Brookfield Zoo Hosts 2015 Events, March to June

Submitted by the Chicago Zoological Society. Photo credit: Jim Schulz/Chicago Zoological Society
(1) A young guest meets costumed characters Mr. and Mrs. Bunny during Brookfield Zoo Breakfast with a Bunny. (2, 3) Guests can learn all about Brookfield Zoo’s ape species, including Nora, a 1-year-old western lowland gorilla, during Ape Awareness Weekend, April 11-12. (4, 5, 6) A variety of family-friendly entertainment is scheduled for Brookfield Zoo’s Summer Nights. The evening event takes place on Fridays and Saturdays from June 5 to August 8 from 4 to 9 p.m.

Admission to Brookfield Zoo is $16.95 for adults and $11.95 for children ages 3-11 and seniors age 65 and over. Children 2 and under are free. Parking is $10.

Jim and Axhi’s 20th Birthday Party
March 21 (Saturday)

Jim and Axhi, resident grizzly bears at Brookfield Zoo, are celebrating their 20th birthdays and everyone is invited to join in the fun. The two brothers, who were orphaned when they were cubs and rescued through a cooperative effort among the Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo; Alaska Department of Fish and Game; and residents of Angoon, Alaska, arrived at the zoo in 1995. During the festivities, guests are invited to sign giant birthday card located in the Great Bear Wilderness underwater viewing area. At 11:30 a.m., enjoy a Zoo Chat and watch as Jim and Axhi enjoy a nutritious birthday cake prepared by the animal care staff. Activities are free with general admission. For more information, call (708) 688-8000 or visit www.CZS.org/Events.

Breakfast with the Bunny
March 28-29 (Saturday-Sunday), April 4 (Saturday)

It’s a hoppy affair this spring at Brookfield Zoo’s annual Breakfast with the Bunny. The buffet featuring breakfast classics has a 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. seating each day in the zoo’s Discovery Center. Families will also enjoy a special appearance by costumed characters, live entertainment by the Banjo Buddies, and the chance to take their photos with Mr. and Mrs. Bunny. Pricing is $40.95 for adults and $28.95 for children (zoo members pay $29.95 and $21.95, respectively). Children 2 and under eat for free. Seating is limited and reservations are required. For more information and to make reservations, call (708) 688-8355 or visitwww.CZS.org/Events.

Easter Sunday Champagne Brunch with the Bunny
April 5 (Sunday)

Hop on over to Brookfield Zoo’s Discovery Center to celebrate Easter with the family! The all-you-can-eat brunch buffet features salads, made-to-order omelets, salmon, and much more. Guests will also enjoy a special appearance by costumed characters, live entertainment by the Banjo Buddies, and the chance to pose for pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Bunny. Pricing is $49.95 for adults and $35.95 for children (zoo members pay $39.95 and $29.95, respectively). Children 2 and under eat for free. Seating is limited and reservations are required. For more information and to make reservations, call (708) 688-8355 or visit www.CZS.org/Events.

Ape Awareness Weekend
April 11-12 (Saturday-Sunday)

Guests will go bananas for exciting facts about apes and fun ape-related activities during Ape Awareness Weekend. Everyone can make a difference for apes in the wild through conservation efforts, and guests will hear firsthand how they can help. Mining for coltan, a mineral widely used in cell phones, is threatening gorillas and other forest species in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Bring your old cell phone and cell phone accessories, pagers, handheld games, e-readers, and laptops to the zoo’s recycling stations, located at the North and South Gates on Ape Awareness Weekend, for recycling. For more information, call (708) 688-8000 or visit www.CZS.org/Events.

Party for the Planet (Earth Day)
April 19 (Sunday)

Brookfield Zoo knows that steps, big or small, can make a huge difference when it comes to going green. That’s why this Earth Day it will be showcasing some of the changes you can commit to that will truly make a difference for animals across the globe. Party for the Planet will be filled with educational, engaging, and fun activities for the entire family. Guests can attend Zoo Chats on servals, this year’s featured animal, at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. in the Bison Pavilion. There will also be a tree planting, performances of “Endangered Animals! What’s a Kid to Do?” by the Kidworks Touring Theater Co., and opportunities to recycle items such as electronics, bikes, and shoes from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If guests bring an approved item to recycle, parking is free in the zoo’s North Parking Lot. For more information, call (708) 688-8000 or visit www.CZS.org/Events.

Mother’s Day Brunch
May 10 (Sunday)

There is no better way to celebrate Mom than with a tasty brunch at Brookfield Zoo. The event will take place at Discovery Center, and guests can choose either an11:00 a.m. or a 1:30 p.m. seating. Dining options include cooked-to-order eggs and an omelet station, a carving station, champagne poured tableside, and other delicious treats. Pricing is $49.95 for adults and $35.95 for children (zoo members pay $39.95 and $29.95, respectively). Children 2 and under eat for free. Seating is limited and reservations are required. For more information and to make reservations, call (708) 688-8355 or visit www.CZS.org/Events.

Bear Awareness Weekend
May 16-17 (Saturday-Sunday)

End Bear Awareness Week with a roar as you head to Brookfield Zoo for Bear Awareness Weekend. Beginning at 10:30 a.m., guests will enjoy Zoo Chats about sloths, polar bears, grizzly bears, and more. Visitors will also be able to browse bear artifact tables set up at the Great Bear Wilderness underwater viewing area and at The Fragile Kingdom in front of the sloth bear habitat. All activities are free with general admission. For more information, call (708) 688-8000 or visitwww.CZS.org/Events.

Festival of Flight
May 23 to September 7

Fly high with excitement while you watch trained birds soar, swoop, and dive as they demonstrate their natural flight abilities during Festival of Flight. Beginning Memorial Day weekend and continuing through September 7, vultures, hawks, parrots, a hadada ibis, and a variety of other bird species will demonstrate natural behaviors as they fly overhead and interact with the audience and the host of the show. Guests will see a trumpeter hornbill catching objects, African white-necked ravens collecting cash for conservation, and much, much more. Three shows are offered daily and are free with general zoo admission. For more information, call (708) 688-8000 or visit www.CZS.org/Events.

Summer Nights
Friday and Saturdays, June 5 - August 8 (20 Nights)

Our newest summertime event is back, and it’s bigger and better than ever, with more evenings than before. From 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, enjoy Brookfield Zoo in a new light with cooler evening weather, enhanced dining, beer and wine gardens, roaming performers, kids’ entertainment, live music, and a new laser light show, all surrounded by wildlife and nature. For more information, call (708) 688-8000 or visit www.CZS.org/Events.

World Giraffe Day
June 20 (Saturday)

Celebrate the longest day of the year with our long-necked animals. Join in a parade, craft activities, Zoo Chats about giraffes, and more. Sponsored by JobGiraffe, all the activities are free with general admission. For more information, call (708) 688-8000 or visit www.CZS.org/Events.

Father’s Day BBQ
June 21 (Sunday)

Make this Father’s Day special by bringing your dad to an all-you-can-eat barbecue at Brookfield Zoo. The event will take place in The Pavilions at noon. Enjoy delicious salads, a carving station, mouth-watering sides, and delicious apple cobbler for dessert. There will also be a premium cash bar package available until 2:00 p.m. Pricing is $49.95 for adults and $35.95 for children (zoo members pay $39.95 and $29.95, respectively). Children 2 and under eat for free. Seating is limited and reservations are required. For more information and to make reservations, call (708) 688-8355 or visit www.CZS.org/Events.