Night Howls
Third Thursdays October through March from 5:30-7pm
February 20
March 19
Bundle up and bring your friends to the zoo to hear the wolves howl, the owls hoot and the big cats call! Participants will begin the night indoors enjoying hot cider and cookies while learning about nocturnal animals and the noises they make. Guests will then proceed outdoors for a guided tour of the zoo in the dark to observe the creatures and enjoy spectacular views of the city at night.
Members: $9 for children and $12 for adults
Non-Members: $12 for children and $15 for adults
Register online at our Square Store.
Spring Fling
Saturday, March 21 from 11-4pm
Spring is in the air! Come up to Mill Mountain Zoo to celebrate the beginning of spring with activities related to gardening, birding and other fun things to get you thinking about springtime! Enjoy spring themed crafts, get your face painted and of course see our great collection of animal residents. All of the activities are included with regular zoo admission!
3rd Annual Fierce Film Festival
Sunday, March 29 from 1-3pm
Calling all budding filmmakers! Mill Mountain Zoo is looking for 3-15 minute short film entries about animals, nature or conservation. Film submissions from all ages are welcome! Mill Mountain Zoo Staff will select 7-15 films, depending on length, to show at The Spot on Kirk from 1-3pm on the 29th. One winner will be selected at the end of the screening and will a Mill Mountain Zoo Gift Basket and Family Membership.
Spring Break Camp
Tuesday-Thursday, April 7-9 from 9-3:30pm
Mill Mountain Zoo’s Spring Break Zoo Venture is back! As in years past, each day has a special theme and is chocked full of fun and educational activities. There will be hands-on interactions with animals, guided zoo tours, games, art activities, stories and more. To make it easy for any schedule, parents can pick and choose which days to enroll their children or enroll them in the entire week! Zoo Venture is designed for students ages 6-13.
Camp Schedule
Tuesday, April 7-Beast Feast
Animals can’t just go to the grocery store or open a refrigerator like humans can. They need to search or hunt for food. Campers will learn about food chains and webs and explore the adaptations that herbivores and carnivores use to get the food they need to survive.
Wednesday, April 8-Global Explorers
Campers will travel through forests, mountains, tundra and other habitats as they learn about animals that come from the many different environments found on Earth. Discover how different habitats present challenges and how animals are adapted to survive in these various locations.
Thursday, April 9-Creepy, Crawly Creatures
Creepy and crawly?!? Many of the animals you may think of as creepy or crawly creatures are often unnecessarily feared and also pretty fascinating! In this camp, we will explore some of the animals that make people shudder and discover that they’re not so bad after all!
Registration deadline is April 3, 2020! Reservations can only be made with full payment. Click here to download registration form. Registration may be faxed, mailed, e-mailed or dropped off at the zoo. No phone reservations will be accepted. Please call or email Bambi Godkin with additional questions at (540) 343-3241 x103 or education@mmzoo.org.
Single Day Rates: Member/$55 & Non-Member/$65
3 Day Rates: $160/Member & $180/Non-Member
Ravishing Raptors
Thursday, April 16 from 5:30-7pm
Join us in welcoming Falconer Philip Bailey and Dr. Kerri Cooper-Bailey back to Mill Mountain Zoo, along with a number of their beautiful bird companions. Meet a variety of species and get the chance to chat with these avian experts. You won’t want to miss it!
Members: $9 for children and $12 for adults
Non-Members: $12 for children and $15 for adults
Register online at our Square Store.
Party for the Planet
Saturday, April 25 from 11-4pm
Come celebrate Earth Day with Mill Mountain Zoo and Clean Valley Council. Chat with zookeepers and participate in neat earth friendly art activities for the whole family! Plus…as part of the Art to Rescue the River program, the unveiling of a very unique sculpture made from litter cleaned out of the river! Artist: Katherine Devine. All activities are included with Zoo admission!
World Migratory Bird Day and Community Art Show
May 9 from 11-4pm
WMBD is a holiday that celebrates the migration of nearly 350 species of migratory birds between nesting habitats in North America and non-breeding grounds in Latin America, Mexico and the Caribbean. Join us to celebrate and learn more about migratory bird conservation and how you can help. Keeper chats, crafts and face painting are just some of the activities. You can also participate in our 6th annual Community Art Show. Animal themed works of art will be hung at the zoo during the duration of the event, and anyone bringing a piece to hang will get free admission. All activities are included with regular zoo admission!
Brew at the Zoo
Saturday, May 16 from 5-8pm
Don’t miss Mill Mountain Zoo’s biannual Brew at the Zoo! This relaxing after-hours event will give our guests an opportunity to see our animals and the view from the mountain while enjoying cold beer from Twin Creeks brewery. Musical entertainment will be provided by Whiskey Kitten. Plus, you’ll want to bring your appetite with you and get some tasty dinner at Master Sergeant BBQ. This is a family friendly event, so bring the kids or leave them with the sitter for a relaxing date night.
