​Need a place to stay cool for your summer birthday party? We’ve got you covered with indoor birthday parties!

Or celebrate your birthday with the Zoo from home with our Virtual Birthday Parties! 

​See options below.

ZIY (Zoo-It-Yourself) Birthdays

Birthday Party Available Times are as follows:
Morning party time blocks: 10:00-11:30am
Afternoon party time blocks: 1:00-2:30pm

Zoo-It-Yourself:

• Admission for 30 total guests
• Available times are, A.M party 10-11:30am, with Zoo access before or after your party OR P.M. party 1-2:30pm, with Zoo access before or after your party, and access to reserved private party space in the Carousel building for 1.5 hours 
• String backpack + plush gift for the birthday child
• Scavenger hunt + pencils for each child, plus 1 answer sheet
• $2.00 voucher towards a gift shop purchase for each child
• E-vites provided upon request
• 4 carousel tickets per child
• 2 large cheese pizza, two 2 liter bottles of soda
  • ​*Please note, ONLY the P.M. (1-2:30) parties include pizza at this time. 
    

Member price: $350.00
Nonmember price: $375.00
​
Zoo-It-Yourself Animal Encounter:

• Admission for 30 total guests
• Available times are, A.M party 10-11:30, with Zoo access before or after your party OR P.M. party 1-2:30pm, with Zoo access before or after your party, and access to reserved private party space in the Carousel building for 1.5 hours 
• String backpack + plush gift for the birthday child
• Scavenger hunt + pencils for each child, plus 1 answer sheet
• $2.00 voucher towards a gift shop purchase for each child
• E-vites provided upon request
• 4 carousel tickets per child
• 20 minute Animal Encounter with Education staff member
• 2 large cheese pizza, two 2 liter bottles of soda
  • ​​​*Please note, ONLY the P.M. (1-2:30) parties include pizza at this time. 

Member price:  $400.00
Nonmember price: $425.00

Please note: Currently, parties are available on Saturdays and Sundays only, during one of our preset time blocks.  We encourage party parents to bring their own party goods and food and are responsible for storing and transporting all party supplies.  For more information or to book your party, please call the Rental & Events Department at 203-332-4243 or e-mail us at bdayparties@beardsleyzoo.org.

Virtual Birthday Parties

Get wild with Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo right from your own home with our “Birthday In A Box”!  Our virtual parties include an Animal Encounter with our animal care staff so you can learn all about your favorite animals via ZOOM!

“Call Of The Wild” Craft Box

• Crafts for up to 10 children
• Plush gift for the birthday child
• 20 minute Zoom Animal Encounter at a scheduled time
• E-vites provided upon request
• Orange drawstring bag
  
• Shipping included

Member Price: $100
Nonmember Price: $125

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Contact our Rental & Events Department at (203) 332-4243 to book a Zoo Birthday party today!
Not yet a Zoo member?  Become a member today and get an immediate discount on your package by paying the discounted member price!
​
Frequently Asked Questions

1. What animals are available for the Zoo-It-Yourself Animal Encounter package?
   At this time, we unfortunately cannot accept animal requests for our ZIY Animal Encounter package.  Several factors go into the Educator’s decision as to which animal to bring out, including whether the animal is booked for another program, their behavior and their stress levels, so we cannot guarantee a specific animal will be shown.
   
   
2. Can the children hold the animal?
   Due to current social distancing protocols, the Educator is the only person that can hold the animal.
   
   
3. Who provides the birthday cake?
   You will need to bring your own birthday cake (or other dessert) and candles.  We are not able to store your cake ahead of time for your party, so please don’t bring an ice-cream cake or anything that needs to stay cold! Please bring a cake knife with you.
   
   
4. Do you provide invitations?
   We have postcard invitations that we can send you free of charge – please be sure to request them when you book your party.  Just let us know how many you need and we will mail them to you. You will need to fill in your party details and the mailing address of your guests and add postage.  We also have E-Vite’s available that can be e-mailed to you in a PDF.
   
   
5. Do I need to leave a deposit, and if so, how much? What if I need to cancel the party? 
   A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required to hold a specific date.  Deposits are done by credit card so that we have a credit card number on file. Final balance is due the day you submit your final attendance to the Rentals and Events department and will be charged immediately. Final payments are made by credit cards.  We do not accept personal checks or cash.  If you need to cancel after paying the deposit, you can rebook your party for up to one year later and still apply the deposit to that party.
   
   
6. In lieu of gifts, I would like to ask guests to make a donation to the Zoo. How do I do that?
   Your guests can make donations via check or credit card by using this link.
   
   
7. What if it rains/snows on my party day?
   The party is still held since it is held indoors. If the zoo decides to close due to inclement weather we will contact you and inform you, you then have the option for a refund of the deposit or to reschedule.  However, we want you and your guests to be safe in your travels, so if you decide it is unsafe to travel and want to reschedule, your non-refundable deposit will be good for one year from the date of your original party.
   
   
8. Can I bring balloons, piñatas or other decorations?  What about other foods?
   Balloons and piñatas are not allowed on Zoo property for the safety of the animals. The only decorations you would need, if you desire, are table covers, plates, napkins, etc or table top centerpieces or a banner-type display that can be hung on the edge of the table. If you would like to bring in food, you may bring in cold finger foods such as veggie/fruit platter, crackers and cheese, chips/dips, grinder/wedges, snacks and similar foods. No hot food, sternos or alcoholic beverages are allowed. Water and juice boxes are fine.
   
   
9. Is there designated parking for the birthday party guests?
   Parking at the Zoo is free for everyone. There is not a designated parking area for birthday party guests, so we suggest arriving early to park. Zoo admission is included for your guests in your package, so they can arrive early, find a place to park, and head to the party in the carousel.
   
   
10. What is the check-in procedure when we arrive?
    When you and your guests arrive, please inform the front gate attendant that you are here for a birthday party.  Please have your guest sign in under the birthday party sheet.  The front gate attendant will also give you your string backpack that contains the carousel tickets, gift for the birthday child, pencils, and scavenger hunt kits.  From there, please head to the carousel building for your 1.5 hour reserved party space!
    ​
    

The Zoo is also available for Special Events and Rentals! (To see our other venues, click here).
For more information or to make reservations, please e-mail Lindsay Durkee at bdayparties@beardsleyzoo.org.