Events
Featured Event
Yoga with the Elephants
September 22, 2019 - 8:30am to 10:00am
Event Information
A co-hosted event with Roger Williams Park Zoo and Laughing Elephant Yoga
Spend a Sunday morning on your mat adjacent to the majestic elephants at Roger Williams Park Zoo! Reconnect with your mind and body as waterfalls create the serene backdrop with the elephants before the Zoo opens to the public. Complimentary fresh fruit cup and bottled water. Continue your journey with a leisurely stroll through the zoo, and enjoy visiting with all the animals in a beautiful setting.
Date: Sunday, September 22
Time: 8:30 am - 10:00 am (8:00 am check-in)
Cost: $37 per guest; price includes fruit cup, fruit infused water and Zoo admission for one adult
What to Bring: Must provide own yoga mat, towel and water for class.
Please note: All activities are OUTSIDE. NO REFUNDS (in the event of bad weather the class will be rescheduled to Sunday, September 29.) Yoga class is for All Levels, and guided by a professional instructor from Laughing Elephant Yoga.
Questions prior to registering? Contact Beth Pincince, Special Events & Promotions Manager, at bpincince@rwpzoo.org.
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Rise & Play: sensory-friendly mornings in Our Big Backyard
July 20, 2019 - 9:00am to September 21, 2019 - 10:00am
Event Information
Join us for an hour of nature play before the zoo opens: designed for families who have a child with sensory sensitivities, come and play in Hasbro’s Our Big Backyard from 9 to 10 a.m. Build mud pies, watch boats float downstream and climb high in a tree-house. Limited to 70 participants, this hour will allow you and your family to spend time playing in nature, in a smaller group of guests.
Try something new:Imagination playground, a large-scale building toy, will be available for guests to use during this time. This amazing play material allows you to create tall towers, build ramps and create cities, all at your own pace.
The Nature Swap room will be available with books and carpet squares for families who need a quiet space during the event.
Dates:
- Tuesday, September 3rd
- Saturday, September 21st
Time: 9:00 - 10:00 am
Pricing: Regular Zoo admission ($12.95/child; $15.95/senior; $17.95/adult); Free for RWPZoo members
Please note: Rise & Play is free for Roger Williams Park Zoo members, but you must log into your account and pre-register!
Food Truck Friday
August 30, 2019 - 5:00pm to September 27, 2019 - 8:30pm
Event Information
One of the best things about the warmer weather is Food Truck Friday at the Carousel. Come experience the array of foods and delicious sweets from a variety of vendors at this magnificent event. Take a ride on the historic Carousel, or hop onboard the Carousel Express train -weather permitting. Plus, admission is free!
Dates: Fridays, Now - September 27, 2019
Time: 5:00 - 8:30 pm
Please note: VIP Experience available for $85 includes reserved seating for up to eight people (outdoors or indoors), and eight Carousel rides and beverage vouchers. To purchase a VIP experience, click here>
Food Truck Friday is produced by PVD Food Truck Events and Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village with additional support from Food Trucks In, Trinity Brewhouse, Gooseneck Vineyards, and Motif Magazine.
Preschool Adventures (Ages 3 - 5)
September 7, 2019 - 9:30am to February 8, 2020 - 10:30am
Event Information
These 90-minute programs focus on a special animal or area of the Zoo and present opportunities for adult/child pairs to make discoveries together. Programs include a lesson, activity, a craft, an up-close encounter with one of our education animals and a walk to an exhibit. Please note this program does not include direct interaction with exhibit animals. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Please note: Due to the nature of the program and limited space,
- Additional adults cannot be accommodated.
