Come and be a part of all the exciting activities taking place throughout the year at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Learn about the animals in their habitats while you play and have fun!
Conservation Talks
Join us in October and November for these conservation events:
- October 2: Spilling the Beans Evening Talk about Edmonton’s Birds
- October 11: Fall Migratory Bird Day Celebrations
- November 6: Spilling the Beans Evening Talk about Bison
- December: No conservation talk this month, but don’t forget to get your tickets for Zoominescence
For October, we are asking, “What’s all this noise about?” and will explore the impacts of urban noise on Edmonton’s birds.
Date: Thursday October 2, 2025
Time: Doors open: 5pm; Talk starts: 5:30pm; Event ends: 7pm
Cost: Free
Anthropogenic noise is more than a human issue, it also influences the wildlife living alongside us. As Edmonton grows, understanding how city noise affects birds and other species becomes more important than ever. Over the past year, the Edmonton Valley Zoo and the Services for Environmental Sensor Research (SENSR) team at Biodiversity Pathways carried out a study across Edmonton’s parks and natural areas.
In this talk, our partners (Alex MacPhail and Martin Hinojosa) will share how researchers study urban birds and noise, what they discovered about Edmonton’s soundscape and some of the surprising wildlife they found in 2025 that also call our city home.
Hosted in the Wild Neighbors Café in the Zoo’s public plaza, admission to the zoo is not required for this event. Seating is limited in the café, but we will work to reserve a chair for you.
Celebrate Fall Migratory Bird Day
On Saturday October 11, 2025, we are celebrating all things migratory birds. Join us for a series of events with the Edmonton Valley Zoo and our partners to celebrate these amazing feathered friends.
Schedule of Events
Time: 9-10am
The early bird gets the worm! Join us for a morning walk in Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park with Bird Dreams and learn about Edmonton’s birds. Meet at the zoo gates at 9am. Spots available are limited to 10 persons.
Time: 10am-3pm
Explore diverse styles and mediums from professional artists in the Zoo Plaza with beautiful, locally-created works available to collect. Official “Art on the Wing” artisans include: Misty Ring, Cindy McLaren, Doug Klooster, Jadene Grimmon and Julie Dalsin.
Time: 11am-2:30pm
Discover how to protect Edmonton birds - from magpies to migratory birds! Interact with our Bird Friendly partner tables to collect knowledge and decorations to design your own feather-friendly artwork. Bird Friendly Partners include:
- WILD North
- Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition
- Edmonton Native Plant Society
- Wild Bird Unlimited
- Edmonton Area Landtrust
- Alberta Native Bee Council
- City of Edmonton Zoo Experiences
- Natural Areas
- Invasive Plant
- Integrated Pest Management teams and many more
Time: 1:30-2pm
Visit the Birds of Prey exhibit to see a feeding and learn more about which predatory birds also migrate, like the snowy owl and peregrine falcon.
Time: 3-4pm
Join local conservation artist Misty Ring for an Art for Conservation talk in the Otter Room and discover the thought that went into her life-size portraits of the animals at the Edmonton Valley Zoo.
Photo Credit: A special thank you to Cindy McLaren for allowing us the use of her artwork titled “Resurgence”, which shows a Peregrine Falcon soaring over Edmonton as they make their conservation comeback in the Capital region.
Date: October 18-19 and
October 25-26, 2025
Time: 10am-4pm
Boo at the Zoo, presented by North Central Co-Op, returns to the Edmonton Valley Zoo for all ages!
Explore the zoo’s not-so-scary festivities with magical guest characters, all while collecting candy at our trick-or-treat stops throughout the zoo. Visit your favorite animals and watch them enjoy enriching treats of their own! Have a frightfully fun time and learn how you can support conservation with the Edmonton Valley Zoo!
This is a ticketed event.
We will not be accepting walk-up admissions; tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets for Boo at the Zoo will be available online only. Tickets are regular admission; Zoo Memberships and Leisure Access Program Memberships can be applied.
Purchase Tickets *
* Available starting October 1
Daily Animal Talks
Looking to get closer to some of our animals? Join us to meet and learn about one of the fascinating species that lives here at the zoo!
Animal Talk Daily Schedule
Effective September 2 - October 13, 2025
| Time | Animal Talk | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 10:30am | Red Panda Talk | Red panda exhibit |
| 11:30am | Seal Talk | Polar Extremes |
| 1:30pm | Birds of Prey Feeding | Birds of prey exhibit |
| 2pm | Sloth Talk | Saito Centre |
| 3pm | Otter Talk | North American river otter exhibit |
Please note: all activities are subject to change.
Events Admission
General admission applies to all events unless otherwise indicated. All activities are free with general admission. Annual Zoo Membership Passes and Leisure Access Passes can be used for events that occur during regular operating hours.
We are offering complimentary admission to all self-declared First Peoples, Métis, and Inuit individuals on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30).
Our goal is to make these spaces more welcoming and accessible to the Indigenous community, fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of their rich heritage. We believe that these shared experiences will strengthen our community as a whole.
Please note: this complimentary admission does not include ticketed events that may fall on that date.
Book Your Tickets
Hours
Effective September 2 - October 13, 2025
| Monday |
10am-4pm |
| Tuesday |
10am-4pm |
| Wednesday |
10am-4pm |
| Thursday |
10am-4pm |
| Friday |
10am-4pm |
| Saturday |
9am-5pm |
| Sunday |
9am-5pm |
Statutory Holidays: 9am-5pm
The last admission window is an hour prior to closing time. The zoo will be cleared at the closing time listed.
Valley Zoo Development Society Events
The Valley Zoo Development Society, our non-profit society, also runs evening fundraising events at Edmonton Valley Zoo. These events, such as ZooFest, the Zoolander Fashion Show, Zoo Brew and Zoominescence, are coordinated through the Valley Zoo Development Society.
Interested in Other Events?
Muttart Conservatory Events
Sir Winston Churchill Square and City Hall Plaza
Commonwealth Stadium Events
Contact Us
Edmonton Valley Zoo
Email attractions@edmonton.ca
Phone 311 | Outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311
Address 13315 Buena Vista Road NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2R7