Birthday Parties at the Edmonton Valley Zoo

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You'll have a wild time at the zoo with our themed birthday parties! Meet some of our smaller zoo animals, tour the zoo, have outdoor adventures and create memories that will last a lifetime.

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Extreme Animals Party (Ages 5-9)

Spend your birthday traveling around the world without ever leaving the zoo. Visit a number of our exciting animals and learn all about what makes them extreme! Maybe their habitat is sizzling hot or soaking wet, or they have an ability or adaptation that is out of this world. During the program, you’ll even have the chance to meet an animal up-close and learn about what makes it super cool. Get ready for an extremely fun time!

Program Length:

2.5 hour party package (includes 1 hour room rental)
Maximum 25 participants per party (up to 20 children, 5 adults). Total number includes all children, parents, and siblings. At least two adults must stay with the children to assist with supervision for the entire program.

Birthday Party Information Package

*No refunds or additions will be accepted once the booking has been placed.

Animal Architects Party (Ages 5-12)

Do you have what it takes to be the next Michelangelo? Let’s find out together as you and your guests let loose your inner sculptors and build your own zoo masterpiece out of LEGO® bricks! Tour part of the zoo and visit some of our inspiring residents big and small, and meet an animal up close in hopes of sparking your imaginations and finding your muse. Afterwards, you will all head back to the party room to challenge yourselves in creating the next LEGO® brick sensation!

Please note: the LEGO® pieces used during the party will not be taken home by participants in an effort to be environmentally friendly.

Program Length:

2.5 hour party package (includes 1 hour room rental)
Maximum 25 participants per party (up to 20 children, 5 adults). Total number includes all children, parents, and siblings. At least two adults must stay with the children to assist with supervision for the entire program.

Birthday Party Information Package

*No refunds or additions will be accepted once the booking has been placed.

Zoo Safari Party (Ages 5-12)

Put on your safari hat - we are heading out on a grand adventure! During this 'zoo-mazing' adventure you will get close to the animals of the zoo with a guided tour of parts of the facility as well as an up-close encounter. Learn some fun facts about the animals that call the zoo home and have a howlin' safari style birthday.

Program Length

2.5 hour party package (includes 1 hour room rental)
Maximum 25 participants per party (up to 20 children, 5 adults). Total number includes all children, parents, and siblings. At least two adults must stay with the children during to assist with supervision for the entire program.

Birthday Party Information Package

*No refunds or additions will be accepted once the booking has been placed.

Package Fees

Program Type	Fee
2.5 hour party package (1.5 hour program + 1 hour room rental)	$275

Birthday Parties are available year round, but space is limited. We recommend parties be booked at least 6 weeks in advance. Book early to avoid disappointment! Payment in full is required at the time of booking in order to reserve a spot.

Cancellation Policy

You are required to provide written notice of cancellation of the birthday party via email at artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca
Program cancellations with 8-30 days notice are subject to a fee of 50% of the program
Programs cancelled with less than 7 days notice will be charged the full program fee
Programs run rain or shine. In the event of poor weather, you must email artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca if you are not coming.

Gift Ideas

Are you looking for a one-of-a-kind birthday program or birthday gift opportunity for that special someone of any age?

Here are some neat ideas from the Valley Zoo Development Society for your next birthday!

Adopt an Animal
Purchase Animal Art through our Zoo store. Options include:
- Paintings created by one of our Harbour Seals (please visit the Zoo store on-site, or contact the Valley Zoo Development Society by phone 780-496-6924) for more information
- Animal Art (selection of originals, prints, and cards available)
Have an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo with a zookeeper though the Zoo Builder program
Make a donation to the Zoo

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about our birthday programs? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive regarding our birthday parties. If the answer to your question isn’t listed here, please refer to the Birthday Information Package for additional information about arrival and departure procedures, food ordering or catering services, and more!

Additionally, you can contact the birthday bookings office by emailing artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca, and we will be happy to answer your questions!

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I have questions about the status of my program request, or I would like to book a program, who do I contact?

To request a program, please fill out the booking form. A member of our bookings team will be in touch within a few days.

