JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 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 2Travel 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.Bunny Bash \u2013 April 4 (Members Only)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.Yoga with Penguins \u2013 April 11, 18, 25 (Members Only)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.Nature\u2019s Newbies \u2013 April 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 28 & 29Designed for children ages 1\u20133, this interactive class features play-based learning, songs, story time, and an up-close animal ambassador encounter.Zoo Tots \u2013 April 16-18, April 23-25, April 30-May 2An engaging preschool program for ages 3\u20135 featuring games, crafts, animal encounters, and themed lessons that make learning about wildlife fun and memorable.Wine & Cheese\u2014with Goats! \u2013 April 23 (Members Only, 21+)Enjoy an unforgettable evening of wine, music, and playful interactions with Nigerian dwarf goats in this adults-only member experience.Spring Adult Zoo Camp \u2013 April 25A hands-on, immersive day designed for adults, featuring behind-the-scenes experiences, expert talks, and interactive learning focused on local ecology and conservation.City Nature Challenge \u2013 April 24\u201327Join a global community science initiative by exploring Northeast Florida, documenting wildlife, and contributing to conservation through the iNaturalist app.Art in the Garden \u2013 May 9\u201310Celebrate 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).Snapshot Society \u2013 May 16 & August 15 (Members Only)A unique photography experience offering early Zoo access, expert instruction, and behind-the-scenes opportunities for photographers of all skill levels.Tastings with Tigers \u2013 June 4 & July 16 (Members Only, 21+)Spend an evening with one of the Zoo\u2019s most iconic species while enjoying curated food and beverages, animal care insights, and enrichment demonstrations.Tunes and Blooms \u2013 June 5, 12, 19, 26; July 3The Zoo\u2019s popular summer concert series returns with live music, beautiful garden settings, and a vibrant community atmosphere.Yoga with Giraffes \u2013 June 6, 13, 20, 27 (Members Only)Start your morning with a peaceful yoga session alongside the Zoo\u2019s giraffes in the scenic Savanna Blooms habitat.Summer Zoo Camp \u2013 June 8\u2013July 31Weekly 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 Action News Jax Top Stories<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 The Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens unveiled its Spring and Summer 2026 event lineup. The…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22852,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[344,1684,98189,98190,20393,98188,60167,347,98187,1555,28,348,48016,116,351,118,117,7418,349,350,30969,2075,346,345,98095],"class_list":{"0":"post-215243","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-jacksonville","8":"tag-action-news-jax","9":"tag-animals","10":"tag-art-in-the-garden","11":"tag-botanical-garden","12":"tag-botanical-gardens","13":"tag-bunny-bash","14":"tag-camp","15":"tag-cbs47","16":"tag-dinosauria","17":"tag-event","18":"tag-florida","19":"tag-fox30","20":"tag-garden","21":"tag-jacksonville","22":"tag-jacksonville-fl","23":"tag-jacksonville-headlines","24":"tag-jacksonville-news","25":"tag-jacksonville-zoo","26":"tag-northeast-florida","27":"tag-southeast-georgia","28":"tag-spring","29":"tag-summer","30":"tag-wfox","31":"tag-wjax","32":"tag-zoo-camp"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215243","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=215243"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215243\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=215243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=215243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}