have one male and one female genet.

The Learning Center is open this year, but guests will need to wear a mask, since it’s indoors, and observe social distancing.
Animal Encounters
Now you can book an Animal Encounter at the Zoo! Right now, we have a rhino encounter and a bison encounter. Prices and availability varies, so check the website for more information.