zoo happenings

Senior Safari at Knoxville Zoo, Saturday, September 6,   9:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m.

Knoxville Zoo presents Senior Safari, a celebration of Grandparents’ Day.  The day will be filled with fun activities including games, storytelling, visits from the Imagination Library, the East Tennessee Historical Society, and a live performance by the Tellico Tappers.  The first 100 children will have the opportunity to select a potted jade plant for their grandparent in celebration of Grandparents Day!  Seniors 65-years and older will receive a $2 discount to the event.  The discount cannot be combined with any other promotion or discount. 

Art Gone Wild at Knoxville Zoo, Friday, September 26, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Art and animal lovers will want to enjoy wine, cheese and artwork created by the Picassos of the animal world.  Guests will have the opportunity to view and purchase one-of-a-kind paintings created by our furry and feathered friends.  Tickets are $25 for non-members and $20 for zoo members.   Guests must be 21 or older and present a valid ID.  Reservations are required.

Enrichment Day at Knoxville Zoo, Saturday, September 27, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Guests will enjoy the opportunity to view enrichment activities that invoke behaviors much like the animals do in the wild.  Enrichment provides zoo animals with extra stimulation, encourages problem solving skills and natural behaviors.  Giving otters live fish,  demonstrating behaviors of gorillas and tigers, or other enrichment activities may be seen throughout the event.  Times for specific animals and demonstrations will be posted throughout the zoo.

Bloomin’ Butterfly Gardens at Knoxville Zoo

Experience Bloomin’ Butterfly Gardens in living color now at Knoxville Zoo.  This one-of-a-kind encounter will allow you to immerse yourself in a flurry of butterfly kisses as these flying flowers get in your face or sit gently on your shoulder!  This new exhibit is filled with hundreds and hundreds of butterflies allowing you to be touched by these magical creatures. Come see the skippers, flying flowers and painted ladies with all of their friends at Knoxville Zoo before they flutter bye!          

Bloomin Butterfly Gardens at Knoxville presented by

Toadally Frogs at Knoxville Zoo

Come have fun with frogs and all of their fabulous friends at Toadally Frogs, a ribbiting new exhibit at Knoxville Zoo. At this brand new exhibit, you can get to know your backyard neighbors in our backyard. Play at our ‘toadally hoppin’ pad inside the exhibit.