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The Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens unveiled its Spring and Summer 2026 event lineup. The schedule includes family-friendly experiences, educational programs and exclusive member events.<\/p>\n
The zoo operates as a nonprofit and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. A portion of every ticket sold supports more than 35 conservation initiatives, both globally and within Northeast Florida.<\/p>\n
Nikki Smith serves as the chief philanthropy and marketing officer at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens. She said the new lineup aims to provide a wide variety of ways for the public to engage with the facility. \u201cFrom immersive exhibits and hands-on learning opportunities to unique member experiences and seasonal celebrations, there is truly something for everyone at the Zoo this spring and summer,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
For tickets and more information, visit jacksonvillezoo.org\/events.<\/a><\/p>\n Spring\/Summer events include:<\/p>\n Dinosauria – Now\u2013August 2<\/p>\n Travel back in time and come face-to-face with more than 40 life-size dinosaurs in the largest Dinosauria experience in Zoo history. From a towering Brachiosaurus to a roaring T. rex, this immersive adventure brings prehistoric creatures to life with interactive fossil experiences for all ages.<\/p>\n Bunny Bash \u2013 April 4 (Members Only)<\/p>\n Celebrate spring at this exclusive, family-friendly Easter event featuring sweet treats, crafts, and photos with the Easter Bunny. Guests can enjoy a full day at the Zoo, including Total Experience access.<\/p>\n Yoga with Penguins \u2013 April 11, 18, 25 (Members Only)<\/p>\n Relax and recharge with a guided yoga session at Tuxedo Coast while penguins swim nearby. This unique experience is open to all skill levels and offers a peaceful connection to nature.<\/p>\n Nature\u2019s Newbies \u2013 April 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 28 & 29<\/p>\n Designed for children ages 1\u20133, this interactive class features play-based learning, songs, story time, and an up-close animal ambassador encounter.<\/p>\n Zoo Tots \u2013 April 16-18, April 23-25, April 30-May 2<\/p>\n An engaging preschool program for ages 3\u20135 featuring games, crafts, animal encounters, and themed lessons that make learning about wildlife fun and memorable.<\/p>\n Wine & Cheese\u2014with Goats! \u2013 April 23 (Members Only, 21+)<\/p>\n Enjoy an unforgettable evening of wine, music, and playful interactions with Nigerian dwarf goats in this adults-only member experience.<\/p>\n Spring Adult Zoo Camp \u2013 April 25<\/p>\n A hands-on, immersive day designed for adults, featuring behind-the-scenes experiences, expert talks, and interactive learning focused on local ecology and conservation.<\/p>\n City Nature Challenge \u2013 April 24\u201327<\/p>\n Join a global community science initiative by exploring Northeast Florida, documenting wildlife, and contributing to conservation through the iNaturalist app.<\/p>\n Art in the Garden \u2013 May 9\u201310<\/p>\n Celebrate creativity with a vibrant, two-day festival featuring local artists, handcrafted goods, and a lively vendor market set within the Zoo\u2019s beautiful gardens. (Included with general admission).<\/p>\n Snapshot Society \u2013 May 16 & August 15 (Members Only)<\/p>\n A unique photography experience offering early Zoo access, expert instruction, and behind-the-scenes opportunities for photographers of all skill levels.<\/p>\n Tastings with Tigers \u2013 June 4 & July 16 (Members Only, 21+)<\/p>\n Spend an evening with one of the Zoo\u2019s most iconic species while enjoying curated food and beverages, animal care insights, and enrichment demonstrations.<\/p>\n Tunes and Blooms \u2013 June 5, 12, 19, 26; July 3<\/p>\n The Zoo\u2019s popular summer concert series returns with live music, beautiful garden settings, and a vibrant community atmosphere.<\/p>\n Yoga with Giraffes \u2013 June 6, 13, 20, 27 (Members Only)<\/p>\n Start your morning with a peaceful yoga session alongside the Zoo\u2019s giraffes in the scenic Savanna Blooms habitat.<\/p>\n Summer Zoo Camp \u2013 June 8\u2013July 31<\/p>\n Weekly Zoo Camp sessions for ages VPK, 5\u20136, 7\u20139, and 10\u201312 offer a fun, hands-on summer experience filled with Zoo exploration, ambassador animal encounters, games, crafts, and themed educational activities.<\/p>\n >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<<\/a><\/p>\n [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks<\/a>]<\/p>\n [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter<\/a>] <\/p>\n Click here<\/a> to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here<\/a> to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here<\/a> to stream Action News Jax live.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens unveiled its Spring and Summer 2026 event lineup. The schedule includes family-friendly…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":215056,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[20393,98093,29257,116,118,117,7418,91270,98095,98094],"class_list":{"0":"post-215055","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-jacksonville","8":"tag-botanical-gardens","9":"tag-conservation-initiatives","10":"tag-experiences","11":"tag-jacksonville","12":"tag-jacksonville-headlines","13":"tag-jacksonville-news","14":"tag-jacksonville-zoo","15":"tag-nikki-smith","16":"tag-zoo-camp","17":"tag-zoo-history"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=215055"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215055\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/215056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=215055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=215055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}