Signature event
MAY 247 – 11 PM
Wild Lights at the Louisville Zoo
Handcrafted Chinese lantern displays blend centuries-old artistry with imaginative design for an unforgettable nighttime adventure across the campus.
May 24 – June 30, 2026
Events
More than fifty special event days a year.
Wild Lights, Breakfast with the Beasts, Boo at the Zoo, the 5K Throo the Zoo, Earth Month, and a constant rotation of behind-the-scenes experiences, family pop-ups, and conservation lectures.
Upcoming
This week and the weeks ahead.
Virtual lecture
MAY 272 – 3 PM
Conservation and Conversations: Urban Wildlife
A virtual lecture with Jake Shurba, wildlife disease ecologist and PhD student at Clemson University, on the species adapting to city life.
May 27, 2026
Family pop-up
MAY 273 – 5 PM
Early Childhood Pop-Up: Litter Critters
Hands-on Little Critter stations exploring how plastic waste affects animals and humans here in Kentucky and around the world.
May 27, 2026
Family pop-up
MAY 2811 AM – 1 PM
Early Childhood Pop-Up: Young Zoologist
Practice your observation skills and learn what it takes to be a working zoologist alongside our keepers.
May 28, 2026
Free community event
MAY 2911 AM – 2 PM
Wild About Safety 2026
A free, family-friendly safety event with Norton Children's Prevention & Wellness — hands-on activities, safety games, and giveaways for all ages.
May 29, 2026
Member experience
MAY 319 – 11 AM
Breakfast with the Beasts: Aldabra Tortoise
Start your morning with a meal alongside one of the campus's most charismatic ambassadors — and the keepers who care for him.
May 31, 2026
WellnessSold out
JUN 036 – 7:30 PM
Wild Workout: Pilates with the Red Pandas
Admire and imitate the graceful balance of our red pandas as you stretch and unwind in front of their forested exhibit.
June 3, 2026
The Big Four
Signature events on the calendar every year.
Late May — June
Wild Lights
Chinese lantern festival across the entire campus — the biggest evening event of the year.
October
Boo at the Zoo
The campus's annual Halloween experience — costumes, treats, and after-dark animal viewing.
Spring
5K Throo the Zoo
Run or walk a 5K route winding past every major exhibit before the gates open to the public.
April
Earth Month
Four weeks of conservation programming, partner spotlights, and field-report storytelling.