Upcoming Events at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden | Arts & Culture

Toucan Tuesdays

Tuesdays this summer through August 28

Two can visit Riverbanks Zoo and Garden for the price of one Tuesdays this summer with a donation of two cans of non-perishable food to Harvest Hope Food Bank. Riverbanks will also offer $2 ICEES and 2-for-1 specials in the Elephant’s Trunk Gift Shop. The promotion applies to general admission rates only. Donation bins will be located at both the Zoo and Garden

entrances.

Members’ Night Series

May 25, June 22 and July 20, 2012

The 2012 Members’ Night Series is free, after-hours and for members only (no guest passes, please). Riverbanks members can stroll through the Zoo on three Friday evenings for three extraordinary hours - when the park is normally closed to the public. Come one evening or all three. Gates open at 6:00pm. Parking is at the main Zoo entrance only. Pre-registration is not required. For up-to-the minute details, log on to www.riverbanks.org and click on membership.

Summer Camps for All Ages

10 One-Week Sessions Beginning June 5, 2012

Three- to four-year-olds grow wild with Sprout Camp! Four- to five-year-olds can’t wait for KinderCamp! Six- to twelve-year-olds go ape over Wild Weeks! All campers learn about animals, plants and how to save the earth that we all share! Don’t miss the chance to enroll your child in Riverbanks Zoo and Garden’s summer camp programs—the most popular summer programs in the Midlands. Send your camper for TWO weeks of camp instead of one with multiple themes for KinderCamp and Wild Weeks! A discounted holiday week will be offered June 5th-8th and July 2-6 with no camp on July 4th. Discounts do NOT apply to Sprout Camp.  For more information, visit www.riverbanks.org or call (803) 779-8717 x1113 (for Sprout Camp, call x1799).

ZOOvie Nights

June 8, 15, 29 and July 6, 13, 27, 2012

Coming this summer…all-new ZOOvie Nights at Riverbanks Zoo! Grab your lawn chair and enjoy family-friendly, outdoor movies on select Friday nights in June and July. Admission to ZOOvie nights is $3 for Riverbanks members and $5 for the general public (Zoo members can enjoy a free sneak preview during Member’s Night on May 25). Tickets are available at the gate only! Zoo opens at 7:00pm. Concessions also will be available for purchase. For more information and the latest on “what’s showing,” stay tuned to www.facebook.com/riverbankszoo.

Brew at the Zoo

August 3, 2012

Make plans now to join us for the coolest suds sippin' safari in Columbia! Brew at the Zoo provides the perfect remedy to a muggy day in the Midlands—samples of cold, frothy beer. From domestics to imports to specialty micros, guests can choose their brew and meander through the Zoo or hang out in the plaza and listen to live music. Rain or shine. No one under 21 will be admitted. Tickets on sale June 1. Proceeds support ongoing conservation and education efforts at Riverbanks. Visit www.riverbanks.org or call (803) 779-8717 for tickets and information.

International Vulture Awareness Day

September 1, 2012

Celebrate the scavengers of the skies at Riverbanks Zoo on Saturday, September 1. From 10am-3pm, guests will have an opportunity to feed their hunger for vulture culture while encountering these amazing winged creatures that are some of the Earth’s most effective recyclers. Activities include a vulture training demonstration, a special Wings of the South bird show, keeper talks and various vulture education stations throughout the Zoo. The event is free with paid admission to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

Animal Enrichment Day

September 15, 2012

Fall into enrichment at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. The Zoo invites you to help celebrate Animal Enrichment Day on Saturday, September 15. Watch our wildlife in action when keepers give them special treats designed to encourage and stimulate natural behaviors. Guests will also enjoy animal encounters, a temporary tattoo station, arts and crafts, and a silent auction to participate in behind-the-scenes tours. Activities will take place between 10am and 4:30pm. The event is free with paid admission to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

Riverbanks ZOOfari

September 28, 2012

Don’t miss the wildest event in town! Riverbanks ZOOfari, the Zoo’s premier fundraiser, is set for Friday, September 28, at 7pm. Take an evening stroll through the Zoo, catch a glimpse of some wild creatures, savor tasty cuisine and cool cocktails, and bid on one-of-a-kind silent and live auction items. Proceeds support ongoing conservation and education efforts at Riverbanks. Visit www.riverbanks.org or call (803) 779-8717 for more information. 

Boo at the Zoo

October 19-30, 2012

Hey, kids! Put on your cutest costume and head over to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden for the Zoo’s popular Halloween spook-tacular, Boo at the Zoo! Children 12 and under are invited to wear costumes for a spook-fest complete with Frankenstein’s Foam Zone, an eeky freaky DJ dance party and a trick-or-treat trail with candy and much more. This family-friendly festival runs for 12 nights leading up to Halloween from 6 to 9pm. Visit www.riverbanks.org or call (803) 779-8717 for more information.

Veterans Day

November 12, 2012

Active duty and retired military personnel with a military ID card receive free admission in honor of Veterans Day. Call (803) 779-8717 for more information.

Lights Before Christmas

November 17 – December 30, 2012 (closed November 22, December 24 and 25)

Experience Columbia’s longest running holiday tradition—the 25th annual Lights Before Christmas at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. From 6 to 9pm each evening the Zoo shines with nearly one million twinkling lights and countless animated images representing some of Riverbanks’ most loveable residents. Take your photo with Santa, roast marshmallows and sip hot cocoa at the Jingle Bell Bonfire and if you’re dreaming of a white Christmas—Riverbanks is the only place in town where it snows every night! Visit www.riverbanks.org or call (803) 779-8717 for more information.

YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

Behind-the-Scenes Adventure Tours

Every Saturday

Walk on the “wild side” as you get an inside look at some out-of-sight places. Meet a penguin face-to-beak, scratch a Galapagos tortoise, measure up to a grizzly bear, help train an elephant, get face-to-whiskers with a tiger or feed a flamingo!  Encounter animals up close, explore behind the scenes and meet experienced keepers. Marvel at the unique challenges of animal care and the amazing efforts that go into creating and sustaining a world-class zoo. A variety of Adventure Tours are available. For schedules and pricing, visit www.riverbanks.org or call (803) 978-1113.

Educational Programs at Riverbanks

Homeschool Mondays
Homeschooled children ages 5 to 13, accompanied by an adult, are invited to participate in Homeschool Mondays at Riverbanks. Programs last 45 minutes and are offered twice monthly from September through May. Class times are 9:30am for the 5- to 7-year-old program, 10:45am for the 8- to 10-year-old program, and 12:00pm for the 11- to 13-year-old program. For more information visit www.riverbanks.org or email gkim@riverbanks.org.

Overnights and Night Howls

Throughout the Year

Discover the nightlife at Riverbanks! The Zoo’s interactive nighttime programs include live animal encounters, keeper-led behind-the-scenes tours, a hike through the Zoo at the end of the evening and a light snack. For those groups spending the night, light breakfast, a morning program, and free daytime admission to the park is also included. Nighttime adventures take place year-round, any day of the week, so call early to get your preferred date. Beginning in October, special event overnights are offered on select dates during Boo at the Zoo and Lights Before Christmas. A minimum of 15 participants are required for Night Howls and 25 for overnights. The Zoo can accommodate two groups per night with a maximum group size of 50.  For availability and details, visit www.riverbanks.org or call (803) 978-1113.