Spring at the Zoo: Making the Most of Your Visit

Bunny Brunch

Guests are invited to hop into spring with a magical Bunny Brunch supported by Cadbury! Guests can choose from four seatings: Sunday, March 29, 10:00am-12:00pm or 1:00pm-3:00pm; Sunday, April 5, 10:00am-12:00pm or 1:00pm-3:00pm. Guests are invited for a festive event filled with delicious food, animal fun and special holiday surprises. Enjoy a seasonal brunch buffet featuring family favorites, take photos with the Easter Bunny and meet one of the Zoo’s ambassador animals. Tickets include:

• Zoo admission for the day
• Full all-you-can-eat brunch buffet
• Meet-and-greet photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny
• Exclusive encounter with one of the Zoo’s ambassador animals

Tickets are $69 for adults and $59 for children for 2-11, 2 and under are free but still require a ticket. Zoo members receive a discount. Click here for menus and additional information!

Easter Egg Hunts

To celebrate Easter weekend, the Zoo will be holding a relaxed Easter Egg Hunt on Friday, April 3, Saturday, April 4, and Sunday, April 5 from 11:00am-2:00pm for children ages 2-12, presented by Cadbury. The hunt will take place at the South End of the Zoo across from the SEPTA PZ Express Train and Backyard Kitchen. Children are welcome to bring a basket and find as many eggs as they can to turn them in for candy! Those that find a golden egg will receive a special prize. No registration required. Children must be accompanied by an adult while participating.

Egg-cellent Egg Search

All guests who plan to visit the Zoo between Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, April 12, are invited on a self-guided Egg-cellent Egg Search to learn about 10 unique eggs in the animal kingdom. Many of us know reptiles, amphibians, birds, arachnids, and insects lay eggs, but what about the different sizes, shapes and textures they come in? Guests who find all 10 eggs and complete the accompanying entry form will receive a prize at the Guest Services Podium, courtesy of Cadbury. The self-guided Egg-cellent Egg Search is recommended for guests of all ages and included in admission or membership.

Philly Zoo Pherris Wheel

Get the best views of the city and surrounding scenery from the top of the Philly Zoo Pherris Wheel this spring! This 110-foot tall ride features breathtaking views of the city skyline, Schuylkill River, Philadelphia Art Museum and beyond. The Pherris wheel is a part of the hundreds of events celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in Philadelphia throughout 2026. Ride requires an additional ticket. Enjoy bundled Zoo Admission and Pherris Wheel tickets exclusively on the Zoo’s website.

Baby Francois Langur

The Zoo’s Francois langur family grew by one! Mom Mei Mei and dad Chester welcomed a baby girl in December who now can be seen at Primate Passage. She is the fifth Francois langur ever born at the Zoo. Infants are born with bright orange fur, making it easier for members of the family to see who has the baby.

New to the Zoo: Eastern Hellbender

Guests can now meet Pennsylvania’s State Amphibian on their next visit to the Reptile & Amphibian House. The Zoo is now home to an eastern hellbender, the largest salamander in North America. With their flattened head and body, four short, stout legs, long rudder-like tail and very small beady eyes, they are well adapted to their swift, flowing stream habitats. They vary in color from grayish to brown and black and can grow to be two feet long. This species might better be known by its various nick names include the snot-otter, Allegheny alligator, mud devil and mud dog.

Beautiful Spring Blooms

Every spring, the Zoo’s 42-acre campus and gardens come into full bloom in shades of pink, purple, white and yellow. Across the Zoo, guests can find eleven species of spring flowering trees, including dogwoods, red buds, magnolias, hawthorns, serviceberries, crabapples and two beautiful cherry blossom varieties. In early April as kiddos take a spin on the PZ SEPTA Express Train, they’ll ride past a dozen flowering trees, including light-pink to nearly-white higan cherry blossoms. In mid to late April, kwanzan cherry blossoms in deep pink hit peak bloom next to the Zoo’s Impala Lawn. Other magnificent flowering trees include the saucer magnolias that line the Zoo’s main entrance, flowering crabapple trees throughout the Bird Valley exhibit and the deep pink and purple red bud trees along the main path near KidZooU and the Reptile and Amphibian House. Plus, guests will delight in spring ephemerals like daffodils and hellebores as they signal that spring has really arrived.

Giraffe Experience Reopens for the Season

Get up close and personal with the tallest animals on the planet! Feed our giraffe trio in this one-of-a-kind encounter. Giraffe Experience is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily starting March 21. Giraffe Experience is weather and animal dependent. Additional ticket required.

Add to Our Goal of 250,000 Actions for Animals for America 250th

To celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary, guests are invited to visit the Zoo and contribute to our goal of 250,000 actions for animals in 2026! Part of the Zoo’s mission is to share its passion for conservation to save wildlife, and this challenge is designed to get people thinking differently about the ways they can thrive alongside the natural world. Actions for Animals include activities like cleaning up litter, planting native plants, participating in wildlife surveys, and much more, including opportunities to partner with the Zoo on projects around its 42-acre campus. This challenge is a part of the hundreds of events celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in Philadelphia throughout 2026.

Immerse Yourself in New Worlds at Wild Explorer Virtual Reality Experience

Walk among the dinosaurs, travel to the arctic, explore the ocean’s depths, soar above the African plains or trek deep into the forest while visiting the Zoo this spring. Wild Explorer Virtual Reality is a 360° visual experience with an immersive VR headset, motion seats, and audio! Explore the wonders of wildlife like never before at Bird Lake Plaza. Choose from the following experiences:

• Dinosaur Evolution
• Polar Odyssey
• Swimming with Humpbacks
• Gorilla Trek
• The Great Migration

The Return of ZOOtopiaries: Nature’s Sculptures

Arriving in late April and back by popular demand, wander the gardens and marvel in the brand new ZOOtopiaries: Nature’s Sculptures exhibit here just for 2026! These whimsical mosaic topiary scenes use tens of thousands of tiny plants to create the textures and colors of fur, feathers and scales. See if you can spot all on your next visit! ZOOtopiaires is included in Zoo admission or membership.

Carey Bear Country is Coming!

Scheduled to open in late spring, Carey Bear Country is a state-of-the-art facility built with the highest standards for animal care in mind, making it one of the best in the country for endangered bears. The refreshed and upgraded spaces will include the addition of a third bear habitat, a dedicated indoor cubbing den to support breeding programs, and a brand-new Zoo360 trail for the bears to explore. Not only does Carey Bear Country enhance the Zoo’s animal care program, it creates a dynamic, memorable and educational experience for guests of all ages and backgrounds. Stay tuned to the Zoo’s website, social media accounts or subscribe to its email newsletter for opening dates.