- Younger or older siblings cannot be accommodated
Pricing:
- Members: $14 per child/adult pair
- Non-members: $42 per child/adult pair
Dates & Themes:
- September 2019 - Flamingo Click HERE to Register
- Sat 9/14 SOLD OUT or 9/21(9:30 am SOLD OUT)..... 9:30 am or 12:00 pm
- Tues 9/10..... 9:30 am SOLD OUT
- Wed 9/11..... 9:30 am SOLD OUT
- Thurs 9/12.....9:30 am or 1:00 pm SOLD OUT
- Fri 9/13.....9:30 am SOLD OUT
- October 2019 - Elephant Click HERE to Register
- *Please note that this class will be taking place in the Big Backyard*
- Sat 10/5, 10/12, or 10/19..... 9:30 am or 12:00 pm
- Tues 10/1..... 9:30 am SOLD OUT
- Wed 10/2..... 9:30 am
- Thurs 10/3..... 9:30 am or 1:00 pm
- Fri 10/4..... 9:30 am
- November 2019 - Snakes Click HERE to Register
- Sat 11/2, 11/9, or 11/16..... 9:30 am or 12 pm
- Tues 11/5..... 9:30 am
- Wed 11/6..... 9:30 am
- Thurs 11/7..... 9:30 am or 1 pm
- Fri 11/8..... 9:30 am
- December 2019 - Giant River Otters Click HERE to Register
- Sat 12/7, 12/14, or 12/21..... 9:30 am or 12 pm
- Tues 12/3..... 9:30 am
- Wed 12/4..... 9:30 am
- Thurs 12/5..... 9:30 am or 1 pm
- Fri 12/6..... 9:30 am
- January 2020 - Komodo Dragon Click HERE to Register
- Sat 1/4, 1/11, or 1/18..... 9:30 am or 12 pm
- Tues 1/7..... 9:30 am
- Wed 1/8..... 9:30 am
- Thurs 1/9..... 9:30 am or 1 pm
- Fri 1/10..... 9:30 am
- February 2020 - Birds of Prey Click HERE to Register
- Sat 2/1 or 2/8..... 9:30 am or 12 pm
- Tues 2/4..... 9:30 am
- Wed 2/5..... 9:30 am
- Thurs 2/6..... 9:30 am or 1 pm
- Fri 2/7..... 9:30 am
Please note: These Preschool Adventures programs does not include direct interaction with exhibit animals.
Pre-registration is required and ends 48 hours prior to the program. Refunds are only given if the program is cancelled by the Zoo. Requests to transfer the date of your registration must be received at least 48 hours in advance. A $5 fee will be charged when any change is made.
Please note that a minimum of 5 program participants is required to run a class. Participants will be notified one week before the scheduled class if a class has to be cancelled due to low enrollment.
Questions? Contact programs@rwpzoo.org or call (401) 785-3510 ext. 358.
Yoga with the Elephants
September 22, 2019 - 8:30am to 10:00am
Event Information
A co-hosted event with Roger Williams Park Zoo and Laughing Elephant Yoga
Spend a Sunday morning on your mat adjacent to the majestic elephants at Roger Williams Park Zoo! Reconnect with your mind and body as waterfalls create the serene backdrop with the elephants before the Zoo opens to the public. Complimentary fresh fruit cup and bottled water. Continue your journey with a leisurely stroll through the zoo, and enjoy visiting with all the animals in a beautiful setting.
Date: Sunday, September 22
Time: 8:30 am - 10:00 am (8:00 am check-in)
Cost: $37 per guest; price includes fruit cup, fruit infused water and Zoo admission for one adult
What to Bring: Must provide own yoga mat, towel and water for class.
Please note: All activities are OUTSIDE. NO REFUNDS (in the event of bad weather the class will be rescheduled to Sunday, September 29.) Yoga class is for All Levels, and guided by a professional instructor from Laughing Elephant Yoga.
Questions prior to registering? Contact Beth Pincince, Special Events & Promotions Manager, at bpincince@rwpzoo.org.
Zoo School
September 27, 2019 - 10:30am to April 24, 2020 - 1:00pm
Event Information
Join Roger Williams Park Zoo for a series of monthly, hour-long classes, designed for homeschool students. These drop-off classes start in September and run through April. Pre-registration is required.