To request a status update for a booking request, please email our bookings team at artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca.

Note: Response time may vary throughout the year as increase in program requests happen in the spring and fall.

The Air Quality Health Index rating for Edmonton is very high, what does this mean for my program?

Our programs run in all types of weather conditions; we do not automatically cancel any of our on-site programs due to weather. When the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) on the Government of Canada website is 7 or above in Edmonton, interpreters running programs will arrange their tours to prioritize time indoors and limit time spent outside. However, with many of our animals in outdoor enclosures, we do spend short amounts of time outside seeing those exhibits as well as walking between buildings. We do not have the facilities to run programs exclusively indoors.

If you decide to cancel your program, please refer to the Cancellation Policy. You are required to submit written notice of cancellation of program(s) via email to artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca to officially cancel or inquire about rescheduling your program. Cancellation fees may apply.

Do we get to touch or hold animals during our program?

Animal encounters will continue to be no-touch encounters in order to prioritize the health, safety and comfort of our tractable animals. During encounters, animals may be held by a trained employee or placed on the ground with the group sitting near the animal for the group to see it closer and outside of its enclosure, but the animals are not permitted to be touched or held by program participants at any time.

My child is sick the morning of my program and I want to cancel/reschedule

The safety of you, your family and visitors, and our staff and animals are of utmost importance.

Please stay at home if you are feeling unwell. Contact your interpreter immediately to let them know you are not coming, then contact our birthday bookings office by emailing artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca to officially submit in writing your cancellation or reschedule request.

We will discuss all options at the time of cancellation/rescheduling.

What happens if I need to end the program before my program is scheduled to end?

Please let your interpreter know prior to or at the start of the program when you would like the program to end, so that they will end the program with enough time to walk your group back to the front gate, or to ensure the group is back in the party room for parents to pick up their children.

What happens if we arrive late?

Your program will start when you arrive at the Zoo, and will end at the scheduled end time indicated on your booking confirmation sheet.

What happens if the weather is poor and I want to cancel/reschedule?

Our programs run rain or shine, please tell your guests to come prepared and dressed for the weather. We do not automatically cancel any of our on-site programs due to weather. Your interpreter will adjust the program to allow for more indoor activities in the event of very poor weather.

If you want to cancel and/or re-schedule your program for any reason, please refer to the Cancellation Policy section. You will need to email the birthday program booking agent at artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca to officially cancel and/or re-schedule your program. Cancellation fees may apply. Even if you have already talked to your interpreter prior to the program and have expressed interest in cancelling/rescheduling, you will need to email our birthday booking agent to formally request a change to your program booking.

Are there food services on-site?

There are beverage and snack vending machines, change machines and an ATM year-round in the main entrance plaza and Saito Centre. There is also the Charity Cafe in the front entry plaza year-round. Seasonally, Farmer’s Kitchen restaurant and Moo at the Zoo (ice cream) operate out of their spaces in the Urban Farm, and packaged ice cream treats are available year-round at the Zootique.

Our on-site food vendors currently cannot offer food catering services for your birthday party. We invite you to bring in the food of your choice, or book alternate off-site catering (for example: order pizza, bring pre-packaged food.) There are no restrictions.

Do we have the party room for the whole time?

Yes. Food, presents, and other belongings can be left in the room during the program. Many of our program activities will take place outside of the room and in other locations around the facility, so we will not be in the one room the entire time. We usually keep the doors closed and locked when the party is out of the room. Although the rooms do lock, we recommend bringing any small valuables (such as a purse) with you.

How will I know which room is the birthday room?

We have 3 party rooms in total, all located in the Edventure Lodge (located in the main plaza area, through the large metal Zoo entrance gates). They are within close proximity to each other, so look for the sign on the door that has the birthday child’s name on it.

Do we need to clean up afterward?

Your interpreter will assist with the clean up of the room after your party. Please be considerate and help our staff by ensuring that all of your garbage and recycling is placed into the correct receptacles. Additionally, please assist our staff with any large messes (like spilled food/drink), by minimizing/containing the spill. If no paper towels are available in the room, please ask your interpreter for some.

