Reid Park Zoo invites you to be a part of the wonder and joy of DreamNight at the Zoo!

On Saturday, September 13, Reid Park Zoo is hosting a one-of-a-kind, private event for some very special kids in Southern Arizona! This exclusive evening event is for children with special health care needs, children with disabilities, their parents and siblings to experience their Zoo free of charge and without concern for social stigma and issues related to accessibility. 

Special activities for 2025 DreamNight include:

• Animal Encounters
• Zoo Keeper Chats
  • 6:15PM – Rhino
  • 6:30PM – Meerkat
  • 6:45PM – Zebra
  • 7:00PM – Lion
  • 7:15PM – Alligator
  • 7:30PM – Squirrel Monkey
• Arts and Crafts Activities
• Face Painting and Glitter Tattoos
• Carousel Rides
• Interactive Docent Stations
• Café and Gift Shop will be open
• Pictures with intergalactic characters, superheroes, pirates, and princesses
• And so much more!

Restrictions:

• Due to space limitations, we have had to cap the number of people per family to six (6), including the child (under 18 yrs of age), to ensure as many families as possible can enjoy the event. 
• This is an invitation only event and therefore we will be confirming your registration with our partner organizations.

History of DreamNight

The concept for DreamNight at the Zoo originated in 1996 at the Rotterdam Zoo in the Netherlands when animal keeper Peter van der Wulp acknowledged how rarely children diagnosed with cancer were able to visit the zoo. Peter knew that the families of these medically frail children often had other expenses to meet, had difficulty finding the free time to visit and the obstacle of being stared at or dealing with people’s reactions were reasons to stay away. In response to these dilemmas, the Rotterdam Zoo developed an event where these children and their families could have a relaxing and fun experience at the zoo and Peter’s idea has spawned a worldwide phenomenon.

Currently, there are over 300 institutions in 35 countries that participate by hosting DreamNight at the Zoo and Reid Park Zoo believes that this event is one small way to give back to the Tucson community.

Please reach out to Sara Bird, Senior Event Specialist at 520-837-8223 or sara.bird@reidparkzoo.org for any questions or if you have trouble registering for the event.

Participating Organizations