Spring events at Maryland Zoo

Spring at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore will bring a packed calendar of events from Easter through Memorial Day weekend, along with seasonal opportunities to see animals becoming more active as temperatures warm.

The zoo is encouraging visitors who plan to attend multiple events to consider a membership, which provides free access to some popular activities, including Bunny BonanZOO. Members also receive advance notice and discounted pricing for ticketed events. Membership also offers regular access to the zoo’s animals, including Big Mac, the newest addition to the giraffe herd, and a new red panda habitat scheduled to open this summer.

Event dates, details and registration information are available at MarylandZoo.org/events.

The zoo’s spring lineup begins with the Wedding Showcase on Saturday, March 21, from noon to 3 p.m. The open house is designed for couples planning their wedding who want to explore the zoo as a venue, including options for ceremonies surrounded by nature or receptions with a “wild twist.”

Bunny BonanZOO, presented by Mary Sue Candies, is scheduled for Friday through Sunday, April 3-5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The family event includes an egg hunt, entertainment, games, crafts and a bubble show. It is free with zoo admission.

Two ticketed events tied to Easter weekend are also planned. Breakfast with Bunny will be held Friday and Saturday, April 3 and 4, from 8 to 10 a.m., featuring breakfast, a photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny, spring crafts and animal ambassadors. Zoo admission is included in the ticket price. Pizza with Bunny follows a similar format and runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Maryland Zoo’s 150th Birthday Party is set for Tuesday, April 7, when the zoo officially turns 150 years old. The first 150 guests through the gate will receive a cupcake, and guests who share the zoo’s birthday will receive free admission. At noon, the zoo will add the ceremonial final layer to its LEGO birthday cake in Penguin Coast. The celebration is free with zoo admission.

An Evening of Zoo Stories is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m. The event, hosted in the zoo’s historic Mansion House with Stoop Storytelling, invites people to share zoo-related memories before a live audience. A live band and animal ambassadors are also planned. Story submissions must be made in advance.

The spring schedule wraps into Memorial Day weekend with Brew at the Zoo, presented by M&T Bank, on Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24, from 1 to 7 p.m. The event includes bands, food and craft vendors, party games, and what the zoo describes as the region’s largest tasting event for beer, cider and seltzers.

The zoo said each event supports animal care and conservation. It also noted spring is a prime time for animal viewing, with grizzly bears waking up from hibernation and turtles, snakes and other cold-blooded animals becoming more visible as the weather warms. Visitors will also have a chance to see Big Mac, the zoo’s newest giraffe.