What’s Happening
Helpful Tips to Plan Your Trip
Are you planning a trip to the Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium (SFZA)? Whether your visiting the Great Plains Zoo (GPZ) campus, Butterfly House & Aquarium (BHA) campus, or both, you've come to the right place to find out what's going on today!
Browse the updates and schedules below to make the most effective use of your time at SFZA, and make sure you don't miss out on any of our exciting events. Check back here often as we continually update this page with all the happenings and events planned at the Sioux Falls Zoo & Aquarium.
Great Plains Zoo Campus Note: Africa area closes daily at 4 pm (species that may not be viewable after 4 pm include African lions, zebras, and giraffes). All animals have access to indoor spaces, dens, and other habitat features that could hide them from public view, if that is their preference.
Butterfly House & Aquarium Campus Note: Building closes daily at 4 pm. To ensure guests have proper time to visit the various exhibits, final admission is at 3:30 pm.
Great Plains Zoo Campus
Attraction Tickets Available Online!
Now offering the GPZ Ride Pass - 6 rides for $15! Add it on when you purchase your tickets online or ask about it at the Admissions window on your next trip to GPZ!
Attractions are CLOSED for the 2025 season and will begin again in spring 2026.
ROAR Café
You’ll definitely work up an appetite during all the fun and excitement at the zoo.Bookworms
Join us in the education classroom on Fridays at 10:30 am for an animal-themed story and meet one of our ambassador animals!
Bookworms is included with admission or your membership
Upcoming Events
October 17 & 18
ZooBoo (Great Plains Zoo)
December 6
Santa at the Zoo (Great Plains Zoo)
December 27
Zoo Lover's Day (Great Plains Zoo)
Sanford Carousel
The custom-designed carousel consists of six horses, three zebras, an elephant, white rhino, gorilla, dolphin, deer, rooster, cheetah - and two panda bears! The carousel also has a handicap-accessible bench seat.
Sanford Carousel is closed for the 2025 season and will open next spring.
Butterfy House & Aquarium Campus
Butterfly Feeding
Have butterflies eating from the palm of your hand with a butterfly feeding flower! Available for rent at the admissions counter.Kid's Corner
Need a place to regroup and relax? Our Kid's Corner in Ambassador Alley has a variety of children's books, puzzles, and plush animals for you to enjoy.Animal Encounters
Daily at 11 am and 2 pm. Join us in Ambassador Alley to meet and learn about one of our many fascinating species!Upcoming Events
October 10
Late Night at BHA (Butterfly House & Aquarium)
October 25
Spooky Seas (Butterfly House & Aquarium
November 14
Late Night at BHA (Butterfly House & Aquarium)