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Party for the Planet

Party for the Planet

Saturday, April 22nd, 2023

10:30 am – 2:30 pm

Free with Zoo Admission!

It’s a party for the planet, come celebrate with us!

Party for the Planet is the largest combined Earth Day celebration in North America! More than 100 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums across the country celebrate with activities, giveaways, and special events.

Join us at the Buttonwood Park Zoo on Saturday, April 22nd from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, when we will offer our visitors the opportunity to explore, learn, and play. Over 20 local organizations and businesses are coming together to celebrate green, sustainable living, and teach us how to make choices that will ensure the health of our planet for generations to come. Don’t forget to bring in any unwanted electronics (see details below).

The Zoo will have live music, a raffle, fun games, face painting, an ambulance on site, Earth Day-inspired enrichment demonstrations with our animals, and so much more!

Spring into Action by tracking the monarch butterfly migration north from their overwintering grounds in Mexico to coastal California through the United States and Canada. To capture how monarchs recolonize the breeding areas, report the first sightings of adults, milkweeds, and eggs and larvae to Journey North. Already seen your “first” spring observations? No problem! Please report all observations after these “firsts” to Journey North as well. Tag AZA during registration by adding AZA Party for the Planet in the comment section of your report.

Create Pollinator Spaces in your backyard! AZA is partnering with The National Wildlife Federation to expand native habitats across AZA-accredited facilities and their members. NWF’s Certified Wildlife Habitat® program helps to create and restore habitat and wildlife populations. Turning your yard, balcony container garden, work landscape, or roadside greenspace into a Certified Wildlife Habitat® is fun, easy, and can make a lasting difference for wildlife. Spring into Action with AZA and NWF in creating native habitats near you!

Electronic Waste Drop-off

Members of the community can bring in any unwanted electronic item during Party for the Planet and we will see to it that it is properly recycled by an electronic recycling firm; one free child admission per party/family into Party for the Planet with E-Waste drop-off! 

All electronic items can be taken at no charge, with the exception of tube TVs. Those require a $10 disposal fee. Other items collected at no charge are cell phones, stereo equipment, desktop or laptop computers, printers, scanners, tablets, household appliances (toasters, blenders, etc), as well as microwaves and other consumer electronics.

Red, White and Brew at the Zoo

Red, White and Brew at the Zoo

If you LOVE craft brews and the great outdoors, grab your friends and enjoy a wild night at the Zoo!

Ticket purchase provides you with zoo admission, your own souvenir sampling glass, unlimited beer/wine samples, animal encounters, and great live entertainment! Food will be available for purchase during the event.This is a 21+ event, so have your ID ready at the gate! Doors open at 6:00 pm.

VIP Admission Perks!

  • A unique sampling glass
  • $10 voucher for food
  • Early Entrance to Brew – 5:00 pm!
  • VIP Only Samples

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the continued growth of the Buttonwood Park Zoo’s educational programs, ensuring that South Coast families will always have a way to experience nature close to home.

Want your brewery, winery, or food truck to join in on the fun? Contact Kris at kcaisse@bpzoo.org to learn more on how to register your business!

$50 per person 

$25 for a Designated Driver*

*Please note, this ticket does NOT include beer & wine tasting.

$85 per person 

$35 for a Designated Driver*

*Please note, this ticket does NOT include beer & wine tasting.

THE MENU

Gonzalez Food Truck

THE BEER VENDORS

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Soiree at the Zoo

Soiree at the Zoo

Have a Wild Night at BPZOO

July 6, 2023

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Pictured: Mike Benjamin and the Keepers

Join us on Thursday, July 6th from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm at the Buttonwood Park Zoo for a magically wild evening of delectable bites, cocktails, encounters with animal residents, our annual “Zoolala” auction, live music and dancing with Mike Benjamin and the Keepers.

Your support of this event helps us provide high-quality educational programs to the community, as well as helps BPZOO maintain a high standard of animal care.

“Take a bid on the wild side” and support the Buttonwood Park Zoological Society as you explore one-of-a-kind experiences, artful creations, unique gifts, and much more.

Your contribution provides critical support for New Bedford’s beloved local zoo. By participating, you protect endangered wildlife, connect our community to nature, and safeguard the sustainability of this treasured organization for generations to come.

Auction will go live at 8:00 am, Thursday, July 6th and close at 9:00 pm during the Soiree. 

Soiree at the Zoo

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Thank You to Our Sponsors

Spring Fling & Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

Spring Fling & Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

Nature’s party comes in spring and it is time to celebrate!

