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June 7, Wild Wine, Beer & Food Safari, 6PM-9PM
Join us for the party of the year on Saturday, June 7. Sample dozens of our favorite restaurants, caterers, wine, and beer! Listen to live music, taste a Malbec with our monkeys or sip a pilsner with our prairie dogs! The Wild Wine, Beer, and Food Safari is one of the Zoo's largest fundraisers, with the goal of raising funds towards the care of our endangered species, expansion of our exhibits, and education programming. Please note that the Zoo will close at 1:00PM for event setup.
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June 15, Father's Day
Connecticut’s only Zoo wants to thank all fathers, grandfathers and father figures. Enjoy this special day by visiting the Zoo and having lunch together in the Peacock Pavilion.
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June 16-22, Pollinator Week
Join us for Pollinator Week as we celebrate nature’s tiny superheroes—bees, butterflies, bats, and beetles—that help grow the food we eat and the flowers we love. Visit on Saturday, June 14, to meet our educators and explore the Zoo’s thriving pollinator gardens, which provide vital habitat for native species. Discover how you can support pollinators at home and be part of the solution to protect these essential creatures.
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June 18, Evening Lecture Series, 7:00PM
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Outreach Wildlife Biologist Paul Benjunas will present some of the DEEP Wildlife Division’s ongoing research efforts, dispel some common wildlife myths, and discuss how members of the public can help conserve Connecticut’s wildlife! Join us at 7:00PM at the Zoo's Hanson Building for this informative presentation. Registration is $10.
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June 20, National Bald Eagle Day
It’s national Bald Eagle Day, come to the Zoo and visit our resident Bald Eagle, Kodiak. On this day in 1782 the Bald Eagle was designated our nation’s symbol. |
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June 22, Milford Photo Day
Join the photography professionals from Milford Photo at the Zoo as they demonstrate new cameras, lenses, and techniques for the best animal photos. Free with Zoo admission. |
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June 22, World Rainforest Day
World Rainforest Day celebrates the importance of healthy, standing rainforests for climate, biodiversity, culture, and livelihoods, and convenes a global movement to protect and restore them.
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June 26, Zoo Tots: Are They Insects? 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Are They Insects? Discover the difference between insects and arachnids. How can you identify if an animal is an insect? Join us for this fun and informative program at the Kathy Brady Education Center. Zoo Tots is a 30 minute program for ages 22 months to 4 years, who are accompanied by an adult. Activities may include stories, songs, puppet shows, crafts, and live animals. |
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June 27, AARP Day
If you’re an AARP cardholder, you and one guest can receive free admission to the Zoo! Pre-Registration required. |
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June 28, Skyhunters in Flight
Skyhunters in Flight is back! Beginning Saturday, June 28 and running until September 1, the Zoo will host the Skyhunters in Flight show every weekend. Be amazed as you watch birds of prey fly above you as Master Falconer Brian Bradley demonstrates their special powers. Get a closer look at owls, hawks, and falcons from around the world, and learn how these beautiful birds play an important role in our environment at the top of the food chain. Discover their amazing adaptations for survival in the wild and hear about the ancient sport of falconry and its training techniques. Showtimes are 11:00AM and 2:00PM. Skyhunters in Flight shows are included with cost of admission.
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Skyhunters in Flight, Every Saturday & Sunday
Skyhunters in Flight is back! Running until September 1, the Zoo will host the Skyhunters in Flight show every weekend with shows at 11:00am and 2:00pm. Be amazed as you watch birds of prey fly above you as Master Falconer Brian Bradley demonstrates their special powers. Get a closer look at owls, hawks, and falcons from around the world, and learn how these beautiful birds play an important role in our environment at the top of the food chain. Discover their amazing adaptations for survival in the wild and hear about the ancient sport of falconry and its training techniques. Skyhunters in Flight shows are included with cost of admission.
