Whipsnade Zoo's Big Birthday Bash

Whipsnade Zoo's Big Birthday Bash activities are now over - thank you to everyone who joined our birthday party over the early May bank holiday weekend. 

Find out what events are coming up 

Get your family and friends together for a huge celebration at the UK's largest Zoo. 

Join us for the Big Birthday Bash over the May bank holiday weekend (2-4 May 2026). 

We're marking 200 years of ZSL - the charity behind Whipsnade and our sister site, London Zoo. And to celebrate this momentous milestone, we're throwing a family-friendly street party with crafts, games and a gigantic picnic.

Book Zoo tickets today

All about the Big Birthday Bash

Our celebrations will be split into different party areas, with all activities taking place close to our Aquarium and Butterfly House. Download our Zoo map. 

There's so much to explore:

Party Animals 

This performer-led zone captures the excitement of a lively birthday party! Children (and the young at heart) can join in short, fun activities or simply sit back, enjoy the performances, and soak up the atmosphere.

• Zoo-robics - Can you balance like a flamingo or waddle like a penguin? Join us for a lively, music-led warm-up for the birthday celebrations, with animal yoga, wild moves, and a jungle boogie.
• Animal birthday party - High-energy party games with a zoo-themed twist, including a playful take on Simon Says, musical animal statues, and animal limbo. 
• The Big Zoo Quiz - A fast, interactive quiz show, including True or False, Animal Top Trumps, and Guess the Animal.
• Zoo's Got Talent - Can you do the best animal impression or make the best animal sound?

The Winning Zone 

No celebration is complete without games for the whole family! Enjoy a range of fun, fairground-inspired activities with a unique ZSL twist, with favourites including: 

• Hook a Flamingo - use rods to hook a floating flamingo
• Animal Tail Tag - throw hoops over a selection of animal tails
• Candle Crash - help to 'blow out' our birthday candles by knocking down the cans  

Creation Station 

In this zone, you can unleash your creativity and design your very own future Zoo! Grab a modern-day outline map and use stickers and colouring pens to add in everything you'd like to see in your personalised ZSL conservation zoo. Maybe you could even invent a new species? 

Birthday Banquet 

Join us for a street party-style picnic in our colourful birthday celebration space!* With a Pimm’s bar, BBQ, plus everyone’s party favourite jelly and ice cream, there really is something for everyone! Keep an eye out for our animal mascots, you don’t want to miss your chance of having your picture taken with them!

Teddy Bears' Picnic 

Bring your teddy with you to join in our Teddy Bears' Picnic. You are welcome to listen to our teddy bear story and then enjoy your picnic on our street party style picnic benches.

Rock Choir

The fantastic Rock Choir from Dunstable, St Albans, Hertford and Watford will be wowing audiences on Saturday 2 May with musical masterpieces and they may even sing Happy Birthday! Don't miss them at 10.50am and 12.30pm in our Birds of the World Arena. 

*Food and drink can be purchased for an additional cost. You're also welcome to bring in your own refreshments to the Zoo. 

There's so much to explore at Whipsnade Zoo

As well as our birthday activities, your visit also includes:

• Over 11,000 amazing animals to discover, from bears and lions, to penguins and giraffes. Plus, all of your favourite farmyard friends too. 
   
• FREE parking: Drive into our external car park, no pre-booking required.
   
• Daily zookeeper talks to learn more about our incredible species.  
   
• FREE entry for children under 3: Plus up to 30% discount for children aged 3-15**. 
   
• A Weather Buster guarantee: Book with confidence all year round. If the weather lets you down, re-visit for free. T&Cs apply^
   
• An enormous adventure playground: Over 7,800m² of themed outdoor play area, including bridges, swings, a sandpit, and more!
   
• FREE indoor soft play: No charge, but must be booked in advance†. Includes a separate area for little ones under 3. 

** 'Up to 30%' based on the saving for a Child ticket compared to a full-price Adult ticket.

^ If there's more than 90 minutes of continuous rain, or substantial high winds, during Zoo opening hours, that day will qualify for our Weather Buster Guarantee and you can re-visit, within the following two months, for free. To take advantage of our Weather Buster Guarantee, you must have bought tickets online, in advance, from this website, for a qualifying date. Find out more: Weather Buster Guarantee.

† Tickets are free of charge and become available to book 24 hours in advance of the play session start time. Find out more and book: Hullabazoo Indoor Play.

Book Zoo tickets today