Gladys Porter Zoo

2023 Ridley Rush 1 Mile Fun Run
2023-06-10 08:00 - 12:00 UTC | Gladys Porter Zoo, 500 E Ringgold St,, BROWNSVILLE, TX, 78520, United States
7th Annual Ridley Rush Fun Run
Supports Sea Turtle Conservation

Gladys Porter Zoo is back with its annual fun run to support sea turtle conservation. The Ridley Rush 1-Mile Fun Run will take place on Saturday, June 10th at 8 a.m. at the Gladys Porter Zoo. Proceeds from this event directly benefit the Bi-National Kemp’s ridley sea turtle conservation project that the Zoo oversees in the state of Tamaulipas where 95% of the worldwide Kemp’s ridley nesting occurs.
The 1-mile route takes guests through the scenic Gladys Porter Zoo as they encounter obstacles that hatchlings must endure in their rush to the ocean as well as throughout their journey to adulthood. From predators to ocean debris, sea turtles face many hurdles to overcome in the wild. So apart from raising money for conservation, the run is also educational for all participants.
Runners of all ages are encouraged to participate and wear sea turtle attire or costumes. Registrants can also purchase a limited edition Ridley Rush dri-fit t-shirt when they register.
The cost to participate is only $15 for adults and children. This cost covers the entrance to the Zoo, race bib, and race medal. Register for the Ridley Rush at myracingtime.redpodium.com/ridley-rush-1-mile-fun-run. Packet pick-up will occur on Friday, June 9th from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. in the Meadows Room at the Gladys Porter Zoo.
A special thanks go to this year’s Ridley Rush sponsors, H-E-B Helping Here, Brownsville Public Utilities Board, KVEO- Local 23 News, and the City of Brownsville.

Brew at the ZOO
2020-11-17 18:00 - 22:00 | Gladys Porter Zoo, 500 E Ringgold St,, BROWNSVILLE, TX, 78520, United States
BATZ
There’s something brewing at the Zoo and you won’t want to miss out! Raise your glasses for animal conservation at the 7th Annual Brew at the Zoo, hosted by the Gladys Porter Zoo and Brownsville BeerFest. Brew at the Zoo will be held in, September 2020 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Ticketholders to this event will enjoy craft beers paired with food from some of the Valley’s most popular eateries. Restaurants will be competing for the People’s Choice Award, which guests will have the opportunity to vote for.
Aside from the delicious food and drinks, this year’s guests will also be able to enjoy music and games, such as Jumbo Jenga and a Beer Pong Tournament with door prizes.
Only 500 tickets will be sold for this exclusive event. Non-Zoo members can purchase tickets for $25 pre-sale and $30 on the day of the event. Zoo members will receive a discounted rate of $20 pre-sale and $25 on the day of the event. Members should contact the membership department for their discount code for online purchase. Guests are asked to keep in mind that this event is intended for ages 21+. For any questions, please call the Zoo at (956) 546-7187.

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There’s something brewing at the Zoo and you won’t want to miss out! Raise your glasses for animal conservation at the 7th Annual Brew at the Zoo, hosted by the Gladys Porter Zoo and Brownsville BeerFest.