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Summer Animal Shows, Every Thursday & Friday
Grab your passports and pack your bags! Join the Zoo this summer on a whirlwind tour, Around the World in 30 Minutes! Explore dense rainforests, towering mountains, expansive grasslands along with our amazing animal ambassadors and their caregivers. Shows will be held Thursdays and Fridays at 11:00am and 2:00pm in our Adventure Amphitheater. Travelers of all ages are invited to visit the zoo this summer to attend one of our amazing summer shows!
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July 4, Independence Day
Happy Independence Day! Bring your family for a fun-filled day at the Zoo!
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July 9, Zoo Tots: Feathers! 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Why do birds have feathers? Join us in the Adventure Amphitheatre from 10:30 am to 11 am to learn all about feathers! (If it rains, we will meet in the Greenhouse.) Zoo Tots is a 30 minute program for ages 22 months to 4 years, who are accompanied by an adult. Activities may include stories, songs, puppet shows, crafts, and live animals. |
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July 16, World Snake Day
It's World Snake Day! Come explore and learn about these incredible, and often misunderstood, creatures at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo. |
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July 19, Teddy Bear Festival, 10 AM - 2 PM
Bring your favorite teddy bear friend or any special plush pal to the Zoo. This beary fun day will feature children’s activities and storytelling focusing on Bear Awareness and facts about real bears. There’s even a Teddy Bear Clinic where you can get a free health check up for your friend, sponsored by Yale New Haven Children's Hospital. Our Teddy Bear Festival is also sponsored by the State of Connecticut on behalf of the CHET 529 College Savings Program.
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July 20, National Zookeeper Week Begins
National Zookeeper Week focuses on the need to protect and preserve our wildlife and vanishing habitats via conservation messages. The animal care specialists at the Zoo are animal caretakers, educators for the public and wildlife ambassadors. Thank you to the amazing and dedicated staff at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo for taking care of the animals that call our Zoo home!
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July 23, 7th Annual Photography Exhibition
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is proud to announce its 7th annual photography contest. The contest serves as an opportunity for the Zoo’s many dedicated amateur and professional photographers to submit their best work for public viewing. The contest, sponsored by Milford Photo, will combine digital submissions with an in-person exhibition. Judging will take place in July, with an in-person show held on Wednesday, July 23 in the Zoo’s Hanson Building.
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July 25, National Carousel Day
It's National Merry-Go-Round Day! It's a perfect day to come ride the carousel at the Zoo!
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Skyhunters in Flight, Every Saturday & Sunday
Skyhunters in Flight is back! Running until September 1, the Zoo will host the Skyhunters in Flight show every weekend with showtimes at 11am and 2pm. Be amazed as you watch birds of prey fly above you as Master Falconer Brian Bradley demonstrates their special powers. Get a closer look at owls, hawks, and falcons from around the world, and learn how these beautiful birds play an important role in our environment at the top of the food chain. Discover their amazing adaptations for survival in the wild and hear about the ancient sport of falconry and its training techniques. Skyhunters in Flight shows are included with cost of admission.
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Summer Animal Shows, Every Thursday & Friday
Grab your passports and pack your bags! Join the Zoo this summer on a whirlwind tour, Around the World in 30 Minutes! Explore dense rainforests, towering mountains, expansive grasslands along with our amazing animal ambassadors and their caregivers. Shows will be held Thursdays and Fridays at 11:00am and 2:00pm in our Adventure Amphitheater. Travelers of all ages are invited to visit the zoo this summer to attend one of our amazing summer shows!
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August 2, International Golden Lion Tamarin Day
Visit the Zoo to see our resident Golden Lion Tamarins in the Rainforest building!
Golden lion tamarins are found in the forests of Brazil and are classified as endangered, mostly because of habitat loss. Zoos have played an important role in bringing golden lion tamarins back from the brink of extinction. |
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August 16, World Honeybee Day
Critical to our food supply, the decline of the honeybee is concerning to scientists worldwide. Join us at the Zoo to learn about conservation initiatives to help this species and what you can do in your own backyard to help.
