Get Ready for Adventure: Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Unveils the 2024 Summer Calendar Lineup

Bridgeport, CT – Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is thrilled to announce the launch of its Summer 2024 Calendar, packed with exciting events and educational programs from June through September. As temperatures rise, the Zoo becomes the perfect family getaway with an array of activities designed to engage all ages in wildlife conservation and fun.
​
June
June 1:  Kick off the month with Wild Wine Beer & Food Safari. This adult-only evening features local breweries and delicious cuisine amidst our wildlife exhibits.   Sample tastings from dozens of restaurants, caterers, wine & 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, that benefits the care of endangered species, expansion of our exhibits, and educational programming. Click here for info and to get your tickets.

​June 3: Submissions open today for the annual Photo Exhibition. Capture the beauty of nature and submit your best shots for a chance to be displayed at the Zoo.  The final exhibition will be hosted at the zoo on Wednesday, July 24th.  Click here for more and to enter your pics!

---

June 13: The popular Zoo Tots returns, offering engaging educational sessions for our youngest visitors.  Buzz, Buzz!  Learn about some of our most dynamic pollinators, the HoneyBee!  ​This monthly 30-minute program, for children 22 months to four years who are accompanied by an adult, may include stories, games, crafts, and live animals.  Click here to register. 

June 15: Skyhunters in Flight is back (!) every weekend June 15th through September 2nd. Watch birds of prey fly above 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.

June 16: Celebrate Father’s Day with dad, grandpa, your fatherly figures or bring the whole family!

June 19: Join an insightful Evening Lecture Series featuring Capturing Wildlife: How Best to Use your Trail Camera.  Trail cameras are infinitely patient and allow scientists, students, and any wildlife enthusiast to photograph the secret lives of wildlife in back yards and remote wilderness. Learn how to deploy cameras to document wildlife for science-fair projects, research, or just plain fun.  Click here to sign up today.

June 20: It’s national Bald Eagle Day and we have special activities planned with our very own, Kodiak. On this day in 1782 the Bald Eagle was designated our nation’s symbol.

June 22: Mark your calendar for World Rainforest Day and celebrate the importance of healthy, standing rainforests for climate, biodiversity, culture, and livelihoods, and convenes a global movement to protect and restore them. Visit our rainforest building and learn more about the different species that call the rainforest home!

JULY
Summer Animal Shows, Every Thurs and Fri in July at 11:00 AM and 2:00 pm in our Adventure Amphitheater. Do they fly? Walk? Swim? Slither? Creep or crawl? Come meet amazing Animal Ambassadors and their expert caregivers, to learn how animals explore their diverse environments in this year’s show Movin’ and Groovin’. Shows will be held Thursdays and Fridays at 11:00 AM and 2:00 pm in our adventure amphitheater!  Audiences of all ages are invited to visit the zoo this summer to attend one of our amazing summer shows! These shows are designed to spark a connection with wildlife and encourage caring for conservation.

July 4: Celebrate Independence Day by visiting the Zoo and our bald eagle Kodiak! In 1782, the bald eagle was adopted as the symbol for the United States of America.

July 16: Slither over and celebrate World Snake Day with an Emerald Tree Boa, Kingsnake, Boa Constrictor and more.

July 20: Don’t miss the Teddy Bear Festival, a day of fun and games.  Children are invited to bring their favorite plush toy to the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital “Clinic” for a health checkup.  The day is filled with healthy activities and education.  Hugs to our Teddy Bear Sponsor: CHET, Connecticut Higher Education Trust. 

July 29: Join us for International Tiger Day, Zoo Educators will be on site to discuss and present tabletop displays that will celebrate this iconic animal. 1:00pm – 3:00pm.  
 
August
Summer Animal Shows: Every Thursday and Friday in August at 11:00 AM and 2:00 pm in our Adventure Amphitheater. Do they fly? Walk? Swim? Slither? Creep or crawl? Come meet amazing Animal Ambassadors and their expert caregivers, to learn how animals explore their diverse environments in this year’s show Movin’ and Groovin’. Shows will be held Thursdays and Fridays at 11:00 AM and 2:00 pm in our adventure amphitheater!  Audiences of all ages are invited to visit the zoo this summer to attend one of our amazing summer shows! These shows are designed to spark a connection with wildlife and encourage caring for conservation.

August 2: 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.

August 14: Talking to Bugs: Harnessing insect communication to advance conservation and pest management with Dr. Bekka Brodie. Dr. Bekka Brodie “talks to bugs”! Her research focuses on understanding how insects communicate with each other and their environment, along with interactions with plants. Using a mix of chemistry, behavior, and physiology, Dr. Brodie unravels the signals insects use through smell, sight, or sound, and how these signals have evolved. Click here to register.

