Animal Happy Hours
The Saint Louis Zoo’s Animal Happy Hours are back for 2025! And, this year you'll have even more opportunities to learn about your favorite animals while sipping some delightful libations.
Happy Hours are for adults 21+ only. Each Happy Hour will have 40 spots available.
2025 Event Dates:
Thursday, Feb. 27: Cocoa with Kali **SOLD OUT**
Thursday, May 15: Sangria and Seals
Thursday, June 12: Beer with the Birds
Thursday, July 10: Spirits and Spots
Thursday, Aug. 7: Trunks and Tequila **SOLD OUT**
Thursday, Sept. 11: Gin with Giraffes
Cocoa with Kali
**SOLD OUT**
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 ☕ 5 to 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Polar Bear Point (inside the underwater-view building)
There’s no such thing as the winter blues when you’re a polar bear! Embrace the season of ice and snow with Kali, the Zoo’s magnificent polar bear. While Kali may choose to splash and swim in his chilled saltwater pool, guests will stay warm and toasty as they sip creative concoctions from a hot chocolate bar set up inside McDonnell Polar Bear Point’s heated underwater-view building. As hors d’oeuvres are served and wintry cocktails are mixed, the Zoo’s polar bear experts — including the director of the newly unveiled Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Center for Polar Bear Conservation — will educate guests about the Arctic’s incredible ice bears, including the story of Kali and his remarkable journey to St. Louis. This experience will be held both indoors and outdoors.
All guests must be 21+ to attend.
Sangria and Seals
WHEN: Thursday, May 15, 2025 🍷 5:30 to 7 p.m.
WHERE: Sea Lion Sound habitat and tunnel
It’s a “seal-abration”! Enjoy cocktails commemorating the Saint Louis Zoo’s resident harbor seals — Doris, Gabby and Nuna — on the shores of Judy and Jerry Kent Family Sea Lion Sound. Though our California sea lions are well known as our local, summertime “sea-lebrities,” it’s high time for our seals to get their due. The Sangria and Seals Happy Hour invites guests to sip a flavorful sangria while learning about our furred and flippered friends from a seal expert. Enjoy a stroll through the Holekamp Aqua Tunnel, or watch the sunset reflecting on the deep, saltwater pool, as our gorgeous gals float, dip and swim. Hors d’oeuvres and the early summer sounds of a seal and sea lion serenade included.
All guests must be 21+ to attend.
Beer with the Birds
WHEN: Thursday, June 12, 2025 🍺 6 to 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Bird Garden
Guests are invited to explore one of the most peaceful spaces in the Saint Louis Zoo — the Bird Garden — while sampling some fantastic summer brews. Along with their beers, attendees will enjoy hors d’oeuvres in the company of tawny frogmouths, helmeted curassows, Layla the crow and great-horned owls. The squawks, hoots and birdsongs will be briefly interrupted by an engaging chat on the work of the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Institute Center for Avian Conservation in the Pacific Islands, helping rare birds, like the Guam kingfisher. This Happy Hour will leave you with no “egrets”!
All guests must be 21+ to attend.
Spirits and Spots
WHEN: Thursday, July 10, 2025 🍸 6 to 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: River’s Edge cheetah habitat
Enjoy cocktails with the Saint Louis Zoo’s cheetahs at this evening event in River’s Edge. We invite guests to gather for a traditional safari sundowner on the trail between our hyenas and cheetahs. Attendees will sip a summery concoction while enjoying light hors d’oeuvres in the gathering dusk. Learn about Mbili and Tatu, two brothers from the Zoo’s famous Bingwa Bunch litter (born in 2017), or Pumzika and Cora, our feisty females, from a Zoo cheetah expert while having the chance to “spot” these amazing cats. Cheetahs are the speediest sprinters on Earth. Don’t wait … tickets to this exclusive Happy Hour will go fast.
All guests must be 21+ to attend.
Trunks and Tequila
**SOLD OUT**
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025 🐘 6 to 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: River’s Edge elephant habitat
Enjoy cocktails with the Saint Louis Zoo’s elephant family at this evening event in River’s Edge. We invite guests to learn about the unique pachyderm personalities who call the Zoo home during a chat from a Zoo elephant expert. Elephants may rely on their “ear-conditioning” to cool down, but our guests will beat the heat with signature tequila concoctions, served alongside hors d’oeuvres, as they mix and mingle in the gathering dusk. Themed attire and “elfies” are always encouraged.
All guests must be 21+ to attend. We cannot specify in advance which individual elephants will be part of this Happy Hour.
Gin with Giraffes
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 🦒 5:30 to 7 p.m.
WHERE: Red Rocks’ giraffe habitat
Enjoy cocktails with the Saint Louis Zoo’s resident giraffe herd at this evening event in Red Rocks. We invite guests to gather for a traditional safari sundowner on the pathway across from our giraffe habitat. Attendees will sip a signature concoction while enjoying light hors d’oeuvres in the late summer dusk. As guests enjoy their refreshments, they will be treated to an in-depth chat from a Zoo giraffe expert while the animals graze in the background.
All guests must be 21+ to attend.