NC Zoo Offers Holiday Cheer with Jingle in the Jungle, Winter Camps, and more

ASHEBORO, N.C. — The North Carolina Zoo is celebrating the holiday season with discounted admission, special events, and a new Winter Camp for kids.

Visiting the North Carolina Zoo during the winter offers a unique glimpse into animal behavior you don’t get to see during the warm summer months. Cooler temperatures often bring increased activity among certain species, providing a chance to see rare sights and sounds. This year, that includes catching a glimpse of the Zoo’s news arrival, a baby baboon named Edgar who recently joined the troop on habitat.

The Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the winter season, but is closed on Christmas Day. During the winter season, guests enter through the North America entrance, as the Africa parking lot and ticket booths are closed for the winter season.

Jingle in the Jungle 

To mark its 50th anniversary and the season of giving, the Zoo is offering a special promotion, Jingle in the Jungle. From Dec. 16-20, general admission tickets will be discounted to $5 per person, available exclusively in-person at the North America ticket booths. (Online reservations and additional discounts will not apply.)

That discount comes as the Zoo continues its offer of discounted admission for survivors of Hurricane Helene. Now, and through Dec. 24, residents from any of the 39 affected counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee can purchase tickets for $5 per person, extending the discount to up to five additional guests in the same party. Eligible visitors must present a valid NC photo ID with an address in one of the qualifying counties. The full list of counties is available on the Zoo’s website.

Winter Camps Provide Educational Fun
New this year, the NC Zoo is offering Winter Camps, a day of adventure for children scheduled during school breaks and teacher workdays. Each camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., costs $65 per child, and includes snacks. The first event in December has already sold out, and dates in January and February are expected to fill up quickly.

Camp Schedule

That’s a Wrap! (Sold Out): Grades K-2, Dec. 23, 2024. Activities include crafts, animal habitat exploration, and gift-making.

Sense-ology: Grades 3-5, Jan. 21, 2025. A day of discovery about how animals and humans use their senses.

Animal Tales: Grades K-2, Feb. 17, 2025. A creative camp exploring nature through art and stories.

You can find more information and sign-up for a camp, as well as find waitlist options on the Zoo’s website or by contacting the camp organizers.

N.C. Zoo Society Christmas Giving
The N.C. Zoo Society’s limited-edition handcrafted ornament, made by North Carolina artist Chris Gabriel, celebrating the Zoo’s golden anniversary, “50 Wild Years,” has already sold out. If you are looking for a Christmas Gift for a fan of the Zoo, the Zoo Society offers the ability to gift a zoo membership and unique experiences like behind-the-scenes animal encounters, a Ride and a Guide tour on a golf-cart, and even opportunities to shadow a veterinarian. You can also give the gift of learning with camps for kids, including winter day camps and veterinary camps.