*Please note: A Roger Williams Park Zoo or Reciprocal Membership is required for all non- Zoo School participants including parents, guardians, and siblings. Without a membership, non- zoo school participants, entering the zoo for drop-off, will be required to pay admission.
Dates: 9/27, 10/25, 11/22, 12/20, 1/24, 2/28, 3/27 & 4/24
Cost:
- Ages 4-12: $104 for the series
- Ages 13-16: $144 for the series
Offerings:
- Ages 4-5: Animal Exploration
- 10:30-11:30 am SOLD OUT
- 12:00-1:00 pm Click HERE to Register
- A great introduction to Zoo School! Participants will explore a specific animal each month through stories, crafts, games, centers and encounters with animal ambassadors.
- *For the safety of the participants, this class does not include exploration within the Zoo.
- *Please note even though the theme is same as the 2018-2019 Zoo School Series, all of the monthly topics will be different.*
- Ages 6-8: Animal Classification
- 10:30-11:30 am SOLD OUT
- 12:00-1:00 pm SOLD OUT
- Through centers, crafts, games and encounters with animal ambassadors, participants will explore how scientists classify animals based on their structures.
- *For the safety of the participants, this class does not include exploration within the Zoo.
- Ages 9-12: Nicknames and Nomenclatures
- 10:30-11:30 am Click HERE to Register
- 12:00- 1:00 pm Click HERE to Register
- Through lessons, activities, encounters with animal ambassadors and exploration of the Zoo, participants will explore taxonomy using the hierarchical system for classifying and identifying organisms.
- Ages 13-16: Animal Related Careers: Explore the Possibilities
- 1:30-2:30 pm Click HERE to Register
- Through interactive lessons, encounters with animal ambassadors and Zoo exploration, participants will explore animal related career opportunities.
Questions? Contact Andrea Stein at Astein@rwpzoo.org or call (401)785-3510 ext. 359.
Breakfast with the Elephants (Ages 7+)
September 28, 2019 - 8:30am to 10:30am
Event Information
Rise and shine with the Zoo’s herd of African elephants in an exclusive experience before the Zoo opens. Start by dining al fresco on a hot breakfast buffet at the Serengeti Market Café, enjoying fresh fruit, softly scrambled eggs, smoked bacon and country sausage, breakfast potatoes tossed with peppers and onions, freshly brewed coffee (regular and decaf) and tea, a variety of chilled juices, and spring water. After breakfast, you’ll join a zookeeper that cares for the elephants to learn about elephant diets, care, training, and more. You will even walk in the footsteps of giants when the program takes you into the outdoor elephant yard to see the elephant pool, enrichment, and hanging hay nets. Capacity is limited to 30 participants.
Date: Saturday, September 28 (rain or shine) SOLD OUT
Time: 8:30 am
Price: $55 RWP Zoo members; $65 Non-members
Please note: Capacity is limited to 30 participants. Tickets are non-refundable. Ticket price includes a hot breakfast buffet, program, and admission to the Zoo post program. Participants age 15 and younger must be accompanied by a registered adult. Pre-registraion is required.
Zoo-Cation Day Camps
September 30, 2019 - 8:30am to January 20, 2020 - 3:30pm
Event Information
A day off from school doesn’t have to mean a day off from learning, exploring, and making friends! These one-day camps will engage campers in a full day of crafts, hands-on and inquiry-driven activities, encounters with wild animal ambassadors, and a tour of the Zoo where each camper will get a chance to feed the goats in the Alex and Ani Farmyard.
Theme: Guess Zoo! A Who's Who of Your Zoo!
Come explore the animals of Roger Williams Park Zoo and learn what you and your favorite snack have in common with our animals and their favorite foods. Inquiry based activities, crafts and games along with animal encounters will surely provide a day off from school to satisfy any appetite.
