Summer Solstice Celebration

Our Summer Solstice Celebration has now finished, but our trolls will be at the Zoo until 22 September 2025 - don't miss seeing them! 

View our upcoming events and visit the trolls. 

To mark the launch of our magical new experience, Trolls: A Field Study, and the longest day of the year - we are having a Summer Solstice Celebration at Whipsnade Zoo.

There will be various activities and events taking place around the zoo throughout the day including live music and dance performances, guided drawing and yoga sessions as well as interactive activity stations along the Trolls Trail. 

Exclusive Early Access for Gold Members, Fellows & Patrons

Gold Members, Fellows, and Patrons can enjoy exclusive early access to Whipsnade Zoo from 9am for our Summer Solstice Celebration.

Start your morning with live folk music, morning yoga, creative workshops, and a special schedule of early animal talks:

• 9:15am – Bongos
• 9:30am – White Rhinos
• 9:45am – Giraffes
• 10:00am – Lions

Be the first to kick off the celebrations - no need to pre-book, simply swing by and show your membership card at the admissions gate.

Dance Performances

There will be various dance performances taking place around the zoo throughout the day by local groups of Morris, Appalachian and Irish dancers.  

Where: Penguin Car Park & Lion Habitat
Time: Penguin Car Park - 10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:00pm, 4:30pm. Lion Habitat - 11:00am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm.

Performers
Tappalachian is a lively group of Appalachian clog dancers and musicians based in St Albans. They have been performing together for 18 years, with members of all ages, at national Folk Festivals, ceilidhs and local events.

St Albans Morris are a friendly, mixed side who have been dancing the Cotswold tradition around Hertfordshire and beyond since 1930. Throughout the summer they can be found dancing out at pubs, festivals and fairs in and around the county.  

We will also be welcoming O'Mahony's Academy of Irish Dance and Golden Hare Morris to the zoo for dance performances.

Dance and musical performances will end around 5pm.

Guided Drawing

Join in with one of our guided drawing sessions where you can explore different mark making techniques whilst observing nature to create your own unique drawings. Sessions are free of charge and all equipment will be provided. These sessions will be taking place outside.

Where: Meet at the Visitor Centre
Time: 9:30am, 12:30pm, 3:00pm

Limited to a maximum of 20 people per session - visitors can collect a token to secure their session at the welcome desk.
Sessions last 45 minutes.

Music Performances

Enjoy live music acoustic performances throughout the day by local folk artists.

Where: Visitor Centre Concourse and Hullabazoo
Time: Visitor Centre Concourse - 9:00am, 10:00am, 11:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:30pm, 4:30pm. Hullabazoo - 11:30am, 1:00pm.

Performers
Skillet Kickers are a highly experienced and world-renowned duo who have come together to perform a unique blend of Irish, Folk, Bluegrass and Americana classics. Featuring a range of different instruments and an extensive catalogue of songs from foot-tapping romps to emotional Irish ballads.

Lizzie Hardingham is a Folk infused singer songwriter performing songs that drive straight to the heart. Paving her way as a powerhouse performer with beautifully delivered songs, her wonderful voice grabs the listener from the very first note. Think Christine Collister, Joni Mitchell, Sandy Denny and KT Tunstall all wrapped into one.

Yoga

Free yoga session will be running throughout the day allowing visitors to come and relax and unwind in nature. Beginners are welcome and all the necessary equipment will be provided. These sessions will be taking place outside.

Where: Basecamp Arena
Time: 9:30am, 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:00pm, 2:00pm

Limited to a maximum of 30 people per session - visitors can collect a token to secure their session at the welcome desk.
Sessions last 20 minutes.

Maypole Dance Workshops

Learn how to do a traditional Maypole dance and then take part in a performance!

Where: Monument Lawn
Time: 10:30am

Session lasts 30 minutes

Performers
Young Miscellany is a Hertfordshire-based folk dance group for children ages 6 to 18. They teach a broad range of different traditional English folk dance styles including and regularly perform at festivals, carnivals and fetes across the South East of England.

Troll Trail Activity Stations

Twelve magical Trolls have arrived at Whipsnade Zoo with a very important job to do! They are here to learn as much as they can about how humans connect with the natural world, they find some of our antics very puzzling and need some some help with their research from curious, nature-loving kids.

The Trolls have set up activity stations along their trail with various nature based activities so that they can get a really good look at how humans interact with their natural surroundings. You can have a go at building a den, making leaf and tree rubbings and crafting a butterfly feeder out of recycled materials.

Where: Trolls Trail
Time: Throughout the day