Animal Play Day “Bowling for Rhinos”
2020-11-08 08:00 - 17:00

Boo at the Zoo
2020-10-30 08:00 - 2020-10-31 17:00
The Gladys Porter Zoo will hold its 28th annual “Boo at the Zoo” celebration Sunday, October 30th and Monday, October 31st from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Become a Zoo member and you are eligible to come in early during the members’ only hour from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Come out for a ghoulish good time at this alternative way to trick-or-treat – perfect for kids, teens and families alike!
Boo at the Zoo guests of all ages are encouraged to come out in their favorite Halloween costumes. There will be more than 50 different game and treat stations.
Boo at the Zoo Admission
From now until October 29th, tickets are on sale at the Gladys Porter Zoo office for the discounted rate of $2.50 per person for non-members. On October 30th and 31st, tickets will be $3.50 for non-members. Boo at the Zoo is a FREE event for Zoo members with membership card and photo ID. Event tickets are non-refundable and will not be replaced if lost or stolen.
Concessions
Zoo Concessions will have a number of snacks for you and your family to enjoy while at Boo at the Zoo! Prepare your palate for turkey legs, roasted corn, pizza, popsicles, Dippin’ Dots, nachos and more. Yum!
Zoo members have free access to the event and can get in early starting at 5 p.m. each night by showing their membership card. To alleviate congestion, there will be a total of three entrances; the main Zoo gate, a side gate near parking lot (pre-paid admission only), and a members-only entrance at the new Membership office.
Please be aware that due to construction on Ringgold Street there is no thru access from Palm Blvd. onto Ringgold Street. Parking will be available but is limited so be sure to arrive early or consider carpooling.
BATZ MAP
Check back soon to see the updated map. Click to Download Map (PDF)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why should I become a Zoo member?
Sign up to become a member before Boo at the Zoo! Zoo members have free access to the event and can get in as early as 5:00 p.m. each night by showing their membership card with photo ID. Also, members avoid long lines with special members-only entrance. Call the Zoo at (956) 546-7187 today for membership details!
Can I purchase my tickets in advance?
Purchase your Boo at the Zoo tickets in advance at the Zoo’s front office. Tickets are on sale at discounted rate of $2.50 per person until October 29th at 5:00 p.m.
Where are the entrances?
Make sure to look for directional signs to enter Boo at the Zoo. There will be a total of three entrances; the main Zoo gate, a side gate off of 6th St., and a members-only entrance at the Zoo’s side exit.
Where can I park?
Parking can be a hassle, so try carpooling if possible. Zoo parking is available but limited.
Does the Zoo provide bags for treats?
Sometimes we have a limited supply of treat bags. Remember to bring your own trick-or-treat bags for all your Boo at the Zoo treats and prizes.
Does the Zoo have an ATM?
Yes, but we encourage you to have cash in hand for the event to avoid long lines at the ATM. We have two ATMs one outside of the main Zoo entrance and the other inside the Zoofari Gift Shop. To gain access to the ATM in the Zoofari Gift Shop you have to ask Zoo staff located in the stroller and wagon rental station to open the gift shop. Ticket booths will only be accepting cash to purchase tickets for games and food stations.
How much are the games and food?
Game and food tickets are $0.25 each. Most games cost one ticket, with the exception of the cake walk (4 tickets), face painting (3 tickets), green screen photo booth (20 tickets), haunted house (16 tickets) and mermaid show (12 tickets).
The price for food items varies. Hot cheetos with cheese – 6 tickets ($1.50), sodas – 10 tickets ($2.50), water – 9 tickets ($2.25), Gatorade – 12 tickets ($3.00), roasted corn – 12 tickets ($3.00), turkey legs – 24 tickets ($6.00), sausage on a stick – 10 tickets ($2.50), hot dogs – 9 tickets ($2.25), Frito pie – 10 tickets ($2.50), nachos – 13 tickets ($3.25), Dip N Dots small (16 tickets) $4.00 / large (32 tickets) $8.00, Ice Cream (8 to 12 tickets) $2.00 to $3.00. Plus The Oasis, our full service concession stand will be open to serve Boo at the Zoo guests.
VOLUNTEERS
The Zoo is currently accepting volunteer applications, on a first come, first serve basis, for its most popular and spooktacular event of the year! Boo at the Zoo will be held on the evening of October 30th (Friday) and 31st (Saturday) from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. There are only 50 volunteer booths available for the first 50 volunteers groups that turn in their complete application. Space is limited and the deadline for accepting applications is Friday, October 14th. If volunteer space is filled prior to deadline, applications submitted after space is filled will not be considered.
Once the volunteer assignments are ready, the list will be posted on this page.
ZOO MEMBERS
Zoo membership has its privileges like free admission to “Boo at the Zoo” and special members-only hour at 5 p.m. The members’ only entrance is located in the new Membership building.
Boo at the Zoo member tickets are available for pick-up in the Zoo office during regular hours of operation. Members will need to show proof of their membership by bringing their cards and a driver’s license. If the cards were lost or stolen, please contact the Zoo office at (956) 546-7187 ext. 310 or email mems@gpz.org to make arrangements to purchase replacement cards.
Want to learn more about becoming a Zoo member or purchase a membership? Check out our membership benefits page.

