*Due to dangerous temperatures, Winter Wonder at Great Plains Zoo has been postponed to Saturday, January 27. Great Plains Zoo will be closed Saturday, January 20.
**Winter Wonder at Butterfly House & Aquarium will go on as scheduled.
Dive into the magic of Winter Wonder at Great Plains Zoo and Butterfly House & Aquarium campuses. Explore the wonders of land, sea, and sky in the winter!
Butterfly House & Aquarium:
January 20 / 10 am - 2 pm: Join us at Butterfly House & Aquarium for delightful winter crafts - plus, encounter our charming ambassador animals at 11 am and 2 pm.
Great Plains Zoo:
January 27 / 10 am - 2 pm: Head to Great Plains Zoo for captivating keeper chats, featuring special winter enrichment for each session, and say hello to your favorite ambassador animals during our Creature Features at 10:30 am and 1 pm.
Keeper Chat Schedule:
Romance can be wild in the animal world, and we’re here for it. Join the zoo team for an evening of shocking animal facts – and big laughs!
Guests aged 60 and above enjoy reduced admission of $9 plus tax!
Kick off the morning with coffee, donuts, and an insightful educational session led by our Director of Conservation. As the afternoon unfolds, savor coffee, cookies, and indulge in a delightful array of games like checkers and cards.
Learn all about our animals and what goes into their daily care during out animal care talks:
Please note: Discounted admission is valid only at Butterfly House & Aquarium.
Get ready for an egg-citing Easter celebration at our annual Egg-stravaganza, proudly sponsored by the Sioux Falls Canaries!
Join us for a day filled with delightful egg hunts, egg-themed facts and fun, animals, story times, photo ops, and endless fun for the whole family!
Egg Hunts Sponsored by Sioux Falls Canaries
Ages 4 and Below:
Ages 5 and Up:
We’re cleaning up the Big Sioux River, in conjunction with the city-wide cleanup! Choose to clean up at the Butterfly House & Aquarium (BHA) or Great Plains Zoo (GPZ) and help make a positive impact on our environment.
As a bonus, you'll get to meet some amazing animals, whose wild counterparts are directly impacted by river cleanups. PLUS, the first 200 people to join us will receive a take-home cleanup kit, so you can continue to beautify your environment all year!
At GPZ, you’ll check in at the front gate to get your supplies and bracelet. Once you’re done with the cleanup, visit our train station to turn in your trash bag and get your cleanup kit. At Sertoma Park, you’ll check in at the picnic shelter and join the city cleanup. Be sure to stop by at BHA afterward to visit the animals and grab your take-home cleanup kit.
Children 12 and under must be supervised by an adult. Let's make a difference together and show our love for the planet!
Come spread your wings and dive into an evening of delicious snacks, fun games, and magical performances at Butterfly House & Aquarium!
Spring Fling is our small way of saying "thank you" for being a part of our BHA and GPZ family, and for your continued support.
Your Great Plains Zoo believes an "all hands on deck" approach is needed to help save the critically endangered black rhino. One of the flagship animals of the Great Plains Zoo, the black rhino is critically endangered, with only approximately 3,000 mature adults left in the wild.
To help us continue to raise awareness of this important species, we invite you to join us for Rhinopalooza on Saturday, May 11.
We hope our two black rhinos (Jubba and Imara) will inspire you to join us and take action to protect Black Rhinos in the wild!
Get ready to leap into summer on May 25 from 9 am - 2 pm!
Immerse yourself in a day filled with bubbly delights, juicy watermelon, and enchanting encounters with ambassador animals. Let the laughter soar with inflatables and games, and take a stroll down under in our Walkabout Australia exhibit!
We hope you'll join us for a sensational day under the sun!
Join us for a week of celebrating our pollinators!
Check back soon for details about this year's pollinator week activities, and be sure to join us on Saturday, June 22 for Flutterfest!
As your Great Plains Zoo continues to focus on pollinator education and conservation, we wanted to introduce an educational event focused on pollinators, and specifically the butterfly.
Join us for this event (cost included in admission) to learn a little more about the conservation program for the Dakota skipper butterfly at your GPZ, and how YOU can help save pollinators in the wild!
Take a walk on the wild side and explore the Great Plains Zoo during this adults-only, after-hours expedition!