Dates & Themes:
- Rosh Hashanah: Monday, September 30 - Plants/Decomposers Click HERE to Register
- Adventures (ages 6 - 11): 8:30 am
- Tadpole Academy (ages 4 & 5): 8:30 am
- Yom Kippur: Wednesday, October 9 - Herbivores Click HERE to Register
- Adventures (ages 6 - 11): 8:30 am
- Tadpole Academy (ages 4 & 5): 8:30 am
- Veteran's Day: November 11 - Carnivores Click HERE to Register
- Adventures (ages 6 - 11): 8:30 am
- Tadpole Academy (ages 4 & 5): 8:30 am
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: January 20 - Omnivores Click HERE to Register
- Adventures (ages 6 - 11): 8:30 am
- Tadpole Academy (ages 4 & 5): 8:30 am
Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Price: Members $64 / Non-Members $72
Age Goups:
- Ages 4 & 5: Tadpole Academy (max 10 per day, full day only)
- Ages 6 – 11: Adventures (max 30 per day, divided into smaller groups based on ages)
Please Note: If your desired day of camp is sold out, please contact programs@rwpzoo or (401) 785-3510 ext. 358 to be added to a waitlist.
Important Zoo-Cation Day Camp Info
- Registration deadlines are one week prior to your desired day of camp, but camps may sell out prior to deadlines.
- Campers must be the minimum age of each camp at the time of attending camp. Requirements are not negotiable and are strictly enforced. RWP Zoo reserves the right to cancel your registration if your camper does not meet the minimum age requirement.
- All Tadpole Academy campers must be completely toilet trained (requiring no assistance in the bathroom).
- Refunds, minus a $15.00 registration fee per camper per day camp, will only be given if requested at least four weeks prior to each Zoo-Cation Day Camp. For example, the final date for refunds for camp on Monday, November 11th is Monday, October 14th. Absolutely no refunds will be given after these dates.
- Pre-paid lunch options for full-day campers are available. For $6/day, choose from cheese pizza, a turkey sandwich, mac and cheese, a ham & cheese roll-up, or a veggie quesadilla, all with a juice box and a piece of fruit packaged in recyclable and compostable containers.
- Zoo-Cation Day Camp registrations do not include a ZooCamp t-shirt.
- After Care is available for $12/day per camper, last pick up is at 5:30pm
View the 2019 Zoo-Cation Day Camp Handbook and FAQ documents for more details.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
October 3, 2019 - 6:00pm to November 3, 2019 - 10:30pm
Event Information
Celebrate the wonders of New England and all its glory and magic at the nationally acclaimed Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular presented by Citizens Bank at Roger Williams Park Zoo. Feast your senses on autumn’s beauty, winter’s swirling snow, spring’s first blossoms and summer’s ocean breezes intricately carved on thousands of pumpkins displayed along the Zoo’s beautiful Wetlands Trail. Follow the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular on Facebook and Instagram
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is open rain or shine. In the case of light to moderate rain, the show will be open. NO REFUNDS OR RESCHEDULING. Read below for details on pricing, parking, and our weather and membership policies. Mark your calendars - Tickets on-sale NOW!
Important Information:
- Prime Nights (Friday, Saturday, Sunday): Available for purchase ONLINE ONLY and timed ticket entry requires pre-registration.
- Value Nights (Monday through Thursday): Sold online and at Zoo admissions.
- AAA Member Discount (Tuesdays): Available for purchase at Zoo admissions ONLY.
Please note: Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is open rain or shine. In the case of light to moderate rain, the show will be open. NO REFUNDS OR RESCHEDULING.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular Pricing:
- Prime Nights (Friday, Saturday, Sunday): Available for purchase ONLINE ONLY and timed ticket entry requires pre-registration.
- Adult $18; child $15 (ages 2-12) | Current RWP Zoo members save $2 off adult and $1 off child tickets.
- 10 pm slot ONLY tickets: $15 adult and $12 child Friday, Saturday, and Sunday online and Zoo admissions.
- Trail open 6:00 – 11:00 pm. LAST TICKET SOLD AT 10:30 PM
- Children one and younger are always admitted free.
- Value Nights (Monday through Thursday): Sold online and at Zoo admissions.
