A close-up of a wild cat’s face, partially hidden behind green pine branches, with one eye and its nose visible through the foliage.

TODAY AT THE ZOO

Daily activities offered through September 7, 2026

Activities are free with zoo admission except as noted.
Subject to cancellation depending on the cooperation of weather and animals.

Drop-in Programming

Forest Trailhead

You never know what you’ll discover in our newly opened Forest Trailhead! Games, art and other fun activities will help you learn and connect with amazing forests all over the world. Daily drop-in activities in Forest Trailhead will include adapted favorites and new activities. Learn about the care of tree-dwelling red pandas and tree kangaroos, how they’re acclimating to their new, beautiful home and how Woodland Park Zoo supports preserving their future and how you can join in taking action.

Activities will highlight our conservation strategy by connecting guests to forests through empathy and creativity.

Drop-in programs run for 45 minutes and happen daily at these times:

Mornings:
11:45 a.m. Daily (except Fridays)

Afternoons:
3:45 p.m. Mondays
2:00 p.m. Tuesdays
3:15 p.m. Wednesdays
2:15 p.m. Thursdays
3:00 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

Daily Programs

*denotes fee-based activity

Red Panda Spotlight

Forest Trailhead – Second Floor

10:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays

Visitors can enjoy daily programs and activities in the all-new Forest Trailhead exhibit. Learn about the care of tree-dwelling red pandas and tree kangaroos, how they’re acclimating to their new, beautiful home and how Woodland Park Zoo supports preserving their future and how you can join in taking action.

Tree Kangaroo Spotlight

Forest Trailhead – Second Floor

10:30 a.m. Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays

Arborist Talk

Outside Forest Trailhead

11:00 a.m. Thursdays

Join one of the zoo’s expert arborists to learn about the trees of Woodland Park Zoo and how our expert care expands to all living things.

Penguin Live Trout Feeding

Humboldt Penguin Habitat

11:00 a.m. Fridays

Once a week our penguins receive an extra special feeding of live trout! Zoo staff will narrate the feeding and share about the adaptations that make penguins amazing predators.

Gorilla Spotlight

East Gorilla Habitat

11:45 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays

Join zoo staff to learn about the amazing care we give these intelligent social species, and how we can make choices that help their relatives around the world.

Orangutan Spotlight

Orangutan Habitat Boardwalk

11:45 a.m. Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays

Join zoo staff to learn about the amazing care we give these intelligent social species, and how we can make choices that help their relatives around the world.

Sloth Bear Snack

Sloth Bear Habitat in Banyan Wilds

1:45 p.m. Daily

Meet the sloth bears and see their unique feeding adaptations in action as they suck down their food. Be ready to be amazed at their extraordinary strategy for dining.

Penguin Snack Time

Humboldt Penguin Habitat

2:45 p.m. Daily (Except Fridays)

The zoo’s Humboldt penguin colony is home to over 30 individuals all with different “penguin-alities.” Come and hear about the recent action, drama and comedic stories between the individual penguins while watching the colony receive their afternoon snack.

Patas Monkey Spotlight

Patas Monkey Habitat

2:45 p.m. Fridays

Join zoo staff to learn about the Patas monkeys and the care they receive at the zoo.

Turtle Head Start Experience

Basecamp Northwest in the Living Northwest Trail

3:15 p.m. Wednesdays

Learn how the zoo helps raise endangered western pond turtles. Being a small turtle in the wild has its challenges but with a little help from the zoo we can help the turtles thrive. This hands-on activity lets zoo guests learn and mimic the work the zoo’s animal keepers do in the Turtle Head Start Center to release young turtles into the wild every summer.