Como Park Zoo & Conservatory

08/16/2025

🎉✨ The Japanese Obon Festival returns to Como Park THIS Sunday, August 17, from 3–9pm! ✨🎉

This year brings some exciting changes:
🌸 The Main Stage has moved to a beautiful new location to showcase Como Park’s natural scenery.
🚚 The old stage area is now Food Truck Alley — with SIX more food trucks than last year!
🥋 Fan favorites are back, including scheduled martial arts performances, music, exhibitors, and cultural demonstrations. And of course, the Lantern Lighting at 8pm.
🚻 More porta-potties for a smoother festival experience.

🎟 Tickets: We recommend buying in advance at https://comozooconservatory.org/obon2025/. On festival day, scan one of the QR codes at the entrance and pay by credit card on your phone. (No cash sales at the gate.)

Check out the full program below for the day’s activities, performers, vendors, and map — and plan your perfect festival day! 🌅🌸

08/14/2025

If you think a little hail will stop us, think again! Looking forward to throwing down at this year’s !

08/13/2025

🎶☀️ Tonight’s the night—our final free concert of the year! The weather is gorgeous, so grab your friends, bring a blanket, and join us in front of the Conservatory from 6–8 PM for Favourite Girl live on stage!

🍕 Come hungry— The Brick Oven Bus will be serving up delicious pizza.
🍺🍷 We’ll have beer, wine, pop, popcorn, and ice cream treats available for purchase.
🧗‍♀️ Feeling adventurous? Test your skills on our climbing wall!

It’s the perfect summer evening—music, food, drinks, fun, and all for free. Don’t miss the last show of the season! 🎤🌿

Pack a picnic and dancing shoes, spread out a blanket & join us for these FREE outdoor concerts & activities in front of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory every Wednesday, June 11 – July 30 from 6pm–8pm. Hotdogs, ice cream treats, beer and wine will be available to purchase.

08/12/2025

🌅🐾 Ever wondered what Como Zoo & Conservatory is like before the gates open? Here’s your chance to soak in the early-morning magic with our exclusive adult program, An Insider’s Look! 🦁🌿

Join us THIS Saturday, August 16, from 8:30–10:00 AM and explore the peaceful calm before the crowds arrive. ✨ Go behind the scenes in the greenhouse, watch a zookeeper’s morning routine up close, and discover a whole new side of Como!

REGISTER HERE: https://comozooconservatory.org/como/an-insiders-look/

08/10/2025

One week away! This festival is like no other. New this year: 6 more food trucks, more porta-potties and more cultural exhibits and vendors! Oh what a day it will be!

***We will be selling ONLY ADVANCED TICKETS again in 2025*** Click HERE for a printable program from 2024 (2025 program coming soon, with more food vendors!) Music, martial arts, singing, dancing,...

08/10/2025

🦁🌍 Roar for World Lion Day! 🌍🦁

Meet Como’s lion dream team, Mumford and Maji. Mumford was born at the Pueblo Zoo in Colorado and has been winning hearts since the day he arrived. Maji was born at Wildlife Safari in Oregon and joined us in 2019. Together, they help share the important story of African lion conservation.

African lions are listed as vulnerable, with fewer than 25,000 left in the wild. They now occupy only a small fraction of their historic range and have disappeared from 26 African countries. The biggest threats they face are habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching.

Senior Zookeeper Jill sums it up perfectly:

“Lion numbers have dropped nearly in half over the last 30 years, but unlike giraffes, they are loud about it. They are the only truly social big cats, full of personality, and the males have amazing bed head.”

This , come celebrate Mumford and Maji at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory and give us your loudest roar.

📷: Volunteer Steve Solmonson

08/06/2025

🎉🦒 Happy 9th Birthday to Zinnia! 🦒🎉

Zinnia, our gorgeous reticulated giraffe, is turning 9 today, and we’re celebrating her big personality! Senior Zookeeper Jill describes her as “curious, confident, and by far the most food-motivated giraffe I’ve worked with (as long as you have the right food)!” 😄

Zinnia arrived at Como Zoo in the spring of 2023 from the Detroit Zoo and has been charming guests and keepers alike ever since. She’s as beautiful as the flower she’s named after and just as bold.

With wild giraffe populations facing serious declines—only around 11,000 mature adult reticulated giraffes remain—it’s a privilege to care for Zinnia and help raise awareness for this incredible species.

Drop a 🎂🦒 in the comments to wish her a happy birthday!

08/04/2025

🦍🎉 Happy 22nd Birthday to Dara!

Dara was born on August 4, 2003, at the Toledo Zoo and has been part of Como Park Zoo & Conservatory since 2012. Her name means “the beautiful one,” and she lives up to it—not just in looks, but in her strong, steady presence within the group.

She’s a guest favorite, a staff favorite, and especially a fan of foraging—unless blackberries are involved (those are a hard pass). If you’re lucky, you might hear her “food song,” a sound gorillas make when she’s especially pleased with a snack.

Dara is also mom to Arlene, who’s grown into an independent and playful young gorilla under Dara’s guidance. The two still share a close bond and are often seen relaxing near each other in Gorilla Forest.

Dara spends much of her day doing what gorillas do best: eating. An adult female like Dara can eat up to 40 pounds of vegetation in a single day.

Join us at 1:30 in Gorilla Forest for the daily Gorilla Program to learn more about Dara and her troop, and how you can help protect wild gorillas.

08/04/2025

🎎 We’re only 2 weeks away from Como’s Japanese Obon Festival — a celebration like no other! 🎏🌸

Join us Sunday, August 17 from 3–9PM for an unforgettable evening of music, dancing, taiko drumming, martial arts, cultural exhibits, delicious Japanese food, and the breathtaking lantern lighting ceremony at sunset.

🎟 Advance tickets only! No cash admission at the gate.
Grab yours now :➡️ https://comozooconservatory.org/obon2025/

Don't miss this magical celebration of tradition, remembrance, and community!

08/02/2025

🌿 Adventure Awaits! 🌿
Explore through the trees, collect rocks, and gaze at the clouds on a fun-filled outdoor adventure! 🥾✨

Join us as we hike, play, and observe the wonders of the natural world. We'll spark curiosity about plants and animals, make exciting discoveries, and learn how to Leave No Trace 🌱🐾

This is the perfect way for kids to connect with nature and explore all its amazing treasures!

🔗 Register now: https://mnsaintpaulweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&FMID=11053582

08/01/2025

Sign up for one of our remaining blood drives and get a Metallica t-shirt! We've got a drive coming up on August 5!

Metallica and All Within My Hands Foundation are once again teaming up with the American Red Cross for a new campaign, Give Where You Live!

Those who sign up to give blood or platelets now through February 28, 2026, will receive the new, limited-edition Red Cross x Metallica t-shirt designed by SQUINDO, while supplies last. These donors will also be entered to win a one-of-a-kind Red Cross x Metallica ESP Guitars Snakebyte autographed by all four members of the band.

Learn More & Book Your Appointment 🩸 RedCrossBlood.org/Metallica