- Adult $15, child $12 (ages 2-12) | Current RWP Zoo members save $2 off adult and $1 off child tickets.
- Trail open 6:00 - 10:30 pm. LAST TICKET SOLD AT 10:00 PM
- Children one and younger are always admitted free.
- AAA Member Discount (Tuesdays): Available for purchase at Zoo admissions ONLY.
- Current AAA members save $2 off adult and $1 off child tickets. (limit of two adults and two children)
- To receive the AAA discount, tickets must be purchased in-person and members must show a valid AAA membership card and a matching photo I.D.
- RWP Zoo Membership Discount:
- To receive the member discount for online tickets, all members must log into their online member account and the discount will automatically apply at checkout.
- Value Night ticket attendees may also purchase discounted member tickets in-person with a valid RWPZ membership card and matching photo I.D.
- Reciprocal memberships do not apply.
-
Group Savings:
- Host a Private Event: We offer the opportunity for organizations to host private events any night during our Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. No matter how big or small the event, we can provide you with an exciting evening. For more information please contact: gsales@rwpzoo.org.
- Purchase Discounted Tickets: Group discounts are available to parties with 25 or more paying guests. These discounts are available exclusively on Value Night tickets (Monday-Thursday evenings only). For more information please contact gsales@rwpzoo.org.
Two-Day Zoo Career Workshop (Ages 13-17)
October 19, 2019 - 9:30am to October 20, 2019 - 4:00pm
Event Information
A lifetime of doing what you love and loving what you do can begin with a small step. If you or someone in your life has ever dreamed of working with animals or in a zoo, this workshop could be the start of an amazing journey.
It takes a village to run a zoo and in this special program, teens will discover just how many different career opportunities a zoo holds. This Educator-led workshop will include encounters with ambassador animals, tours of the John J. Palumbo Veterinary Hospital, animal commissary, and elephant & giraffe holding spaces, exclusive behind-the-scenes hands-on interactions with zookeepers, and more. Please note: specific activities are subject to change.
A Deli Board Buffet lunch is included each day and will consist of smoked turkey, honey ham, genoa salami, tuna salad, garden salad, creamy cole slaw, kosher dill pickles, American and provolone cheese, a selection of breads and rolls, potato chips, and fresh fruit.
For Ages 13 - 17
- Date: Two Days: Saturday, October 19 - Sunday, October 20
- Time: 9:30 am - 4:00 pm (rain or shine)
- Cost: $250 RWP Zoo Members; $275 Non-members
Please note: Includes exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences, encounters with ambassador animals, and lunch both days. All registrations are final. There are no refunds unless the Zoo cancels the program. Deadline to register is October 10, 2019.
Question? Contact Programs@rwpzoo.org or call (401) 785-3510 ext. 358.
Boo at the Zoo - A Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular Family Overnight! (6+)
October 19, 2019 - 6:30pm to October 20, 2019 - 10:00am
Event Information
Saturday, October 19: Boo at the Zoo! A Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular Family Overnight (ages 6+)
Time: 6:30 pm - 10:00 am
Price:
- Members: $120 per parent/child pair; $60 per additional participant.
- Non-members: $130 per parent/child pair; $65 per additional participant.
Snooze at the Zoo for the wildest family overnight adventure in town! The night begins with pizza and ice cream before educators engage you and your child(ren) in an owl pellet dissection, program animal encounters, and give you VIP access to the world famous Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. Set up your sleeping bags in the Meller-Danforth Education Center with popcorn and a movie. You’ll need your zzzzs before waking up with the animals! A light breakfast will be provided before a morning Zoo tour.
Please note: There must be at least a 1:3 parent/child ratio. This program is not designed for adults without children
Important registration note: There are no refunds unless program is cancelled by the Zoo.
All requests to change the date of your program must be made at least 48 hours prior to the start of your scheduled program. Requests are not guaranteed and are dependent upon availability. A fee of $20 per program participant will be assessed when any change to your program date is made.
Questions? Contact programs@rwpzoo.org or call (401) 785-3510 ext 358.