Saturday & Sunday: April 1st & 2nd

Rain Date April 8th Upon Event Cancelation

10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Last entrance at 4:15 pm

Members: Login into your account to purchase tickets. You will see the discount at checkout.

The Spring Fling event will be held outdoors, rain or shine. Tickets are non-refundable. Carousel rides are weather permitting.

On April 1st & 2nd, Buttonwood Park Zoo will host Spring Fling, an opportunity to welcome the warmer weather and have fun with activities throughout the day.

Throughout the day, you will be able to enjoy magic shows, craft stations, face painting, educational activities, special guests, games, and more!

Our animals will also join in on the fun, as many will receive special enrichment during Spring Fling. Watch as the animals use natural behaviors to forage for food and discover different items or scents in their habitats.

There will be endless photo opportunities, unlimited carousel rides, and up-close meet and greets with our own Animal Ambassadors. Last bud not least, a visit from the Easter Bunny!

Member Ticket Price:

Under 2: Free
Child (2-17): $7
Adult (18+): $11

Non-BPZOO Member Ticket Price:

Under 2: Free
Child (2-17): $12
Adult (18+): $16

Purchasing tickets in advance is advised.

Zoo is closed to General Admission.

Our Entertainment Line Up!

Samantha Rabbit
Face Painting

Breakfast with
the Easter Bunny

Premier Experience

Saturday & Sunday
April 1st & 2nd

Rain Date April 8th Upon Event Cancelation

(SATURDAY, APRIL 1st IS SOLD OUT)

Breakfast is served from 9:00 am – 10:00 am in the Wildlife Education Building Classrooms. Breakfast will be catered by On the Go Catering. 

The ticket price includes breakfast, a private meeting with the Easter Bunny, and access to Spring Fling. Spring Fling opens at 10:00 am.

Members: Login into your account to purchase tickets.
You will see the discount at checkout.

Member Ticket Price:

Under 2: Free
Child (2-17): $27
Adult (18+): $31

Non-BPZOO Member Ticket Price:

Under 2: Free
Child (2-17): $32
Adult (18+): $36

Have you ever wondered what the Easter Bunny has for Breakfast? Contrary to popular belief, it is not just carrots. Breakfast with the Easter Bunny means you’re going to be enjoying eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, and more! 

You’re going to have to tackle an entire plate of breakfast while you’re hanging out with friends and family. After you are done with your plate, you will get to have time to meet and take pictures with the Easter Bunny before going off and enjoying the activities of our Spring Fling. He may even have a special treat for you!

Advanced purchasing of tickets for Breakfast with the Easter Bunny is required.
Tickets are non-refundable.
Zoo is closed to General Admission.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Thank you to South Coast Smiles Pediatrics Dentistry for being our Presenting Sponsor!

International Red Panda Day

International Red Panda Day

BPZOO CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL RED PANDA DAY 

Join us for International Red Panda Day at the Zoo on Saturday, September 17th to learn about our red pandas, Jacob and Marie, and raise awareness about this beautiful, yet endangered species.

There will be a special Red Panda Keeper Chat at 2:00pm.

Let’s see how much we can raise for red pandas! Donate to the Zoo’s conservation donation fund during your visit, or online, and be entered into a raffle to win a VIP Red Panda Encounter for four people! For every $5.00 donation, you’ll receive one raffle entry. These donations must be made in person or online on September 17th to be entered.

 

Do you have a red panda shirt? Wear it to the Zoo on September 17th and you’ll receive a free ride ticket! Be sure to tag us on social media and show that you want to #savetheredpanda!

 

What are we doing to protect this endangered species?

BPZOO is proud to partner with the Red Panda Network, the world leader in efforts to protect red pandas and their habitat, as a Reforestation Sponsor. Our most recent donation of $5,000 will support the land purchase, reforestation, and the salary of a local land steward for one hectare of red panda habitat in the Panchthar-Ilam-Taplejung (PIT) corridor in eastern Nepal: a critical location for red panda conservation that has been heavily fragmented and degraded by deforestation.

Red pandas are unique, important and unfortunately endangered. There may be as few as 2,500 red pandas remaining in the wild. Red pandas are a flagship species. Their conservation has landscape-level impacts, and like an umbrella, the entire ecoregion — its forests and wildlife — are protected when red pandas are conserved.

 

BPZOO is dedicated to protecting wildlife and wild places.