August Dog Days are sold out. On Monday, August 12 & Friday, August 23, add an extra ticket to make your family outing complete! Bring your canine kiddo for a Zoo adventure. For these special dates, you can bring your well-behaved dog to the Zoo with you! Simply purchase a dog ticket along with your family’s human tickets, and Fido can experience many of the sights, sounds and smells that make the Zoo so special. Dog tickets are limited. Advance tickets are required.
Ages 1-4 with adult. OfferedL August 9, 15, 24, 28. From pollinators to decomposers, this month we are learning about the amazing world of arthropods! By popular demand, it is finally time to meet & learn all about our bug friends!. Registration is required.
Ages 21+. Offered on August 14 or 28 with a koi fish theme. Join us for an adults only program where you not only get to create memories but a painting of one of our amazing animals as well. Each month offers a different animal theme to paint. Spend the evening at the Zoo strolling through animal exhibits, enjoying an adult beverage, meeting animals up-close and creating a masterpiece! Registration is required.
Ages 21+. Join us for a magical evening on the mountain, exclusively reserved for those age 21 and up. Local musicians will set the mood throughout the Zoo! Tickets to Tails, Tunes & Tastes include unlimited small plates and two drink tickets. Cash bars also available. (No one under age 21 will be permitted, including no children or infants.) Advanced tickets are required and are on sale online now.
All ages. Join us for a weekend-long housewarming party for our grizzly bears, Emmett and Digger. The boys are back in Rocky Mountain Wild and we’re BEARY excited to celebrate with you Sat., Aug. 31 through Mon., Sept. 2 (Labor Day) with special activities and keeper talks. Advance admission tickets are required and on sale online now.
Ages: Middle and High School, 6th - 12th grades. Winter Off-Session runs Nov. 12 - Feb.12, 2025 for Zoo Crew, Junior Zoo Keeper and Teen Core programs. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Teen Programs provide meaningful life experiences that inspire teens to take conservation action both on and off Zoo grounds through education, leadership, stewardship and environmental exploration. Off-Season Teen Programs offer weekends, evenings, and after school teen opportunities. Admission to the program is through an application process. Online applications for Zoo Crew, Junior Zoo Keeper and Teen Core programs will be open during this time. An application fee applies.
Join us for Military Appreciation Week at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Sept. 9-15! It’s a week of even bigger thanks to our military personnel for their continued service to our great country. This week’s military discount features 50% off the day's normal admission base price, which is offered to all active-duty, veteran and retired military personnel and their dependents living in the same household. To enjoy a full week of stars and stripes, purchase your advance timed tickets and march on up to the Zoo! Tickets are available online now.
All ages. Full Zoo experience (except sky ride and carousel). Dining options will be limited. We invite you to a unique Zoo event, Silent Night on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. Our busy lives are often filled with schedules, responsibilities and noise. Come prepared for a peacefully quiet evening away from the pressures of the city below. Advance e-tickets are required and are on sale online now.
Ages 1-4 with adult. Offered: September 5, 14, 20, 25. Registrants will participate in a reptile-themed sensory activity, meet scaly friends throughout the zoo and help make salads for tortoises!. Registration is required.
This event is SOLD OUT. Ages 21+. Join us for a magical evening on the mountain, exclusively reserved for those age 21 and up. Local musicians will set the mood throughout the Zoo! Tickets to Tails, Tunes & Tastes include unlimited small plates and two drink tickets. Cash bars also available. (No one under age 21 will be permitted, including no children or infants.) Advanced tickets are required.
Ages: Elementary (1st-6th) & Middle School (6th - 8th). With all the terrific tails we see around the world, together we'll learn about the different uses that a tail brings to their animal. From balance in cats to protection in lizards, join us as we “tail” you all about it! Find the fastest, strongest, and most agile animals in the world! Registration is required.
Ages: Middle School & High School. Join us for an evening tour away from home and get to discover what the animals do at night, when the rest of the world is sleeping. We will tour multiple buildings as well as have a chance to meet an animal up-close! Registration is required.
Ages: Middle School & High School. Join us in this beginner’s photography course as we learn how images can play a role in protecting our wildlife and wild places. We’ll practice a variety of photography methods all while using the zoo’s very own natural spaces and animal residents as our subjects. No previous photography experience is needed and any device with a camera will be acceptable. Registration is required.
Monday, Sept. 30 tickets are sold out. October Dog Day ticket dates are still available. Add an extra ticket to make your family outing complete! Bring your canine kiddo for a Zoo adventure. For these special dates, you can bring your well-behaved dog to the Zoo with you! Simply purchase a dog ticket along with your family’s human tickets, and Fido can experience many of the sights, sounds and smells that make the Zoo so special. Dog tickets are limited. Advance tickets are required.