Due to limited seating, we do recommend that guests bring a lawn or camping chair or you can simply dance the night away under the stars!
Breakfast with the Animals
Dates: 3rd Saturday of the month May-October 8:30-10:30am
May 16
June 20
July 18
August 15
September 19
October 17
Join us at the Mill Mountain Zoo every 3rd Saturday, May-October for a unique opportunity to have breakfast with the animals. Guests will be treated to a light breakfast buffet and the chance to meet one of the zoo’s education outreach animals. This will be immediately followed by a special chat with zookeepers as they amaze our guests with more fun and educational facts about our animal residents. This intimate experience will allow zoo visitors to learn more about various animals’ diets, behavior and personalities. Following the chat, there will be a child-focused and parent-assisted project and activity sheet that will be designed to further foster excitement and knowledge about the featured animals.
Saturday, May 16-Munch with the Mammals
Mill Mountain Zoo is home to numerous furry critters, and this program will delve into fun and fascinating information about some of these resident mammals. Once the keeper chats are complete, children will get to do an easy foam block print of their favorite mammal.
Saturday, June 20-Feed with Forest Dwellers
There are many types of habitats, from aquatic to desert, and animals are typically adapted to thrive in a particular type of environment. Sign up for this program and learn about some of the animals at Mill Mountain Zoo that prefer to live in forest habitats. After the keeper chats, guests will create a pastel drawing of their favorite forest dwelling animal to take home.
Saturday, July 18-Feast with the Feathered
Many feathered friends, both large and small, call Mill Mountain Zoo home. Come enjoy breakfast and then learn more about these very diverse animals! Following the keeper chats, children can create some pretty tissue paper birds of their own.
Saturday, August 15-Scarf with the Scaly
Have breakfast, and then get engaged in some keeper chats about our reptile residents, their diets and other remarkable information about them. Afterwards, children will be able to design a colorful and 3-dimensional Wax Works reptile to take home.
Saturday, September 19-Chow Down with the Carnivores
Herbivores, omnivores and carnivores—OH MY! Many animals get their food by hunting, catching and eating other animals. Have a nice breakfast at the zoo, and then learn about some of the zoo’s meat eaters. After the chat, children will create a Model Magic sculpture of their favorite carnivore.
Saturday, October 17-Eat with the Endangered
Mill Mountain Zoo is home to many vulnerable and endangered species. Attend this program to learn about the different threats these animals are facing in the wild and other interesting information as well. After the keeper chats, attendees can do a recycled CD “stained glass” creation of their favorite endangered species.
Cost per breakfast:
$18/non-member adult $14/member adult
$15/non-member child $11/member child
$55/non-member family of 4 $40/member family of 4
Download the form to register or register online at our Square Store.
Storybook Safari
Tuesday, June 16 10-12pm
Saturday, June 20 11-1pm
Thursday, July 9 10-12pm
Friday, July 17 from 10-12pm
In this fun program, child and caregiver will get to hear an animal themed children’s book, meet some Mill Mountain Zoo education animals, have a mini-tour of the zoo and ride the train.
This program is for 4-6 year olds to attend with a caregiver.
Register online at our Square Store.
Roar and Pour
Saturday, June 20 from 1-7pm
Join us on the mountain for our annual Roar and Pour! The Lazy Bulldog food truck will be on site to satiate your appetite along with beer provided by a popular local brewery. Make sure you bring your dancing shoes because live music will be provided by Joy Tru and another local band to be announced. There will also be shopping opportunities from local vendors and crafts for kids, making this event fun for every member of the family.
Art Gone Wild
Friday, June 26 10-12pm/Ages 8-12
Saturday, July 18 from 11-1pm/Ages 6-9
Wednesday, July 22 from 10-12pm/Ages 8-12
Tuesday, August 11 from 10-12pm/Ages 6-9
Does your child like animals? Does your child also like art? Why not combine the two together?!? This 2 hour class will give children the opportunity to use the zoo’s residents as inspiration for fun, colorful and unique art projects. Painting, 3-dimensional work and multi-media projects are just a few of the possible, critter-themed activities children will have a chance to participate in.
Register online at our Square Store.
Animal Enrichment Fun!
Saturday, June 27 11-1pm
Friday, July 24 10-12pm
Friday, August 7 10-12pm
Saturday, August 15 11-1pm
This program is for ages 8-13. A lot goes into taking good care of the animals at the zoo. Besides feeding and cleaning, keepers also need to find creative ways to entertain the zoo’s residents. This is called enrichment, and if you sign up for this class, you can help create some! Not only that, you’ll get to see the animals enjoy their enrichment at the end of the program.
Register online at our Square Store.
