The Cincinnati Zoo’s adults-only Hops & Holly event is no longer a one-night affair. Guests 21 and older can now take in festive drinks, live music and zoo rides on both Friday and Saturday nights, running from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., after the zoo expanded the event in response to what it calls overwhelming demand.
According to WKRC, the event is back by popular demand this year, with organizers doubling it from a single night to two. The zoo itself frames the expansion in similar terms, stating on its event page that cincinnatizoo.org that, due to overwhelming demand, this year’s event expands to two nights so guests can enjoy the experience on Friday or Saturday. The event begins at 7 p.m. and is rain or shine, per the same zoo page.
As with any 21-and-up gathering, the rules are strict: all guests must be at least 21 years old and present a valid photo ID, the zoo’s event page states. Cincinnati Magazine’s event guide noted that tickets run $55, or $35 for designated drivers, and confirmed the same 21-and-over requirement.
What's on Tap and On the Menu
Hops & Holly leans into its name with festive drinks from local breweries, alongside an array of wines, seltzers and cocktails, according to the zoo. Food is available for purchase at select concession stands, and the evening comes with complimentary rides on the zoo train and carousel, plus live music from DJ Will, per the zoo’s listing.
It's a grown-up spin on a family-friendly venue, swapping daytime crowds and kids' activities for an evening built around drinks, music and the chance to wander zoo grounds after dark.
An Art Auction Runs Alongside the Festivities
Timed near the Hops & Holly expansion, the zoo's annual art auction is now live on its website, the same WKRC report noted. Many of the pieces up for bid are original paintings created by the zoo's own animals, ranging from paw or flipper prints to nose boops, according to the report.
The zoo has said that painting is an excellent form of enrichment for the animals involved, per WKRC's report. Beyond the animal artwork, the auction also includes rare behind-the-scenes opportunities and one-of-a-kind items, and it runs through next Tuesday, November 17, with proceeds supporting the zoo's conservation efforts, the station reported.
The zoo's animal art auctions have drawn attention before. A separate report from WLWT described past bidding wars over works by hippo Fiona, elephant Mai-Thai and gorilla Jomo, noting that a Fiona painting was fetching $1,099 at the time — though those figures reflect an earlier auction and shouldn't be read as this year's results.