Ages: Middle School & High School. Come explore the mountainside after hours to see what our wild world is like at night! We’ll dive into the lives of nocturnal animals and their adaptations that allow them to thrive at night. Registration is required.
All ages: SIgn up for any one class or all three. Offered Sept. 14, 28 & Oct. 12. Join us for unforgettable adventures tailored for the whole family! We’ll explore the wonders of our wild world through interactive activities, guided zoo tours, and hands-on experiences led by our knowledgeable zoo educators. From up-close animal encounters to engaging workshops, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Grab the family and discover the magic of our wildlife and wild places! Registration is required.
Ages 21+. Offered on October 2 & 16 with a Western screech owl theme. Join us for an adults only program where you not only get to create memories but a painting of one of our amazing animals as well. Each month offers a different animal theme to paint. Spend the evening at the Zoo strolling through animal exhibits, enjoying an adult beverage, meeting animals up-close and creating a masterpiece! Registration is required.
Ages: Middle School & High School. Come learn the basics of surviving in the wild and put your newly learned skills to the test. We’ll learn such skills as shelter construction, fire building, pant identification, and more all while in the beautiful setting of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Nature Trail! Registration is required.
Ages: Kindergarten 4-5 year olds. Join us for a spine-tingling adventure as we discover the eerie glow of bioluminescent creatures to the spooky sounds of nocturnal animals. This spooktacular day will be filled with fun Halloween activities alongside our animals! Registration is required.
Ages 1-4 with adult. Offered: October 23. Registrants will participate in a Fall – themed sensory activity and meet some of our Orange colored friends that call the Zoo home! Registration is required.
Ages: 1st - 8th Grades offering Elementary and Middle School programs. Use this spooky season to learn all about the dangerous poisons animals brew in their bodies. Join us as we discover the fascinating world of venom, poison and other toxic substances some animals use to hunt or protect themselves. Registration is required and opens Friday Sept. 27 at 9 a.m.
Ages; Middle School & High School. Join this introductory program designed for understanding the fundamental techniques and practices of training animals in a zoo setting. We’ll dive into the essentials of reading animal behavior, learning techniques, and reinforcement strategies all while trying our hand at training some of our very own animal ambassadors! Registration is required.
On Tuesday, October 29, add an extra ticket to make your family outing complete! Bring your canine kiddo for a Zoo adventure. For these special dates, you can bring your well-behaved dog to the Zoo with you! Simply purchase a dog ticket along with your family’s human tickets, and Fido can experience many of the sights, sounds and smells that make the Zoo so special. Dog tickets are limited. Advance tickets are required.
Ages 1-4 with adult. Offered: Thursday, October 31 only. This special holiday edition includes Meet & Greets with a few of our “creepy crawly” but still adorable animals from My Big Back Yard, and painting your own mini pumpkin to take home with you! Costumes are both welcome and encouraged for participants of all ages! Registration is required.
Join us for Halloween night! Evening of Oct. 31, 2024 from 4 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. All ages. Come see the original creatures of the night. It’ll be all treats and no tricks for your little pirates and princesses at this year’s Boo at the Zoo, the region’s most unique Halloween event. Boo at the Zoo is a fun way for families with young children to trick-or-treat and enjoy Halloween festivities in a safe environment, and all of our candy is made with sustainable palm oil to help protect wild orangutans! Advance timed admission tickets are required, and sell out quickly. Tickets are on sale online now.
For the last five years, you've ranked us #3 Best Zoo Lights in North America, and we're so grateful for your continued support! Electric Safari has once again been nominated in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards and you can show your support EVERY DAY from today until 10 a.m. MT on Mon., Dec. 2 - VOTE AT cmzoo.org/lights.
(Want a daily reminder to keep us high in the national rankings? Sign up for a daily email reminder here.)
Ages: Kindergarten 4-5 year olds. Take a journey beneath the surface as we explore underground plants and animals. Together we will find roots that nourish life and hidden burrows where many creatures dwell! Registration is required.
Ages: PreK-Kindergarten. Come let your little artists turn nature into their canvas! While exploring the zoo’s outdoor spaces, learners will have the opportunity to collect anything from Fall colored leaves to prickly pinecones as their tools for art. We’ll tap into their creative imaginations to make beautiful, natural pieces all while building a deeper connection to their natural surroundings. This event also includes daytime admission to the Zoo. Registration is required.
Ages: 1st - 8th Grades offering Elementary and Middle School programs. We’re surrounded by animals both at home and in the wild! Whether its animals in your house or at the zoo, we’ll explore and compare our furry friends with their wild counterparts through their behaviors, diets, and more! Registration is required.
