Croctoberfest
Get ready for another croc-tacular after-hours party at the zoo!
Croctoberfest will be held on October 7, 2023
Members must call to reserve a ticket.
Zoo Member: $5 off | Under 2: Free
Ages 3-11: $16 | Ages 12 & Up: $20
Craft Beer+
Receive a free souvenir tasting glass and sip on samples of craft beer and spirits from local producers including:
We’re still signing up vendors for this event. Check back to see an updated list.
Pro-tip: Save time, avoid the line! After each tasting, be sure to purchase your favorite beverages to enjoy at the event (or take home)!
Meals & Music
Grab a bite from Happy Family BBQ, and with food and drink in hand, head to the plaza to enjoy the musical stylings of the talented Pepper Street Band!
Food is not included in the ticket price. All food must be purchased separately from food trucks.
Gallery
Additional Event Information
- Tickets are limited. To ensure your spot, be sure to purchase in advance!
- The zoo will close at 5:00pm in preparation for this event. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding!
- Doors will open at 6:30pm.
- Due to the nature of this event, only adults 21 years of age and older are permitted to attend. Ticketholders will be required to present their valid photo ID prior to entering the zoo. Ticketholders unable to provide valid photo ID will not be granted admission and will not receive a refund.
- This event is held rain or shine and includes indoor and outdoor festivities, so be sure to dress for the weather!
- Beer tastings are strictly complimentary, no purchase required.
Learn More about Crocodilian Conservation
Six species of crocodilians are on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered:
- Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis)
- Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius)
- Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis)
- Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer)
- Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis)
- Indian gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)
The Malayan gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) is currently listed as Endangered, and the:
- American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)
- Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)
- West African Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)
are all considered to be of a Vulnerable (Threatened) status. There is no one cause for the decline of crocodilian populations, but some factors include: habitat destruction, hunting for skins and meat, human interaction, and even competition between species living in the same habitat.
The Crocodilian Advisory Group (CAG) is the Association of Zoo and Aquarium’s first and oldest taxon advisory group, sanctioned by the AZA’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre in 1986. This elite group of zoo and aquarium professionals specializes in captive management, education, and conservation of the world’s crocodilian species; they provide their expertise in husbandry, breeding, educational programs, and captive management for zoo and aquariums worldwide.
The CAG’s mission is to promote conservation of the world’s crocodilians and their habitats through species management, education, and research.
Through the CAG’s fundraising efforts, they have partnered with other groups (IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Gharial Conservation Alliance) to support conservation, research, and education projects internationally. Some of these include:
- Habitat restoration & reintroduction (including radio tracking) of the Chinese Alligator (Alligator sinensis).
- Funding of international workshops for Chinese Alligator (Alligator sinensis) conservation.
- Habitat surveys for the Malay gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii).
- Survey equipment for population surveys of the Indian gharial (Gavialis gangeticus).
- Community level education & conservation programs for the Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis).
More specifics on these and other projects funded by the CAG.
