Enjoy a night with the animals at upcoming Expedition ZooFalls fundraiser

This paid event listing is sponsored by the Great Plains Zoo.

Celebrate the animals at the Great Plains Zoo while doing your part to support them at the upcoming Expedition ZooFalls fundraiser.

Held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 28, there are a few tickets remaining for this memorable event – but you’ll want to sign up for yours now. 

“This event is dedicated to celebrating the wins of the previous year — whether that be with new exhibits, educational impact or conservation initiatives — and looking ahead at what’s on the horizon for Great Plains Zoo in the future,” said Amanda Stidd-Klein, the zoo’s development and communications manager.

This year, that means an up-close look at the newly renovated black bear exhibit – a project funded by private donors and a grant – an update on the future lion exhibit and an overview of conservation initiatives, including the new Baya Project working with snow leopards in Nepal.

If you remember the zoo’s annual Jungle Jubilee – this is the new and enhanced version of that annual fundraiser.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, we had to pivot the event style to keep our guests, animals and staff safe, and the outdoor Expedition ZooFalls was born,” Stidd-Klein said. “Having the event outdoors on our campus feels like the perfect way to immerse our supporters in the zoo, and inviting local food vendors continues that celebration of local pride in our community, which has been so incredibly supportive.”

Expedition ZooFalls is an outdoor fundraising event — with a twist, she explained.

“When you walk through the gates, you’ll be greeted by some of our animal ambassadors before winding your way past Amur tigers, brown bears, foxes, bison and more to the event site,” she said.

A live band, TheSix4, will be playing, and local food vendors R Wine Bar & Kitchen, Hy-Vee, Look’s Marketplace, Blue Rock Bar & Grill and Prairie C Dessert Bar will be on-site serving some creative items.

“Guests will have a chance to feed giraffes, hop with kangaroos, feed farm animals, enjoy a zookeeper chat on black bears as they enjoy the new exhibit space and hear a program by our CEO, Becky Dewitz, on the future of the zoo,” Stidd-Klein said. “The most memorable part about the experience is enjoying some of your favorite local foods while being surrounded by wildlife and hearing about the impact the Great Plains Zoo has made right in our own backyard and across the globe — there’s no other event in Sioux Falls quite like it.”

You’ll also be able to bid on unique silent auction items to further support the zoo, including many special zoo experiences.

Tickets are limited, to grab yours click here.

Each ticket comes with entry to the event, food from the vendors, access to all activities and two drink tickets, with additional drink tickets  available for purchase.

This year’s event is supporting GPZ’s “reZOOvenation” — future development and renovation of existing exhibits.

“Our goal is providing exhibit spaces that are species-specific and take into account the whole-life needs of the animal,” Stidd-Klein said.

“As structures age, animal needs alter or the species we care for change, we must adapt and make changes to meet those needs. You can see examples of this with the outdoor penguin pool added in 2020, the new Americas exhibit that opened earlier this year and the newly renovated black bear exhibit — all projects that fall under reZOOvenation.”

By participating in the event — whether you purchase a ticket to attend, make a donation online in support or bid on a silent auction item available on the GiveSmart page —  you are helping to revitalize our community’s zoo!

You also can help the zoo even if you can’t attend the event. You can make a one-time donation or bid on one of the silent auction items — more will be added up until the event! —  all from the comfort of your own home, visit the zoo throughout the summer or buy an annual membership.

“Every visit through our gates is vitally important to not only caring for the animals at our zoo, but also to helping save wild animals and wild places across the globe,” Stidd-Klein said.

“We have such a tremendous community, and we are so thankful for all we’ve been able to accomplish so far and know together we can do even more.”