Ages: Middle School & High School. The Teen Naturalist Training will be a series of 3 workshops throughout the month of November that will hone in on developing the necessary skills to be a future steward of the environment. This course will provide our local teen community with the resources and knowledge to better understand the wild world around us. Through hands-on and experiential opportunities we’ll study such concepts as native Ecology, Biology, and Conservation all while being in the unique setting of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Join us as we learn how to best protect our local wildlife and wild places. This series is only offered as a full 3 week course consisting of 9 hours of classroom and in-the-field learning. Our 3 courses will cover the following topics: Herpetology (Saturday, November 2nd), Ornithology (Saturday, November 9th), Mammalogy (Saturday, November 16th). Registration is required.
Ages: 16 and up, all skill levels welcome. Nov. 15, 16, & 17Need something to put your pet toys in, or maybe to store hats and mittens, to put the mail in, or just to help clean up a cluttered corner? Get creative while you learn to weave a beautiful and functional basket that fits your lifestyle. The first evening of class we’ll start with a history of the basket, go over terminology, and walk through the process of weaving a basket to completion. Next, we’ll create a basket base and begin to weave height into it as you shape and form it to your own creative desires. You’ll have two full days to put your creativity to the test as you finish the course with a completed basket to take home and show off. Bring a friend and come join us for 2.5 days of basket weaving fun! Registration is required and closes 4 days prior to the start date.
Ages 21+. Offered on November 20 with a chameleon theme. Join us for an adults only program where you not only get to create memories but a painting of one of our amazing animals as well. Each month offers a different animal theme to paint. Spend the evening at the Zoo strolling through animal exhibits, enjoying an adult beverage, meeting animals up-close and creating a masterpiece! Registration is required.
Ages 1-4 with adult. Offered: November 6, 16, & 21. . Participants will explore the zoo, searching and learning about animals that are most active in the evening hours, but sometimes can be encouraged to wake up during the day to say hello to groups like ours! Registration is required.
Ages 1-4 with adult. Offered: Tuesday, November 26 only. This special holiday edition Stroller Safari allows us to practice our kitchen prep the day before Thanksgiving! Registrants will prepare a fun feast for some zoo animals, and participate in other fall themed sensory activities! Registration is required.
On Wednesday, November 27, get an extra ticket to make your family outing complete! Bring your canine kiddo for a Zoo adventure. For these special dates, you can bring your well-behaved dog to the Zoo with you! Simply purchase a dog ticket along with your family’s human tickets, and Fido can experience many of the sights, sounds and smells that make the Zoo so special. Dog tickets are limited. Advance tickets are required.
Ages 1-4 with adult. Offered: December 4, 12, 14 & 27. Participants will learn about native Colorado species and create safe feeders to help wild animals near their homes find food in the colder months (almond butter, bird seed, cranberries, etc.)! Registration is required.
Adults 21+. Celebrate holiday lights and cheer during this adults-only event, Electric Moonlight. This event combines our festive holiday lights with indoor sampling areas featuring beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks while tasting delicious eats from area restaurants (all while supplies last) – just like at our popular summer event, Moonlight on the Mountain! Advance tickets are required and are subject to selling out; day-of tickets available only if not sold out. (No one under age 21 will be permitted, including no children or infants.) Day-of tickets are on sale now!
All ages. Nightly, Dec. 6 - 23, 25-Jan. 1, 2025 (except Christmas Eve). Celebrate 26 nights of mountainside magic during Electric Safari with 85 light sculptures on over 50 acres! Named #2 BEST ZOO LIGHTS by USA TODAY’S 10Best Reader's Choice Awards! Top off this astounding display by gazing out at the city’s lights and watch all of Colorado Springs sparkle. You'll also enjoy photos with larger-than-life illuminated inflatable animals, and our new holiday-safari themed drone show! Save $5 per ticket by visiting on a non-peak day! Advance tickets are required for everyone and sell out quickly. Tickets are on sale now.
Ages: 1st & 2nd Grade. Immerse your young learners in nature through their five senses! We’ll explore the sights, sounds, textures, smells, and even tastes of the natural world as we engage in hands-on activities on the zoo’s nature trail. From smelling fresh pine and hearing leaves crunch under their feet to seeing birds fly overhead and discovering the seasonal changes around them, this program will foster curiosity and sensory awareness all while connecting kids to the beauty of the outdoors. This event also includes daytime admission to the Zoo. Registration is required.
Ages: Middle School & High School. Dive into the dynamic world of predator and prey relationships, and discover how these interactions shape ecosystems. Through an interactive zoo experience we’ll learn how the vital roles of these animals maintain a healthy and balanced world. Registration is required.