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June 26 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm EDT

What’s one way that the Virginia Zoo can show our members we care? ❤️ Hosting a special, free, after-hours event exclusively for Virginia Zoo Members 🤩, of course!  

At “A Look Behind the Scenes” on June 26th, members of all ages can learn directly from our dedicated staff about how we provide outstanding care for our animals! But this event isn’t just educational – you’ll also get the chance to ride the Virginia Zoo Express 🚂 for free, enjoy an evening exploration of the Zoo, access free bounce houses, and more!  

No advanced reservations are required, but attendees must show their Member ID upon arrival. Gates will open at 5pm and the event ends at 8pm. The event will take place rain or shine.  

This Member Night is the first of three in a series dedicated to exploring the Virginia Zoo’s 3 C’s of Conservation: care, connection (7/24) and community (8/14)! Click here to learn more about the 3 C’s of Conservation. BONUS! Member children (ages 2-17) who attend ALL 3 Member Nights will receive a FREE wristband for bounce houses at ZooBoo.

BECOME A MEMBER

Event Map

Activities

  • 5:00 – 5:30pm: Animal Ambassador Greeters in the Fountain Plaza
  • 5:00 – 7:50pm: Free Virginia Zoo Express train rides
    • Last ride at 7:45pm
  • 5:00 – 8:00pm: Gift Shop Open
  • 5:30 – 8:00pm: Behind-the-Scenes Open House
  • 5:30pm: Meet Head Veterinarian, Dr. Mary in front of the Animal Wellness Campus
  • 6:00 – 8:00pm: Diet Kitchen Chats
    • Each chat has the capacity for 20 guests. Sign up for these Diet Kitchen Chats is on a first come first serve basis. Sign up will be located at the Diet Kitchen Biofact Table at the Restaurant Garden Bed.
    • 6:00 – 6:20pm: Chat 1
    • 6:30 – 6:50pm: Chat 2
    • 7:00 – 7:20pm: Chat 3
    • 7:30 – 8:00pm: Chat 4
  • Music from local DJ
  • Free bounce house access
  • Partner Organizations:

ECO-CELL Donation Drive

  • Bring in your worn-out, unwanted electronics to Member Night for the chance to win an extra 2 FREE months added to your Membership or a Behind-the-Scenes Tour with our Eastern mountain bongo, Charlie! Donations will be collected at the front of the Zoo by our ZooCrew volunteers. 
  • There will be an ECO-CELL raffle drawing at the end of each Member Night to choose a winner for the extra 2 free months of Membership. Donations brought to the June Member Night count towards the June raffle, while donations brought to the July or August Member Nights will count towards those raffles respectively. After all three Member Nights, everyone that brought in donations to any of the three Member Nights will be entered to win the Behind-the-Scenes Bongo Tour!
  • Each electronic item donated counts as one entry. Each Membership can earn up to 5 entries, but feel free to bring in additional donations!
  • Acceptable donations include:
    • Cell phones,
    • iPads/tablets,
    • Smartwatches,
    • Handheld GPS,
    • iPods/MP3 players,
    • Personal digital assistants (PDAs or handheld PCs),
    • Handheld gaming systems,
    • VR headsets,
    • Digital handheld scanners, and
    • Walkie-talkies.
  • Your ECO-CELL donation will be recycled, reducing mining for rare minerals and metals that are essential in producing electronics. By reducing mining, you are protecting many endangered species’ habitats, including the critically endangered Eastern mountain bongo’s home range. Click here to learn more about this initiative.

Food & Drinks (extra cost)

Event Reminders

  • As an outdoor venue, events are rain or shine unless otherwise indicated. If any changes are made, an announcement via an email to our members and/or ticket holders and on the Virginia Zoo social media channels will be issued prior the event.
  • The Zoo is a smoke-free facility; no smoking is allowed inside the Zoo. This also includes e-cigarettes and vaping. Inability to follow this rule will result in dismissal from Zoo grounds without a refund.
  • By attending, you agree to abide by the Virginia Zoo’s Rules & Policies.