Enjoy the Best Events At ZooTampa At Lowry Park

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Are you in Tampa and looking for unique things to do to fill your days… or nights? Then look no further than ZooTampa At Lowry Park. The zoo connects visitors with wildlife and hosts all sorts of fun events where you can learn more about conservation efforts and what the day-to-day running of the zoo looks like.

ZooTampa At Lowry Park is one of the most visited zoos in the southeastern United States. They work hard to make sure their enclosures are well-suited to their animals and their conservation efforts are robust. So supporting them is also a great cause!

Participating in zoo events is a fun way to meet a community of people who love animals and care about the wild as much as you do! If you are looking for something interesting to do in this Tampa zoo, then don’t miss out on these activities!

ZooBrews

Get ready for the wildest night of the year: Zoobrews, which promises unlimited free-flowing drinks and bites from local restaurants and vendors. There will be live music and games, and guests will have access to the exhibits all night. If you want to see the zoo in a whole new light, then you can’t miss this event!

This is one of the most popular events hosted by the zoo so hurry up and get your tickets because they sell out fast!

ZooBrews falls on April 23, 2022. This year’s festivities start at 7 PM for general admission! This is an adults-only event, so be advised that no one under 21 will be admitted. If you are the designated driver or don’t plan on drinking, you can also get a discount – just let the event staff know.

Speakers Of The Wild

ZooTampa At Lowry Park has dedicated itself to the conservation of natural environments for its animals. In line with this, it created a lecture series to teach the public more about wildlife conservation and rehabilitation efforts called Speakers Of The Wild.

You can learn more about what it takes to be a member of the zoo staff and what their struggles look like on a daily basis. Ever wonder how to pacify a four-ton rhino? Or how to get it to submit to medical testing? These professionals do, and they will share their experiences with you!

Speakers of the Wild is an ongoing event series which means there are always new stories and new experiences to hear about from our zoo professionals. Check-in regularly to see what’s new at the zoo!

Pride Zoo La

Every year, ZooTampa At Lowry Park participates in Pride Tampa with the Pride Zoo La! In the past, this event has included the pride pageant and a silent auction, as well as animal encounters and an art show. Stay tuned on the Tampa Pride page for the details for this year’s Zoo La, the details usually pop up closer to the November Pride celebrations.

This is primarily an adult event. There will be alcohol, so it may not be the most appropriate place to bring your children.

Karamu Gala

Have you ever wanted to fraternize with animals while wearing your black-tie best? Then this event is for you. Karamu is a fundraising gala for the benefit of the animals at the zoo. You can enjoy top-tier food and entertainment all while knowing that your money is going to a great cause.

This year’s theme is the 80s, so be ready with big hair and neon outfits. Get ready for a night of wild encounters, great food, and dancing! Single tickets go for $1000. The Karamu Gala is on April 9, 2022, so grab tickets while you still can!

Eggstravaganza Presented By Kinder Joy

Go on a zoo-wide easter egg hunt from April 15-17, 2022! The whole zoo will have eggs hidden near various enclosures and participants who find them all win a prize. This is primarily a family event, so if you have little ones in tow this would be a great added activity for them!

Eggs Marks The Spot is the zoo-wide scavenger hunt. There is also Ready, Set, Eggstravaganza, a members-only area where the littlest zoo-lovers are given additional gifts and surprises.

Creatures Of The Night

A Halloween spooktacular but with a wild twist! Creatures Of The Night features entertainment from illusionists, haunted houses, and more. The night is jam-packed with activities for kids of all ages, such as a hay bale maze and a roving magician with a lovely assistant.

Even the beer garden will be transformed into a Voodoo Bar for the season. Check back a little closer to October for more details about 2022’s event. Don’t miss this Halloween extravaganza at the zoo!

Breakfast With the Animals

Who needs regular brunch when you can make it exotic? Have breakfast on the wild side with rainforest animals like macaws, tomistomas, and more. Not only do you get to get up close and personal with the animals, but you also get to learn a little more about their care and rehabilitation from the zoo staff. The ticket price of $110 ($85 for members) includes a ticket for the zoo for the day.

Breakfast In The Rainforest

April 2nd, 2022, and April 30, 2022

8:00 – 9:30 AM

Have breakfast amongst the macaws and the other colorful birds of the Rainforest. These areas are champions of biodiversity and you get to experience that with this breakfast on the wild side!

Mimosas With Manatees

June 11, 2022, and June 22, 2022

8:00 – 9:30 AM

Enjoy mimosas while learning more about one of Florida’s iconic animals! You will learn all about conservation efforts and what it takes to keep these graceful creatures happy and healthy, all while enjoying a light breakfast and a little buzz.

Breakfast (And Painting) With Elephants

August 20, 2022, and August 27, 2022

8:00 – 9:30

Elephants are incredibly smart and need to be kept entertained, join the trainer as the zoo’s African elephant learns to paint! Have a light breakfast and enjoy a little time before the zoo officially opens

Toddler Tuesdays

If you have kids, then this is an activity you shouldn’t miss. The first Tuesday of every month is toddler Tuesday, with special stuff for the little ones to enjoy themselves. Toddler Tuesday takes your little one on adventures through the alphabet every week, focusing on a new letter and how it relates to wildlife or animal care. (“H” is for Handler, “P” is for Parrot, etc.)

The following is the schedule for the year to come:

April 5, 2022: Party with the Perfect Letter “P.”
May 3, 2022: Hang out with the Heroic Letter “H.”
June 7, 2022: Welcome the Wonderful Letter “W.”
July 5, 2022: Jump for Joy with the Kind Letters “J” and “K.”
August 2, 2022: Learn about the Lucky Letter “L.”
September 6, 2022: Quickly uncover the Quirky Letter “Q.”
October 4, 2022: Giggle along with the Glorious Letter “G.”
November 1, 2022: Meet the Marvelous Letter “M.”
December 6, 2022: Yippee! Let’s eXplore the Zany Letters “X,” “Y,” and “Z.”

The Holiday Season

The holidays are spectacular at ZooTampa At Lowry Park. There are events for Christmas and to ring in the New Year especially for the little ones.

Christmas In The Wild

Christmas in the Wild is the yearly light show that ZooTampa At Lowry Park puts up. It’s an enchanting display of Christmas lights plus an elf dance party and an appearance from the big man himself, Santa! It’s all about family fun during the holidays at ZooTampa!

***Disclaimer: There is a good chance that this post contains affiliate or sponsor links. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you (for which we are extremely grateful).

Also, while we do our best to highlight LGBTQ-friendly destinations and businesses, info provided is based solely on personal experience and recommendations by community partners. We hope that nobody experiences discrimination or homophobia while visiting Florida, but we make no guarantees. Please inform us if you experience discrimination or homophobia while visiting any destination so we can make updates to our recommendations.

Rachel Covello

Rachel Covello is an award-winning speaker, writer, diversity consultant, and LGBT advocate. She was the Founder of LGBT Equality Alliance, a Chester County, PA nonprofit organization. She is currently the Publisher of OutCoast.com and Producer of the OutCoast TV YouTube Channel, both of which highlight LGBTQ welcoming destinations in Florida.

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