August 22 and 29: MonarchWatch Classes: MonarchWatch is a Citizen Science program which involves volunteers to tag and record Monarch Butterflies. Your contribution will help scientists collect very valuable data to study the population and its migration patterns down to Mexico for the winter season.  Monarch butterflies have many direct threats from weather to habitat loss and destruction of valuable food sources due to herbicides and agricultural expansion. With that, Monarch Butterfly numbers are steadily in decline. Your participation in this program will help aid in the conservation efforts of these magnificent pollinators for years to come.

September
September 2: Enjoy Labor Day Weekend at the Zoo. Zoo Educators will be on site to discuss and present tabletop displays that will celebrate this iconic animal. 1:00pm – 3:00pm.  

September 4: National Wildlife Day come on over and learn about the wildlife we have here at the zoo.

September 5: MonarchWatch classes: MonarchWatch is a Citizen Science program which involves volunteers to tag and record Monarch Butterflies. Your contribution will help scientists collect very valuable data to study the population and its migration patterns down to Mexico for the winter season.  Monarch butterflies have many direct threats from weather to habitat loss and destruction of valuable food sources due to herbicides and agricultural expansion. With that, Monarch Butterfly numbers are steadily in decline. Your participation in this program will help aide in the conservation efforts of these magnificent pollinators for years to come.

September 8:  Red Wolf Week:  The American red wolf is the rarest wild animal in the US and the most endangered wolf in our nation and the world. Red wolves have the incredible power to shape the landscape in a way that benefits plants, animals and people. Their presence has a domino effect on their surroundings, leading to a balanced ecosystem. On Sept 8, Zoo Educators will be on site at our Red Wolf Exhibit, to share artifacts and to discuss this highly endangered species. 1:00pm – 3:00pm.  

September 9: Tee off for conservation at the 18th Annual Zoo Golf Tournament! Gather three coworkers, friends or family members and join us at the exclusive Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield for fun and fundraising!  This year's tournament will feature a traditional shotgun start, grill lunch, and buffet dinner. Click here to learn more and register.

September 14: Brush off those superhero capes and take out the tiaras for Fairy Tails Day presented by Connecticut Children’s Pediatric Care Alliance with Hartford HealthCare  Saturday, September 14, the Zoo turns into a magical land, with a day full of fun activities, including princesses, superheroes, story times, face painting. New to this year’s event, Read to Grow will be bringing their Bookmobile to hand out books in over a dozen different languages!

September 18: Southern Connecticut State University Biology Professor Miranda Dunbar will present an Evening Lecture on bats. According to Professor Dunbar, bats are especially important animals because they provide more ecosystem services than many other vertebrate species. 
“What we can’t see scares us, and bats, being nocturnal animals, aren’t often seen,” Dunbar says. “There are so many tall tales built around these animals, and so few of us who study bats to correct these myths. Let’s amend that.” Click here to register.
​
September 20: AARP Day
AARP members can enjoy free admission to the Zoo. Members must register through the AARP website and pick up their tickets at the AARP table located at the main entrance. ​
​
September 21: International Red Panda Day. The Zoo is happy to celebrate International Red Panda Day! The Red Panda is classified as Endangered due to human caused threats like deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and the illegal pet trade. Visit the zoo to learn more about this amazing animal who sleeps 12 or more hours a day and meet Berry and Dorji!  Meet Zoo Educators at our Red Panda exhibit, to see artifacts and to learn about this adorable animal. 1:00pm – 3:00pm.  

SAVE THESE DATES!

GLOW Wild Returns! September 26th through December 15th don’t miss the journey through a wonderland of illuminated larger-than-life lanterns inspired by our wild world.
Back by popular demand!   Guests are invited to walk through glowing corridors and marvel at displays of flora and fauna that light the night sky, dazzling guests of all ages!  GLOW Wild is Presented by ASML.   

The Zoo Gala takes place on Saturday, October 19th at the Inn at Longshore in Westport!  ​The 5th Annual Zoo Gala is a wildly fun evening that benefits conservation efforts and education. All funds raised go towards the care of our endangered species, expansion of our exhibits, and educational programming.​The evening will include a VIP hour, live entertainment, cocktails, dinner, an exciting silent and live auction, & animal encounters!  Click here for more info.

Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, offering a unique blend of education and fun. Each event and program is designed to deepen the connection between visitors and the natural world, while supporting the Zoo's mission of conservation and education.
For more information about our summer events or to purchase tickets, please visit our website at www.beardsleyzoo.org. Stay updated by signing up for our monthly newsletter and following us on social media for the latest news and event announcements. Join us for a summer of unforgettable experiences at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo!

About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Connecticut’s only zoo, celebrating 102 years, features 350 animals representing primarily North and South American and Northern Asian species. Guests won’t want to miss our Red Pandas, Andean bears, Maned Wolves, Mexican Gray Wolves, and Red Wolves. Other highlights include our Spider Monkey Habitat, and a new prairie dog exhibit that we’ll cut the ribbon on soon! As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participant in its Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs, the non-profit Zoo is committed to the preservation of endangered animals and wild habitats. Tickets must be purchased on the Zoo’s website at beardsleyzoo.org.