Are you looking for a wild birthday party for your child? Look no further than the Akron Zoo. An Akron Zoo Birthday Party is fun any time of year! We were able to celebrate Elijah’s 7th birthday party at the Akron Zoo, read on for details on all the fun!
Zoorific Birthday Party Review
Finding an indoor birthday party location in Akron, Ohio can be difficult during the cold winter months. The Akron Zoo is the perfect place to have a winter kids birthday party in Akron! We love going to the Akron Zoo in the winter, the animals are so active and it is a great excuse to go outside and enjoy some exercise!
Elijah is a total animal expert and nature fan, so this was the perfect choice for his birthday party. Once we signed up for the Zoorific party, we received a contract with invitations. The invitations were fun with animal prints for kids with details on where to go for the party for parents.
We arrived 15 minutes early to set up our cake in the Komodo Dragon Educational Center. Everything was all ready so there really wasn’t anything left to do.
[slickr-flickr tag=akronzoopartyroomsetup]We all met at the main entrance. Parents that wanted to stay were just $5 extra but most parents just dropped their child off and returned at the same exact place to pick them back up 2-1/2 hours later. The 2 Akron Zoo staff party leaders patiently waited for our guests to arrive before starting. They had a wagon to load all of the gifts so kids didn’t have to carry them, which was so convenient!
Once we got to the Komodo Dragon classroom, we were able to check out some cool animals not normally seen by the general public. Our kids enjoyed having the chance to see the animals in their play areas that they rotate through. Our party leader explained so much about each animal and was eager to answer the zillion questions from our kids.We saw a macaw, chinchilla, albino black snack, iguana, tortoise, and opossum.
Akron Zoo Birthday Party Food
Then, it was time to eat! We were able to choose from Pizza and beverage or Hot dog, chips, and beverage for the party. We choose cheese pizza and soda. You can also order other meal deals for $7.99 each. I was surprised that it also came with lots of popcorn. The birthday boy got his own cowboy hat full of popcorn and was instructed to eat it all so he could wear his hat. Eljiah took on the challenge!
[slickr-flickr tag=akronzoofood]You can also order additional food for adults hanging around or bring snacks and food of your own. I thought this was exceptionally good.
Akron Zoo Birthday Party Animal Encounter
We were able to choose between a mammal or reptile or one of each for our animal encounter. Elijah chose one of each. Although you aren’t guaranteed any particular animals, we requested a snake and chinchilla and were lucky enough to score both!
First, they learned about the albino black snake. Kids thought it was interesting that the “black snake” was white. The Akron Zoo staff engaged the children with questions, making it a fun and educational animal encounter. Then, each child was able to touch the snake. This was quickly followed up with squirts of purell to put moms’ minds at ease.
Akron Zoo Animal Encounter Video
The second animal we were able to learn about was a chinchilla. Kids had lots of questions were thought it was cool to learn that they take baths in dirt. How perfect for a party full of 6 and 7 year old boys!
[slickr-flickr tag=akronzooanimalencounter]Akron Zoo Birthday Party Zoo Tour
Normally there is a 1 hour outside Akron Zoo Tour with the party package. Since it was rather cold on the day we went, we were only out about 45 minutes. We were able to feed the penguins. This option is available when temps are below 50 degrees. Everyone had a fantastic time! Each child received several small fish in their own cup to throw into the penguin pool. The birthday boy got about double the amount, to his delight! The penguins were so active and enjoyed the feeding as much as the kids! You could also choose to feed the farm animals.
[slickr-flickr tag=feedingpenguins]
Feeding Penguins Video
The kids just had a blast walking through the zoo, discovering the animals in their habitats with their friends. Going to the zoo with your friends is a whole new kind of excitement! We visited the penguins, lemurs, vultures, alpacas, jaguar, bats, snow leopards, tars before heading back inside.
[slickr-flickr tag=kidsbirthdayzoo]One benefit of having an actual tour of the zoo by the zoo staff is learning more about the particular animal at the Akron Zoo, not just a general overview of the kind of animal. We also learned why the snow leopard and tahr are located right next to eachother with only glass between them – something I’ve always wondered!
Akron Zoo Tour Video
Birthday Cake & Presents
Once the zoo tour was over, we headed back to the classroom for birthday cake and presents. You can bring your own ice cream too, just be sure to have a cooler if you plan to bring ice cream. I made a topsy turvy cake for Elijah, per his request after his little sister had one at her party. (Learn How to Make a Topsy Turvy Cake here) It was a Ben 10 theme birthday cake. I brought my own candles and lighter, although they had a lighter there for our use if we forgot!
