In 2026, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo turns 100! As part of celebrating our centennial, we want to share the unique stories that make Cheyenne Mountain Zoo your Zoo. We’re inviting guests, members and friends of the Zoo to share their Zoo history with us – through photos, written memories, or both. We can’t wait to hear how you’ve made the Zoo a part of your story!
Ages 1-4 years with adult. Registrants will participate in a Fall – themed sensory activity and meet some of our Orange colored friends that call the Zoo home! Registration is required.
Ages: Elementary 1st-5th Grade & 6th-8th grade. How can lots of tiny living things join together to act like one big living creature? From giant aspen groves that are all connected underground, to the strange and stingy Portuguese man o’war, to super-organized ant colonies, nature is full of amazing teamwork! These organisms don’t just work together… They live together in incredible ways. Come explore how these living teams survive, grow, and thrive as one! Registration is required.
On Fridays, Oct. 9 & 30, get an extra ticket to make your family outing complete! Bring your canine kiddo for a Zoo adventure. For these special dates, you can bring your well-behaved dog to the Zoo with you! Simply purchase a dog ticket along with your family’s human tickets, and Fido can experience many of the sights, sounds and smells that make the Zoo so special. Dog tickets are limited. Advance tickets are required.
All ages. Celebrate our 'flockstars' on International African Penguin Awareness Day (IAPAD)! Penguin enthusiasts will gather in Water's Edge: Africa for games and other activities available throughout the day, including keeper demonstrations during penguin feeding times at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. There's no cost to attend IAPAD events, but advance daytime admission tickets are required and can be purchased at cmzoo.org/tickets
Seven nights! Evenings of October 16, 17, 23-25, 30 & 31, 2026, 4 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. All ages. Come see the original creatures of the night. It’ll be all treats and no tricks for your little pirates and princesses at this year’s Boo at the Zoo, the region’s most unique Halloween event. Boo at the Zoo is a fun way for families with young children to trick-or-treat and enjoy Halloween festivities in a safe environment, and all of our candy is made with sustainable palm oil to help protect wild orangutans! Don't forget to darn your best costume for our Costume Contest! Advance timed admission tickets are required, and are on sale now.
Ages: Middle School & High School. Dare to discover the truth behind some of our world’s most misunderstood creatures! Through this interactive workshop we’ll uncover the myths behind these animals and explore why they’re more helpful than haunting. Registration is required.
Ages 1-4 years. For this special holiday edition includes Meet & Greets with a few of our “creepy crawly” but still adorable animals from My Big Back Yard, and painting your own mini pumpkin to take home with you! Costumes are both welcome and encouraged for participants of all ages! Registration is required.
Ages: Elementary 1st-5th Grade & 6th-8th grade. Have you ever wondered why animals have so many different mouths? From crushing shells to sipping nectar, every tooth, beak, and jaw is specially designed for the foods an animal eats. Join us as we discover how an animal's bite tells the story of its survival! Registration is required.
Ages: Middle School & High School. Join us as we uncover the secrets left behind by the zoo's wildest residents on the mountain side! We will learn the art of animal detective work as we analyze real animal biofacts and investigate the signs they leave behind to piece together how our local wildlife survive. Registration is required.
Ages 1st - 6th grade: Theme: Strange but True! Get ready to discover some of the wildest, weirdest, and most unbelievable animal facts around! From bizarre body parts and surprising behaviors to incredible survival skills, animals have some seriously strange secrets. Join us as we uncover the truth behind nature’s most unusual creatures and discover that sometimes, the strangest things are absolutely true! Sign up for any single days, or all three! Campers should register for the grade they are currently enrolled in. Registration is required and can fill quickly.
All ages. Nightly, Dec. 2-Jan. 1, 2027 (except closed Christmas Eve). Celebrate nights of mountainside magic during Electric Safari with 85 light sculptures on over 50 acres! Named #2 BEST ZOO LIGHTS by USA TODAY’S 10Best Reader's Choice Awards! Top off this astounding display by gazing out at the city’s lights and watch all of Colorado Springs sparkle. You'll also enjoy photos with larger-than-life illuminated inflatable animals, and our new holiday-safari themed drone show! Save $5 per ticket by visiting on a non-peak day! Advance tickets are required for everyone and sell out quickly. Tickets are on sale closer to the event.
Adults 21+. Celebrate holiday lights and cheer during this adults-only event, Electric Moonlight. This event combines our festive holiday lights with indoor sampling areas featuring beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks while tasting delicious eats from area restaurants (all while supplies last) – just like at our popular summer event, Moonlight on the Mountain! Advance tickets are required and are subject to selling out; day-of tickets available only if not sold out. (No one under age 21 will be permitted, including no children or infants.)