Anonymous wrote:I would be very annoyed if my kid got invited to a free zoo party and I had to attend for hours and pay $30 to park.

I was thinking how annoying it would be to carry gifts and walk around the whole time and walk very far back to the car.

Anonymous wrote:Roer’s zoofari is super cute.

The National zoo is huge. I would not want to do a party. JMO.

Roer’s (sp) has an issue with not taking proper care of it’s animals. The name and ownership keep changing but it has always traced back to the same family. The owners were asking people to bring vegtables to the zoo during the pandemic to feed the animals and there were soem disturbing reports over the care the animals were getting. We live in the area and refuse to go there.

I would be very annoyed if my kid got invited to a free zoo party and I had to attend for hours and pay $30 to park.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, many years ago, my friend just invited everyone at a certain date and time, and we had a lovely day at the Zoo.

That's how most people do it: the majority of local residents cannot afford a pricey Zoo party! Also, FONZ does not exist anymore, and if I recall the parties were organized by FONZ - so you might not see them again for some time.

I went to a couple of unsanctioned parties and it was fun!

They new zoo mentality is that they are only for the rich, because they got rid of FONZ and affordable and beneficial memberships.

Roer’s zoofari is super cute.

The National zoo is huge. I would not want to do a party. JMO.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, many years ago, my friend just invited everyone at a certain date and time, and we had a lovely day at the Zoo.

That's how most people do it: the majority of local residents cannot afford a pricey Zoo party! Also, FONZ does not exist anymore, and if I recall the parties were organized by FONZ - so you might not see them again for some time.

No Fonz!?

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/donor-impact/news/smithsonians-national-zoo-and-fonz-part-ways

I think you'd be better off at a farm. Where are you located? Depending ok dc/md/or Va we can recommend fun farms

Anonymous wrote:Yes, many years ago, my friend just invited everyone at a certain date and time, and we had a lovely day at the Zoo.

That's how most people do it: the majority of local residents cannot afford a pricey Zoo party! Also, FONZ does not exist anymore, and if I recall the parties were organized by FONZ - so you might not see them again for some time.

No Fonz!?

We did this. Met at zoo and walked around for a few hours. Did the carousel. Got pizza and lemonade and then walked around more. Ended with frozen yogurt at the place on Connecticut. Instead of favors we bought each kid a souvenir in the gift shop.

A preschool friend did this in the spring. I think her feedback was that it was hard keeping all the kids together. Might have better luck with older kids.

Yes, many years ago, my friend just invited everyone at a certain date and time, and we had a lovely day at the Zoo.

That's how most people do it: the majority of local residents cannot afford a pricey Zoo party! Also, FONZ does not exist anymore, and if I recall the parties were organized by FONZ - so you might not see them again for some time.

For a smaller, younger group who would be fine on a blanket if no table were available I think it would be fine. Especially if you eat at 11:30 or 1:30 to avoid the busiest times.

I don't know of anyone doing this. My thought would be that there's no guarantee you'd get a table, which would be a pain.

I have bad memories of one of these years ago. It rained hard. Be sure to have a plan for that.

My DD asked for a party at the zoo this year. I see they are officially not back yet. Has anyone just organized tickets and gathered at a picnic table? We'd be looking to go in mid-Npvember.