Birthday Bash
Saturday, July 4 from 11-4pm
Join Mill Mountain Zoo for our 68th birthday! On Saturday July 4 we will have birthday cake, live music from Cory Campbell, and other birthday activities to celebrate.
Summer Camp
Mill Mountain Zoo’s popular summer camps are a terrific way to introduce your child to the animal kingdom or to foster an existing interest in the feathered, furry and scaly critters we share the planet with. Each 3 day camp is designed to encourage a child’s respect and enthusiasm for the natural world through hands-on, fun and educational activities. Besides shadowing and assisting keepers, campers will experience up-close animal encounters, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, scientific explorations and OH, SO MUCH MORE! There are camps available for ages 6-13.
Camp Schedule
Camp for ages 6-8
June 23-25 Courage, Cunning and Camouflage
Come to Mill Mountain Zoo for this week of camp and explore the amazing adaptations that help animals survive in the wild. Whether it is bright colors, interesting (or stinky) odors, fangs or claws, animals are equipped with many traits that allow them to hunt, hide and protect themselves. Find out all about them in this week of camp!
Camps for ages 8-10
July 14-16 Zoo Keeper 101
Just what does a zookeeper do? Campers will get to explore the various animal husbandry techniques it takes to care for the many birds, mammals and reptiles that make up Mill Mountain Zoo’s collection. The importance of animal enrichment for an animal’s well-being will also be explored.
July 28-30 Zoo Keeper 101
Just what does a zookeeper do? Campers will get to explore the various animal husbandry techniques it takes to care for the many birds, mammals and reptiles that make up Mill Mountain Zoo’s collection. The importance of animal enrichment for an animal’s well-being will also be explored.
Camp for ages 10-13
August 4-6 Junior Zoo Keepers
Junior Zookeepers builds on the information that campers learned in Zookeeper 101. Campers will delve further into how animals are cared for at the zoo as they assist keeper staff with some of their daily duties. Be ready to get dirty!
Requirements for Junior Zoo Keepers:
It is preferred that campers have taken Zookeeper 101 this summer or a previous summer. Campers also need to submit a letter stating why they think they would be a good Junior Zookeeper.
All Camps: $160 Zoo Member $180 Non-Member
Download and submit the form to register.
Acoustic Fest
Saturday, August 22 from 1-7pm
Join us at Mill Mountain Zoo’s Acoustic Fest to boogie and shop till you drop. Local vendors will be selling unique items, while you listen to the soothing music of Joy Tru and another musical act, yet to be announced. If you work up an appetite with all that dancing and shopping, Master Sergeant BBQ will be on site with their delicious food. Pair that BBQ with a refreshing beer from a popular local brewery to complete the evening.
Celebrate International Red Panda Day and Children’s Literacy
Saturday, September 19 from 11-4pm
Come celebrate children’s literacy and International Red Panda Day. We will have lots of fun activities for the whole family. Roanoke Public Libraries will be here handing out free books, and there will be crafts, keeper chats, face painting and much more! Any child coming dressed as their favorite animal or storybook character will get a $1 off their admission!
Brew at the Zoo
Saturday, October 3 from 5-8pm
Don’t miss Mill Mountain Zoo’s biannual Brew at the Zoo! This relaxing event will give our guests an opportunity to see our animals and the view from the mountain while enjoying cold beer from Twin Creeks brewery. Musical entertainment will be provided by a live band, yet to be announced. Plus, you’ll want to bring your appetite with you and get some tasty dinner at The Lazy Bulldog food truck. This is a family friendly event, so bring the kids or leave them with the sitter for a relaxing date night.
Due to limited seating, we do recommend that guests bring a lawn or camping chair or you can simply dance the night away under the stars!
Zoo Boo
Saturday, October 24 from 11-4pm
Are you looking for a great, safe place to bring your family for some howling Halloween fun? Spend your Halloween holiday at Mill Mountain Zoo’s annual Zoo Boo! From trick-or-treating, to costume contests, to performances by Einstein’s Monkey and “spooktacular” art activities, Zoo Boo is a fun-filled day for the whole family! Plus, you get to enjoy it all in the beautiful outdoor setting of Mill Mountain Zoo. Even better, all of these activities are included with regular Zoo admission! So for a “terrorably” good time, come and celebrate Halloween 2020 with the animals and staff of Mill Mountain Zoo.
Jungle Bells
Saturday, November 28 from 11-4pm
Kick off the holiday season with a trip to the zoo! Jungle Bells will have fun for all ages. We will have the opportunity for you to take your photo with Mill Mountain Zoo’s own Amanda Panda, who has been officially sanctioned by Santa himself to be one of his helpers! There will also be a winter themed craft and local vendors onsite selling items for you to check off your gift list. Plus, if you need to warm up, hot beverages will be available.