Your inner explorer will come to life as you:
Proceeds from Zoofari will support our efforts to bring all elements of land, sea, and sky to one campus.
Save the date and stay tuned for ticket details!
Come one, come all... to Zippity Zoo Day!
Join us for a day of animal encounters, inflatables, bubbles, watermelon, characters, special entertainment from Phil Baker, and so much more!
It all kicks off Saturday, July 13 at 9 am. The event ends at 5 pm (last event admission is 4 pm). Special event pricing is in effect – only $5 for zoo members!
Get ready to celebrate the "little guys" that play a BIG role in our ecosystem at Bugapalooza!
Bring the whole family for an educational and exciting event that highlights the importance of bugs in our natural world. With interactive exhibits and engaging vendors, you'll learn why bugs are essential for our planet's health!
Join us in celebrating these small but mighty creatures during this FREE event at Butterfly House & Aquarium!
At this year's Wings & Waves Gala, you'll learn more about what it means for the BHA and GPZ to be stronger together as the Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium! Plus, you'll hear all about our plans to create a year-round destination for education, conservation, and discovery!
Funds raised will support the efforts to bring all the elements of land, sea, and sky to one campus and continue building connections with the natural world.
The Wings & Waves Gala provides an excellent opportunity to connect and network with business leaders, influential community member, plus staff and volunteers from the BHA and GPZ.
The evening will feature dinner, desserts, opportunities to bid on unique auction items and experiences, and a chance to engage with live animals from both the Butterfly House & Aquarium and Great Plains Zoo at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Sioux Falls.
Dive into the spirit of Autumn at our Falling for Animals event on September 21 from 10 am - 2 pm!
Get ready for bubble parties, inflatables, lawn games, and watch as our animals enjoy special pumpkin enrichment! Don't miss the chance to capture your perfect fall photo at our Plaza photo op!
Join us at Great Plains Zoo and kick off the season in style!
This event is included with admission.
Your Great Plains Zoo works to be an inclusive place of fun, education, and discovery! This year we have added an additional hour to ZooBoo to allow those with sensory processing issues to experience the event. During this time, the capacity allowed will be low. We ask that you please not reserve a ticket for this time if you don't require it to allow others that do to have a ZooBoo experience to last a lifetime!
ZooBoo tickets are valid for the day of purchase only. Each ticket grants entrance for one individual on the night purchased. ZooBoo is held rain, snow, or shine and is completely outdoors – so be sure to dress for the weather. No refunds will be given.
While we want everyone to have a fun experience and feel free to express themselves, we value safety and offer a family-friendly environment for all. Please read our guidelines below:
Palm oil, which is grown in tropical rainforests, is an ingredient in many types of candy. The uncontrolled clearing of rainforests for palm oil plantations has led to the widespread loss of habitats for endangered species, including Orangutans and Siamang Gibbons.
Do your part to preserve wildlife by purchasing candy that is palm oil free, or made with sustainable palm oil. View our handy candy guide here.
Every year, the Great Plains Zoo thrills kids and adults alike with ZooBoo, a Halloween extravaganza! With plenty of spooktacular fun to be had, there's something for everyone.
Admission included with Monarch and Gold memberships. No ticket required, as long as everyone is named on your membership. Bring your membership card directly to the quick scan line.
Buy tickets in the ADMISSIONS PORTAL.
Get ready for a hauntingly good time as we transform our aquatic world into a Halloween wonderland!
Join us at Butterfly House & Aquarium for a family-friendly event filled with thrilling crafts, sweet treats, and a special appearance by The Little Mermaid!
This eerie event is included with your admission (or membership), so come in costume and make a splash!
It’s a new Sioux Falls holiday weekend tradition! The Creative Creatures art show, curated by Untitled.10, brings the work of local artists out of the gallery and into the zoo!
Visit some incredible education animals during two Creature Features. Stop by the Conservation table to learn about the zoo's black-footed ferret field work, and learn how to spot these nocturnal creatures in the night!
2023 artists include:
- Luke Latza
- Josh Lee
- Anastacia Pollack
- Kelsey Bageant
- Shelby Wright
- Kendal Schreier
- Sonia Perea Morales
- Victor Aislinn
- Ashes Avon Burtz
