Oklahoma City's biggest outdoor beer and spirits tasting is heading back to the zoo next Friday, September 25, and this time it's celebrating an 18-year run. ZOObrew lets guests 21 and older wander zoo grounds after hours, sampling beer and spirits.
The event is presented by Byron's Liquor Warehouse, the Oklahoma City retailer that opened its doors in 1959 right after the state legalized alcohol sales. The Oklahoma Zoological Society is bringing back the fundraiser as Oklahoma's biggest outdoor beer and spirits event, as reported by KOKH. General admission starts at $75 per person, and tickets are already on sale at ozsgiving.org/zoobrew.
What to Expect on Zoo Grounds
ZOObrew runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. next Friday, giving attendees three hours to explore the zoo after regular hours close. Mandy Heaps told KOKH that the event lets people enjoy the zoo in a new way, with attendees supporting the OKC Zoo while sampling new beers, spirits, and experiences. According to the station's report, guests attending also help raise funds for conservation efforts in Oklahoma and around the world.
The event's evening schedule is a notable consideration for anyone planning a regular daytime trip to the park that day.
A Decade of After-Hours Fundraising
ZOObrew's milestone 18th year fits into the zoo's nonprofit fundraising efforts. The Oklahoma Zoological Society, founded in 1954, describes ZOObrew as a 21-and-over conservation fundraiser, as detailed by Visit Oklahoma City.
A sister event, Sip and Stroll, is also part of the zoo's conservation fundraising efforts, Visit Oklahoma City reported. Hoodline has previously covered the zoo's local wildlife work, including releasing snapping turtles into rivers.
Record Crowds and a Bigger Conservation Footprint
These after-hours events complement the zoo's regular visitor experience, extending beyond ticketed evening crowds like ZOObrew's.
Much of that after-hours action now unfolds around the zoo's grounds, which also include Expedition Africa. The zoo's fundraising has also reached beyond its own grounds: guest donations through its Round Up for Conservation program have raised more than $1 million since 2011, per Visit Oklahoma City. The zoo's conservation work also extends beyond its grounds. The zoo also supports conservation work, Visit Oklahoma City reported.
