El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens is inviting adults 21 and older back for its annual Brew at the Zoo, a night of craft beer sampling, live music and after-hours animal encounters meant to raise money for the zoo's conservation and education work. The event pairs craft beer sampling with select nighttime habitat viewing, giving grown-up visitors a chance to walk the grounds without the usual daytime crowds.
According to KVIA, the 2026 edition is set for Saturday, October 17, running from 7 to 11 p.m., with a last-entry cutoff at 9 p.m. VIP ticket holders get early access starting at 6 p.m., the station reports. A separate 2025 report from KTSM describes that year's event as happening Saturday, October 18, and running until midnight.
KFOX14/CBS4 describes Brew at the Zoo as featuring craft beer, live bands and DJs, animal ambassadors, and select habitat viewing paired with special animal enrichment sessions. Local vendors, zoo eateries and arcade games round out the after-hours setup, and guests are encouraged to wear costumes while exploring the grounds at night.
What's Pouring and Playing
KTSM's report describes roughly 20 local breweries pouring hoppy IPAs, rich stouts, smooth lagers and other styles, alongside a lineup that includes live bands, DJs and a choreographed fire show. That same account mentions the zoo's Wildlife Encounter show and additional animal-enrichment sessions layered into the evening.
Per KTSM's description, select habitats are expected to stay open for nighttime viewing, including the Magellanic penguins, the South American Pavilion, spider monkeys, the American alligator exhibit and the Chihuahuan Desert area. Food will come from the zoo's own eateries as well as local food trucks and vendors selling handcrafted goods, according to the same report.
Tickets, Prices and the Wristband Rule
Per KFOX14/CBS4, early access tickets run $60 and general admission is $40, with group six-packs priced at $330 for early access and $220 for general admission. Designated drivers can get in for $15, a price point echoed in KTSM's separate reporting on the event. Early access and general admission tickets are limited, and all sales happen online only through elpasozoo.org — no walk-up purchases at the gate, per KFOX14/CBS4.
Every guest must be 21 or older and present a valid ID at entry, and the zoo will enforce what it calls a “no wristband, no pour, no excuses” policy, meaning no alcohol gets served without proof of age already confirmed. KVIA reports the City of El Paso is encouraging attendees to drink responsibly and line up a designated driver or rideshare plan ahead of time, and KFOX14/CBS4 adds that public transportation is another option guests can use to get home safely.
Who's Backing the Night
The event carries support from several local businesses, including Dave & Buster's El Paso, Flix Brewhouse, SSA Group and Dick Poe Chrysler Jeep, according to KFOX14/CBS4. Proceeds are meant to fund the zoo's broader mission — the zoo's own website states that all membership revenue directly supports its animals, exhibits and conservation work, a framing that lines up with how the city has described Brew at the Zoo's purpose: supporting conservation initiatives and education programs across the facility.
KTSM's report also notes that attendance for the event was capped at 1,000 people, with roughly 600 tickets already sold at the time that report was published. It isn't confirmed whether that ticket count and cap reflect this year's event specifically. Given the online-only sales process and the limited ticket tiers, anyone planning to attend is likely better off locking in a ticket sooner rather than waiting until closer to the date.
