Have a wild Birthday Bash at the Zoo!

Birthday Party Packages

CRITTER CRAFT (includes time for children to do an age-appropriate craft)
$250 for members / $275 for non-members

Includes:

• Zoo admission for 15 children and 15 adult guests
  (not including birthday child or birthday child’s parents. Additional children - $15 each (includes one adult); additional adults alone - $11 each)
• Critter Craft – choices may include door hangers, face masks, picture frames or other items depending on availability
• Zoo party paper goods (includes plates, napkins, cups, forks & tablecloths)
• Zoo staff party coordinator to handle all your set-up and clean-up, and to run your party
• Section of the Carousel Building for 1 ½ hours
• Special gift for the Birthday Child
• 4 Carousel rides per child
• 2 Large Cheese Pizzas (pizzas are cut into 12 kid-size slices)
• Two 2-liter bottles of soda (choices are at the bottom of the page)

ANIMAL ENCOUNTER (includes an up-close and personal meeting with one of our education animals)
$300 for members/$325 for non-members

An Animal Encounter is a great way to make any Birthday Party extra special! A Zoo Educator will bring out one of our Education critters for all the party children to meet. They’ll get a chance to touch the animal and learn all about its amazing habits and adaptations. Choose a mammal, reptile, bird or a "creepy crawly." Please see the FAQ section for more details on animal selection.

• Zoo admission for 15 children and 15 adult guests (not including birthday child or birthday child’s parents. Additional children - $15 each (includes one adult); additional adults alone - $11 each)
• Animal Encounter (approximately 20 minutes)
• Zoo party paper goods (includes plates, napkins, cups, forks & tablecloths)
• Zoo staff party coordinator to handle all your set-up and clean-up, and to run your party
• Section of the Carousel Building for 1 ½ hours
• 4 Carousel rides per child
• Special gift for the Birthday Child
• 2 Large Cheese Pizzas (pizzas are cut into 12 kid-size slices)
• Two 2-liter bottles of soda (choices are at the bottom of the page)

ZOO-RRIFIC: (Combine the best of both packages and have your guests create a Zoo craft AND visit with one of our education animals!)
$350 for members/$400 for non-members

Includes:

• Zoo admission for 20 children and 20 adult guests (not including birthday child or birthday child’s parents. Additional children - $15 each (includes one adult); additional adults alone - $11 each)
• Animal Encounter (approximately 20 minutes)
• Critter Craft – choices may include door hangers, face masks, picture frames or other items depending on availability
• Zoo party paper goods (includes plates, napkins, cups, forks & tablecloths)
• Zoo staff party coordinator to handle all your set-up and clean-up, and to run your party
• Section of the Carousel Building for 1 ½ hours
• 4 Carousel rides per child
• Special gift for the Birthday Child
• 3 Large Cheese Pizzas (pizzas are cut into 12 kid-size slices)
• Three 2-liter bottles of soda (choices are at the bottom of the page)

Call our Special Events Department at (203) 332-4243 to book a Zoo Brithday party today!

Not yet a member? Become a member today and get an immediate discount on your package by paying the discounted member price!

Frequently Asked Questions:

What’s the same across all three packages?
With each package you will have party space in our Carousel Building for 1 ½ hours, with one of our Party Coordinators to do all of your set-up, clean-up and keep your party moving from one activity to the next. Each child in the package (15 or 20 depending on package) will receive four carousel rides. You will receive either two or three cheese pizzas and two or three 2-liter bottles of drink (depending on package). Zoo admission is provided for all the guests in your package (additional headcount charges may apply if going over package specifications). We provide the paper goods (cups, plates, forks, napkins, and tablecloths), and the Birthday Child will receive a special gift from the Zoo. Please bring a cake knife with you.

What animals are available for the Animal Encounter and Zoo-rrific packages?
There are four categories of animals available – Mammal, Reptile, Bird and Creepy Crawly. You choose the category (first and second choices are appreciated), and the educator will choose the best animal for your party. Mammals include a rabbit, chinchilla, or ferret; Reptiles include a snake or lizard; Birds include a fan-tailed dove or screech owl (please note – the owl is not a touchable animal); Creepy Crawlies include a rat, tarantula or Madagascar hissing cockroach. Several factors go into the Educator’s decision as to which animal to bring out, including if the animal is booked for another program, so we cannot guarantee a specific animal will be shown.

