Join us for plenty of egg-themed facts & fun, animals, story times, and so much more!
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!
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.
This year, we renewed our commitment to the species with a new partnership with Conservation Biologist Dr. Jeff Muntifering in Namibia. To help us continue to raise awareness of this important species, we invite you to join us for Rhinopalooza on Saturday, May 6.
We hope our three black rhinos (Jubba, Imara, and Komati) will inspire you to join us and take action to protect Black Rhinos in the wild!
Come one, come all... to Zippity Zoo Day!
It all kicks off Saturday, June 24 at 9 AM. The event ends at 4 PM (last event admission is 3 PM). Special event pricing is in effect – only $5 for zoo members!
Check back for 2023 details.
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.
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.
Visit Santa at the Great Plains Zoo! Enjoy holiday activities, write a letter to Santa, and visit your favorite animal friends.
Included with zoo admission! (FREE to members!)
Open all year, the zoo is the perfect place for a peaceful winter stroll - with surprises around every corner!
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!
Details TBD.
The 11th Annual Wings & Waves Gala is an evening to celebrate the success of the Butterfly House & Aquarium (BHA) and Great Plains Zoo (GPZ) as we become stronger together!
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.
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Connect with Amanda Stidd-Klein at astidd-klein@gpzoo.org or by calling 605.367.8313 x 113.