Can parents enter the facility to drop-off/pick-up their child without paying admission?

Yes. You can enter into the Edventure Lodge without having to pass through the payment area.

My child attended a school/group/birthday program at the zoo previously. Will they get to do the same activities?

We cannot guarantee you will get to do exactly the same activities, or entirely different activities involving animals (including enrichments, behind-the-scenes tours, and animal encounters) during your program. Activities selected for your program depend on staff availability, animal health and enclosure locations, and facility availability (due to construction or other factors).

Can we have the room rental portion before the interpreter-led program portion?

No, we are not able to accommodate swapping the room rental and program portions.

Do parents need to stay with the children during the program?

For all birthdays, a minimum of 2 parents must stay with the group for the entire program to help supervise. They are included in the total number of participants for each program.

I have only 15 children attending, but each of them has 1 parent (a maximum of 25 people total in the group). Can they all participate without the parents paying extra admission?

If there are fewer than 20 kids, additional parents can attend up to a maximum of 25 people in total.

Additional parents and children are welcome to pay facility admission (during regular operating hours) and tour the facility on their own during the program. They are welcome to rejoin the group in the party room after the program.

Can I go on a train ride/carousel ride during the program?

Rides are not part of our birthday program packages. You are welcome to make separate arrangements to take your group on any rides before or after the program.

Rides are available during daytime, summer operations at the Zoo. Please call 311 (outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311) for more information about hours of operation for rides.

In lieu of gifts, can we collect donations to Adopt-An-Animal through the Valley Zoo Development Society?

Certainly! Please contact the Valley Zoo Development Society by phone (780-496-6924) for more information. You can also visit their website to view the Adopt-An-Animal packages available and other donation opportunities.

For other possible options, call 780-496-6924 or email the Valley Zoo Development Society at zoostore@buildingourzoo.com.

Do you offer any birthday programs for infants/toddlers (children under the age of 4)?

Our current birthday programs and the program activities offered are designed for children aged 4 years and up, and we do not book these birthday programs for children younger than that. To ensure all your guests enjoy their time and get the best quality experience, we recommend the majority of participating children be 4 years old and up. Younger children (siblings) are welcome to attend these birthdays with additional adult supervision, as they may not be able to or interested in participating in many of the activities. Please email our birthday program bookings office at artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca if you are interested in booking a mixed-age birthday party and would like more information.

If you would like to book a room rental to celebrate the birthday of someone under the age of 4, please visit our private rental page for more details.

Can I tip my interpreter if they did a great job?

No, City of Edmonton employees cannot accept money. Once the program is over, you can thank them verbally. You are welcome to offer them a piece of cake or leftover food to express your appreciation.

Is it possible to book a traveling zoo program for a birthday?

No. During the COVID-19 pandemic we made the difficult decision to discontinue our Traveling Zoo programs.

Some of the birthday guests are seniors or have limited mobility. Is there a way to accommodate this at your facility?

At the time of booking, please let the booking agent know about any special requests, so that these can be passed along to the interpreter. Modifications to the program may be possible, if needed. These can be discussed with your interpreter when they call you prior to the program. Additionally, our Accessibility webpage has information about wheelchair and scooter rentals at the zoo, should any of your guests require this service.

What does the zoo offer to assist participants with sensory accessibility needs?

The Edmonton Valley Zoo has partnered with KultureCity® to enhance our ability to assist and accommodate guests with sensory needs. Our goal is to provide an inclusive experience for all guests during all programs. We strive to raise awareness of the needs and challenges faced by individuals with sensory processing needs by supplying our staff with annual training and by offering the resources and accommodations below to our guests.

Please visit our Sensory Accessibility page for additional details.

Birthday Parties

Birthday parties are a snap at City of Edmonton attractions and recreation centres.

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Contact Us

For private rentals, email specialmoments@edmonton.ca.

Email	artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca

Birthday Parties at the Edmonton Valley Zoo

Book Your Party

Package Fees

Cancellation Policy

Gift Ideas

Related Links

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Program Survey

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