Can the children hold the animal?
No, the Educator is the only person that can hold the animals. However, they will let everyone come to see it up close, and depending on the animal, let the children touch it. Most animals are touchable, with the exception of the tarantula and the screech owl.

Who provides the birthday cake?
You will need to bring your own birthday cake (or other dessert) and candles. We are not able to store your cake ahead of time for your party, so please don’t bring an ice-cream cake or anything that needs to stay cold! Please bring a cake knife with you.

Do you provide invitations?
We have postcard invitations that we can send you free of charge. Just let us know how many you need and we will mail them to you. You will need to fill in your party details and the mailing address of your guests and add postage.

Do I need to leave a deposit, and if so, how much? What if I need to cancel the party?
A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required to hold a specific date, and we can accept cash, check or charge. The remaining balance is due at the end of the party, and your coordinator will handle the payment process with you. Cash, check or charge is accepted as well for the final payment. If you need to cancel after paying the deposit, you can rebook your party for up to one year later and still apply the deposit to that party.

In lieu of gifts, I would like to ask guests to make a donation to the Zoo. How do I do that?
We’ve gotten that question from many parents, and we have set up a website through a secure on-line provider called FirstGiving.com. Through this site, you can easily set up your own birthday party donation site, see donations as they are made, and send electronic thank-you emails. Your guests can make donations via credit card through this site. Please note that there is a 7.5% service fee deducted by FirstGiving from credit card donations. Donations made via check or cash are also accepted, but must be mailed directly to the Zoo at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06610 Attn: Birthday Donations. Please ask guests to clearly mark your child’s name on all mailed donations so we can properly credit your FirstGiving site. To start your own FirstGiving birthday party page, please click here.

What if it rains/snows on my party day?
The party is still held since it is held indoors. However, we want you and your guests to be safe in your travels, so if you decide it is unsafe to travel and want to reschedule, your non-refundable deposit will be good for one year from the date of your original party.

Can I bring balloons, piñatas or other decorations?
What about other foods? Balloons and piñatas are not allowed on Zoo property for the safety of the animals. The only decorations you would need, if you desired, are table top centerpieces or a banner-type display that can be hung on the edge of the table. If you would like to bring in other food, we recommend finger foods such as veggie/fruit platter, crackers and cheese, chips/dips, grinder/wedges, snacks and similar foods. Water and juiceboxes are fine. You can also order additional pizzas through us.

Is there designated parking for the birthday party guests?
Parking at the Zoo is free for everyone. There is not a designated parking area for birthday party guests, so we suggest arriving early to park. Zoo admission is included for your guests in your package, so they can arrive early, find a place to park, and explore the Zoo for a bit before heading to the party in the Carousel.

What is the check-in procedure when we arrive?
When you and your guests arrive, please sign in on the sign-in sheet for your child’s party located on the counter of the ticket booth and come into the Zoo.  You and your guests can arrive as early as 9:00 when we open. When you get here, take a look behind the ticket booth building – there should be a green cart there that you can use to move any items you are bringing up to the Carousel building.  There’s no reservation or deposit needed for the cart - just grab and go.  You do need to put it back when you’re finished with it as the next group of birthday parties will also need to use it.  If you have a wagon that you can bring, it will make it easier to unload right at your car and wheel in.  You will be able to access your party space in the Carousel Building 15 minutes before your party time. When you get to the Carousel building you will see the parties set up. Your party space will have a sign in front with your child’s name, and your coordinator will be there to give you your carousel tickets and get you set up.  You can pay your coordinator at the end of the party for the balance due, either cash, check or charge.

What if I want to have more guests than my package is for?
If you have more guests than what your chosen package offers, an additional headcount charge may apply. Zoo admission is included in your package price for the specified number of guests, so if you go over, a charge of $15 per child over the headcount number will be applied. This $15 charge will provide Zoo admission for the child and one adult guest, carousel tickets for that child, paper goods, and craft and/or animal encounter. If you have a large number of extra guests, you may need to reserve two birthday party spaces. You may also consider renting one of our other venues for a larger, private party.

Is a gratuity to my Coordinator included in the package price or expected?
A gratuity is not expected and should only be given if you feel that the service provided to you warrants it. Gratuities are not included in the package price.

The Zoo is also available for Special Events and Rentals! (To see our other venues, click here.)
For more information or to make reservations, please e-mail lmott@beardsleyzoo.org or contact our Special Events Department at (203) 332-4243.