7 - 10 p.m.
Celebrate Summer Safari's 20th anniversary with a night of decadence, dinosaurs and discovery at your Akron Zoo! 
Your Jurassic journey will feature 20 life-size dinosaurs, remarkable animal encounters, live entertainment, an open bar and fabulous food throughout the park, making for an unforgettable evening of epic proportions!
Proceeds from the event benefit Akron Zoo's Animal Fund, which directly supports wildlife conservation projects, ensures the highest standards of animal wellbeing, and increases education programs and accessibility throughout our communities. Summer Safari is a driving force that makes these initiatives possible, and, with your support, we can continue to foster a better world for wildlife together.
At Summer Safari you will enjoy:
- Keeper-led trainings and up-close meet & greets with amazing animals throughout the zoo
- Heavy hors d'oeuvres from 15 local restaurants and caterers
- Open bar serving Towpath Distillery Spirits, Great Lakes Brewing Company beer, Dark Horse Wine and High Noon seltzer
- Live music and entertainment by Joshua Swanzy, Michael Osborne, The DJ Crew and RW Magic
- Online auction featuring exclusive zoo experiences, exciting area events, and fantastic items provided by local supporters
*Patron Party
6 - 7 p.m. I $250 per person
General Admission
7 - 10 p.m. I $100 per person
*Patron ticket holders enter Summer Safari an hour early for an exclusive pre-party in Komodo Kingdom. During the Patron Party, guests will enjoy specialty hors d'oeuvres, open bar, exclusive animal experiences and the opportunity to mingle with Akron Zoo's conservation and animal care professionals.
Summer Safari is for adults 21 and older
Online Auction
Unable to make it to Summer Safari, but interested in winning some cool prizes? You can bid on different items on our mobile site. You do not need to be present at the event to win!
Auction Items include:
- Sporting event tickets - Ohio State football & Cleveland Monsters
- Akron Zoo animal art
- Vacation getaways (Napa Valley, Jamaica, Riveria Maya)
- Landscaping packages
- Brunch and mimosas for six at Jilly's Music Room
- and much more!
The Summer Safari auction opens on Friday, July 25 at 5 p.m. and bids close on Friday, Aug. 1 at 9:30 p.m.
Online Raffle
Experience the wild side of your Akron Zoo like never before! This exclusive Lions, Tigers and Bears adventure offers up-close experiences with some of the zoo's most iconic animals.
You'll have the opportunity to go behind the scenes, help place enrichment, partake in a training session and even enjoy a thrilling feeding experience-all guided by expert animal care staff.
This unforgettable experience has never been offered to the public until now!
Summer Safari is Presented by:
Thank you to our dedicated event committee for making Summer Safari a roaring success!
Vish Bhatt I Patrick Bravo I Angelica George I Danielle Hupp I Ron Imbrogno I Mary Ann Lutz I Kelsey Minosky I Heather Morrow I Sonja Pagniano I Amy Patton I Lori Trehan I Mary Williams I Michael Wilson I Angelique Wong