Zoofari
2020-10-03 08:00 - 17:00
Call Zoo for details (956) 546-7187

Lower Valley Appreciation Days
2020-09-18 08:00 - 2020-09-20 17:00
All residents living in the Lower Valley will be able to visit the Zoo for the special admission price. The Lower Valley includes: Arroyo City, Bayview, Bluetown, Brownsville, Calaboz, Carricitos, Combes, El Ranchito, Harlingen, La Feria, La Leona, La Paloma, La Tina, Laguna Heights, Laguna Vista, Lantana, Las Rusias, Las Yescas, Laureles, Los Coyotes, Los Fresnos, Los Indios, Lozano, Lyford, Matamoros, Mexico, Monte Grande, Olmito, Porfirio, Port Isabel, Port Mansfield, Primera, Rancho Viejo, Rangerville, Raymondville, Rio Hondo, Russelltown, San Benito, San Pedro, San Perlita, Santa Monica, Sebastian, South Padre Island and Willamar. Residents will need to show proof of residency.
Identification such as a driver’s license, utility receipt or school ID will suffice. At least one family member must show proof of residency at the gate.
Fee: $3.00 adults (ages 14 and up) / $3.00 children (ages 2 -13)

Brownsville Appreciation Days
2020-09-11 08:00 - 2020-09-13 17:00
As a big thank you to the residents of Brownsville for their constant support, the Gladys Porter Zoo will offer an entire weekend of admission discounts for all residents living inside the Brownsville city limits. From Friday, September 11th through Sunday, September 13th, Brownsville residents will be able to visit the Zoo for the special admission price of only $2.00.
We hope Brownsville residents take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. In order to receive the discounted admission price, at least one family member must show proof of residency. Identification such as a driver’s license, utility receipt or school ID will suffice.

Animal Play Day “Labor Day”
2020-09-06 08:00 - 17:00

Kids Appreciation
2020-08-01
Stories are powerful marketing tools
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It’s as ancient as we are
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Animal Play Day “World Giraffe Day”
2020-06-21 08:00 - 17:00
What is World Giraffe Day? It is a world-wide day of recognition for the longest necked animal on the planet. Take part in World Giraffe Day, established by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. During World Giraffe Day, the Zoo will have our Giraffe Landing Feeding Experience open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 100% of the proceeds will go directly towards saving giraffes in Africa. From 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Senior Veterinarian, Dr. Thomas deMaar will be present and answering questions. In addition, kids can participate in activities like giraffe mask making, while learning about giraffe conservation.
Giraffe are becoming one of the forgotten large mammals of the world. While everyone knows about the terrible waves of elephant poaching that continue to plague the African savannahs, the degree of giraffe destruction is even worse. There are estimated to be 500,000 elephants remaining, while only 100,000 giraffe are left. For more information about World Giraffe Day, visit www.worldgiraffeday.org.

Animal Play Day “Mother’s Day… M.O.M.”
2020-05-10 08:00 - 17:00
Join us for a Mother’s Day themed Animal Play Day at the Orangutan Palapa. Participate in fun educational activities and coloring from 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Orangutan Palapa. Our mother and daughter orangutan pair will be also receiving enrichment from their keepers at the following times:
11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Orangutans are facing a crisis in the wild due to the loss of their rain forest home to make space for palm oil plantations. The cutting down and burning of the rain forest for these plantations leaves many orangutans homeless and/or orphaned. This event is free with the purchase of general admission or Zoo membership. We will be accepting donations for the Missing Orangutan Mothers campaign.