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August 20, Zoo Tots: Hoo's at the Zoo? 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Hoo's at the Zoo? Join us in the Adventure Amphitheatre from 10:30 am to 11 am to meet our special guest! I will give you a hint - our special guest likes to hoot and is usually awake in the evening! (If it rains, we will meet in the Greenhouse.) Zoo Tots is a 30 minute program for ages 22 months to 4 years, who are accompanied by an adult. Activities may include stories, songs, puppet shows, crafts, and live animals. |
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September 8, 19th Annual Golf Tournament
It's time to tee off for conservation! Join us on Monday, September 8, 2025, at Brooklawn Country Club for a day of golf to benefit Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo. This year's tournament will feature a grill lunch, traditional shotgun start at 1pm, followed by a silent auction and buffet dinner.
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September 13, Fairy Tails Day, 10AM - 3 PMOn Saturday, September 13th from 10am-3pm, the Zoo will host “Fairy Tails Day,” a fantastical event filled with enchanting activities for kids of all ages. The Read to Grow Bookmobile along with various costumed storybook characters will be on Zoo grounds from 10am until 3pm. Children are welcome to dress as their favorite storybook character and let the magic unfold. Fairy Tails Day is presented by Connecticut Children's Pediatric Care Alliance with Hartford Healthcare.
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September 17, Evening Lecture Series, 7:00PM
Southern Connecticut State University Graduate Student, Keelyn Kotecki, studies bats and has traveled to Belize to focus her research on vampire bats. Kotecki will share her insights on her findings and offer explanations about bats and their importance in our ecosystem. Join us at 7:00PM at the Zoo's Hanson Building for this informative presentation! |
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October 18, Zoo Gala, 6:00 PM- 10:00PM
Join us on Saturday, October 18 at the Inn at Longshore in Westport for an elegant evening benefitting conservation. The Zoo Gala is one of the Zoo's largest fundraisers and all funds raised this evening directly support the Zoo’s mission of conserving critically endangered species and educating the public about their plight. The evening will include cocktails, dinner, live entertainment, and exciting silent auction, and of course-animal encounters! |
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October 19, National Wolf Awareness Week Begins
Wolf Awareness Week provides an opportunity for the public to learn about wolves and how they're fighting for their survival in the wild. Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is home to American Red Wolves, Mexican wolves, and Maned wolves. The Zoo is a proud participant in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Saving Animals From Extinction (S.A.F.E.) program, where zoos collectively harness internal and external resources to support species in need. Stop by and learn more about the species of wolves in our care and the efforts the Zoo participates in to ensure their survival for future generations.
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October 20, International Sloth Day
This day raises awareness about the life cycle and natural habitat of sloths, native South and Central American animals. Come find our two Two-toed sloths, Rhubarb and Hope, hiding in our Rainforest Building. The two-toed sloth is a mid-size animal with brownish-greenish fur that provides excellent camouflage. Hint: look up! |
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October 21, National Reptile Awareness Day
Each year on October 21, people across the nation observe National Reptile Awareness Day. Created not only for reptile lovers to celebrate, but National Reptile Awareness Day also promotes education, conservation, and appreciation for reptiles. It is a day to learn about their natural habitats and the ecological threats that they are facing. |
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October 25, Bat Week Begins
Each year Bat Week is an annual, international celebration of the role of bats in nature. Bat Week is organized by conservation organizations from across the United States and Canada. Come visit our Vampire bats in the Rainforest Building! |
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November 1, National Bison Day
The American Bison became the National Mammal in 2016 under President Obama, and National Bison Day celebrates this majestic animal the first Saturday of November. Take the time this week to visit the zoo and the two Bison that call the zoo home, Clara and Eleanor, and to educate yourself about the role of the American Bison in indigenous communities. |
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November 27, Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving! The Zoo is closed on Thursday, November 27. |
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December 14, International Monkey Day
This National Day celebrates around the world recognize the unique characteristics of simians. While the holiday is mainly about monkeys, it also celebrates other non-human primates such as apes, tarsiers, and lemurs. Monkeys live all over the world and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Their personalities and habits capture the attention of humans on many levels. These intelligent animals with opposable thumbs live in family groups, too. |
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