Our party helpers made it easy to distribute cake to all 10 hungry kids!
Afterwards, Elijah was able to open his birthday presents! It was really cool to see how much he enjoyed receiving the handwritten cards and pictures his friends made him just as much as the giver enjoyed giving it. This was a first for me to witness, it was really cool. Of course, all the kids gathered around to check out all of his fantastic fun birthday presents too. His friends were so generous and picked out super fun toys. All the fun ended in some fun free-play! It’s good that they had the whole classroom to themselves!
[slickr-flickr tag=akronzoogifts]Akron Zoo Birthday Party Favors
Each child received an Akron Zoo goodie bag with party favors including a foam animal mask, temporary animal tattoo, zoo pencils, zoo stickers, and zoo note pad. The masks were an immediate hit!
[slickr-flickr tag=akronzoofavors]The birthday kid gets a special present from the Akron Zoo too! Elijah received a poison dart frog stuffed toy with a fact sheet, and honorary certificate of sponsoring a poison dart frog at the Akron Zoo. We could not have been luckier with their pick of the poison dart frog. It’s Elijah’s favorite! About a year ago, we played “poison dart frog” as a game all the time! He loved the gift and plays with it all the time now!
My Akron Zoo Birthday Party Thoughts
Elijah and his friends had a fantastic time at his Zoorific Akron Zoo Birthday Party! Not only was it a fun party but they were able to have one-of-a-kind experiences of feeding penguins, touching an albino black snake, and petting a chinchilla. Touring the zoo as a group was such a fun part of the whole experience.
The 2-1/2 hour time frame was right on. I was completely relaxed and didn’t look at the clock once! Our zoo staff party leaders took care of everything in an orderly way that engaged kids. We weren’t rushed at all.
Compared to other Akron, Ohio birthday party locations, the Akron Zoo is priced just right too. For the price, you get admission to the zoo for all the kids, food, private tour, and so much more. And just look at Elijah’s happy face with his “popcorn” cowboy hat and poison dart frog! Happy 7th Birthday, Elijah!
Akron Zoo Birthday Party Options
The Akron Zoo gives you several options for Akron Zoo Birthday Parties.
It’s a Wild World Birthday Party
This party package is for kids ages 7 and up. It includes admission and parking for 10 kids and 2 adults, a private “It’s a Wild World” animal show with birthday kid guest appearance during the show, zoo gift for birthday kid, invitations, 2 1/2 hours reserved classroom in Komodo Kingdom (winter) or picnic shelter (summer), lunch for each kid, party favors for each kid, and staff assistance.
Prices for It’s a Wild World Birthday Party are: $235 for Akron Zoo members and $265 for non-members. Additional charges for additional kids and adults. This party package is available on Saturdays at 1 p.m. Nov. – April and Saturdays only at 10:30 a.m. May – September.
Zoorific Birthday Party
The Zoorific Birthday Party package includes admission and parking for 10 kids and 2 adults, zoo gift for birthday kid, live animal encounter, invitations, 2 1/2 hours reserved classroom in Komodo Kingdom (winter) or picnic shelter (summer), lunch for each kid, party favors for each kid, grain for farm animals or fish for penguin feeding, and staff assistance.
Prices for Zoorific Birthday Party are: $175 for Akron Zoo members and $195 for non-members. Additional charges for additional kids and adults. This party package is available on Saturdays & Sundays at 1 p.m. Nov. – April and daily at 10:30 a.m. or 2 p.m. May – September
Birthday Party in a Box
The Birthday Party in a Box package includes admission and parking for 10 kids and 4 adults, zoo gift for birthday kid, invitations, 2 hours reserved area in Komodo Kingdom Cafe (winter) or picnic shelter (summer), party favors for each kid, and Birthday Bonus Card. Meal deals are available for just $7.99.
Prices for Zoorific Birthday Party are: $120 for Akron Zoo members and $135 for non-members. Additional charges for additional kids and adults. This party package is available at 1 p.m. Nov. – April and Available daily 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. May – September
For all parties, you may bring your own food but must provide your own cooler if you bring ice cream, etc.
When I asked Elijah if he had fun at his birthday party. He said, “It was the best birthday party ever!” So, take his word for it and book your next kids birthday party at the Akron Zoo! Call Ally at (330) 375-2550 ext. 7246.
Akron Zoo
500 Edgewood Avenue
Akron, OH 44307
Phone: 330-375-2550
www.AkronZoo.org
Email: info@akronzoo.org
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This was not a paid post. My own opinions were used based on my perceptions and experience. Thank you to the Akron Zoo who provided the birthday party package for review.
