All ages. Join us for Red Ape Rally Day! If you are visiting Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on Wednesday July 24th, stop by Primate World from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to celebrate orangutan conservation. Download the PalmoilScan app today and learn more at cmzoo.org/palmoil. Activities for the whole family will create Zoo memories while raising awareness for orangutan conservation and sustainable palm oil including: Build your own orangutan nest out of different materials, stop by our photo booth, petition-signing table and coloring stations, play a palm oil grocery game where you will learn about shopping for products containing sustainable palm oil, watch special orangutan enrichment and a keeper talk at 1:30 p.m. Advance tickets are required and available here.
Events for Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Red Ape Rally Day
Tails, Tunes & Tastes
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.) Tickets are required and available online now. Save $10 by purchasing your ticket early! Day-of ticket purchases (if not sold out) increase to $74.75.
Outdoor School / Teen Workshop: Guided Forest Walk – Aug. 5
Ages: Middle School & High School. Are you looking for new ways to connect with nature? Or maybe you’re tired of the hustle and bustle of daily life. Join certified Forest Guide, Serena V, as she helps us discover unique ways to relieve stress and learn to relax by utilizing the natural landscape around us. Registration is required and open online now.
End of Summer Member Celebration Night
Zoo Members only - Can you believe it? Summer goes by so fast! Enjoy one last after-hours wander through the Zoo at our Members-Only end of summer event! Beat the heat and share a special night at the Zoo. Don’t forget your discount at our Thundergod Gift Shop. All restaurants will be open! Please note, we may not have scheduled animal demonstrations for this event, but watch for "pop-up" experiences during your visit. Check your membership email for more details. Reservations for the End of Summer Celebration Night event (5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.) are not required (Advanced tickets are required for any daytime admission from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
Stroller Safaris: Arthropods in August (Aug. 9, 15, 24, 28)
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.
Dog Days at the Zoo (Aug. 12 & 23) – SOLD OUT
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.
Panya’s 7th Birthday Party
All ages. Join us to celebrate the seventh birthday of Panya, the eldest of the giraffe littles! Mark your calendars for Tues., Aug. 13, and get your advance e-tickets to join in the festivities. Panya's 7th Birthday Party will be at the giraffe boardwalk in African Rift Valley, where you can enjoy family-friendly activities from 10 a.m. to noon. This birthday party is presented alongside our partners, Children’s Hospital Colorado! Get tickets now
Paint. Sip. Safari. (Aug. 14 or 28)
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.
Hands-On Homeschool AUGUST – Whacky World: Upside Down
Ages: Elementary (1st-6th) & Middle School (6th - 8th). Join us as we turn the animal kingdom on its head – literally! Set your sights on an unforgettable edventure into the topsy-turvy lives of creatures that defy gravity and logic. Registration is required.
Tails, Tunes & Tastes
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.
Emmett & Digger’s Housewarming Party
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.
Teen Program Off-Season Winter Session 2024 – Applications Open (Sept. 1-10)
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.
Stroller Safaris: Scutes & Scales in September (Sept. 5, 14, 20, 25)
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.
Dog Days at the Zoo (Sept. 30)
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.
Military Appreciation Week
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.
Silent Night at the Zoo
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.
Outdoor School Family Safari Series (Sept. 14, 28, Oct. 12)
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.
Tails, Tunes & Tastes
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.
Hands-On Homeschool: Tales of Tails
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.
Teen Only Starlight Safari
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.
Outdoor School: Conservation Photography
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.
Paint. Sip. Safari. (Oct. 2 & 16)
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.
Outdoor School: Nocturnal Nature
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.
Date Night Starlight Safari – Adults Only 21+ (Nov. 9, 16, 30, Dec. 6, Jan. 11, Feb. 14, 15, Mar. 15, Apr. 19 )
Adults 21+. Offered Nov. 9 (9th is sold out), 16, 30, Dec. 6, Jan. 11, Feb. 14 & 15, Mar. 15, Apr. 19. Want a change of scenery on a weekend night? Come join us under the stars for an adults only private evening tour of our mountainside Zoo. We will enjoy a beverage to start off the night, then stroll under the stars to see what our animals do at night, we will even get an opportunity to meet one of our Loft animal ambassadors! This program is for adults only, 21+. Registration is required and open online now. If you would like to be on a wait list when any of our Date Night Starlight Safaris become sold out, please submit this form.
Stroller Safaris: All Things Orange in October
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.
Dog Days at the Zoo (Oct. 29)
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.
Boo at the Zoo – (Oct. 31)
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.
Outdoor School: Wilderness Survival 101
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.
Kinder Kingdom: Beastly Boos
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.
Hands-On Homeschool: Potent Poisons
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.
Teen Community Program: Animal Training 101
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.
Special Holiday Stroller Safari: Spooky Skeletons (Oct. 31)
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.
Outdoor School: Teen Naturalist Series
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.
Vote Daily for CMZoo for Best Zoo Lights
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.)
Stroller Safaris: Nocturnal November (Nov. 6, 16, 21)
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.
Paint. Sip. Safari.
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.
Kinder Kingdom: Roots & Burrows
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.
Outdoor School: Wildcrafts
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.
Hands-On Homeschool: Animals, Animals Everywhere
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.
Dog Days at the Zoo (Nov. 27)
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.