Private Zoo Evening
Wow your guests by hosting your event at the Detroit Zoo after hours. You and your guests will enjoy exclusive access to the Zoo for a strolling reception or a casual American picnic. The Zoo offers your guests 125 acres of true-to-life habitats that are home to more than 3,000 animals.
Private Zoo Evenings Flyer (PDF)
$12,000 Monday-Thursday
$15,000 Friday-Sunday
Rental Fee Includes:
- Main Picnic Tent
- Polk Penguin Conservation Center
- All outdoor habitats including the Arctic Ring of Life and Australian Outback Adventure
- One Tauber Family Railroad train
- Carousel
- Parking
- The rental fee includes up to 1,000 guest admission; additional guests will be billed at $9 per guest.
Picnic Packages
All-American Buffet – $20.50
- Grilled hamburgers and Dearborn 100% beef hot dogs (Vegan option available upon request)
- Fresh buns, assorted cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and condiments
- Baked beans and potato salad
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Assorted Pepsi products and water
Old-Fashioned BBQ Buffet – $22.50
- Pulled pork and BBQ chicken breast (Vegan option available upon request)
- Fresh buns, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and condiments
- Baked beans and potato salad
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Assorted Pepsi products and water
Grove Grill Buffet – $25
- Hot dogs, hamburgers, and BBQ chicken or pulled pork (Vegan option available upon request)
- Fresh buns, cheddar cheese, pickles and condiments
- Baked beans, potato salad and macaroni and cheese
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Assorted Pepsi products and water
Ala Carte Selections*
- Dearborn 100% beef hot dogs – $3.75 per person
- BBQ pulled chicken or Vegan Italian sausage – $3.75 per person
- Smoked sliced brisket – $5 per person
- Chicken breast with maple brown sugar BBQ – $6 per person
- Corn on the cob – $3 per person
- Old fashioned coleslaw – $2.50 per person
- Seasonal fresh fruit salad – $3.25 per person
- Southwest cilantro lime elote salad – $3.50 per person
- Pasta salad with fresh veggies – $3.50 per person
- Garden salad with ranch and balsamic – $4 per person
- Baked macaroni and cheese – $4 per person
- Assorted Bettermade chips – $2 per person
- Novelty Ice cream bars – $3 per person
- Popcorn – $3.75 per person
- Cotton candy – $3.75 per person
- All-day souvenir fountain cup – $6 per person
* Consuming raw or uncooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish or eggs may increase your risk of food-borne illness.
Catering or a concession package is required. Food and beverage service is through the Detroit Zoo Catering Department, “Taste”.
Additional Fees:
- Additional covered dining tent – $1,000/each
- Wildlife Interpretive Gallery and Butterfly Garden – $1,500
(Garden closes at 8 p.m.) - National Amphibian Conservation Center – $1,000
- 4-D Theater (located in the Wild Adventure Zone) – $2,500
“Private Zoo Evening” rentals at the Detroit Zoo are available daily, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., June through August. To confirm your date today, contact our Events team at (248) 336-5805 or use the form below.
Hours and rates subject to change. Zoo facilities may not be rented for any event that the Zoo deems inconsistent with its character and/or its mission of Celebrating and Saving Wildlife.