Nighttime at the San Diego Zoo: Animal Encounters, Live Music & Summer Fun

ByAndrea

Looking for something fun to do on a summer evening in San Diego? You have to check out Nighttime Zoo at the San Diego Zoo! We went last night and had such a blast — here’s everything you need to know:

📍 When to Go

The event runs from 3:30 PM to 8 PM during the summer months. We got there right at 4 and scored parking right away — even though it was busy! Heads up: the front of the zoo gets pretty crowded early on, but once you head further in, it’s not bad at all.

🎶 Music & First Impressions

As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by The Chameleons, a live brass ensemble — such a fun welcome! Then we passed through the gate and the Rock & Roar band was playing, setting the mood with upbeat music.

🍿 First Stop: Snacks & Traditions

Of course, I had to grab my popcorn and soda refills right away — priorities!

We snapped a photo on the nostalgic lion statue (because are you even at the zoo if you don’t?), then stopped by the flamingos — always our first animal stop.

🐾 Animal Action After Hours

One of the coolest parts of Nighttime Zoo is that the animals are way more active in the evening.

Here’s what we saw:

  • A rhino playing with a box and being super loud
  • Giraffes out eating, including a baby giraffe
  • Monkeys being silly and swinging around like crazy

🦘 Bounce-a-Roo Bonanza

We caught the Bounce-a-Roo Bonanza show — kangaroos, trampolines, and tons of energy!

The kids loved it, and at the end, the performers walked by and gave them high-fives. Such a fun moment!

🎉 Parade to End the Night

To wrap up the evening, there was a parade near the front of the zoo. It was full of music, dancers, and glowing costumes — such a fun way to end the night.

🐾 Final Thoughts

We give Nighttime Zoo a 10/10. It’s such a unique way to experience the zoo — cooler temps, more active animals, and all kinds of extra entertainment. It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for something different this summer.

🔗 Want to See Everything They Offer?

We didn’t get to do it all, but there’s so much more happening at Nighttime Zoo.

👉 Click here to see the full event schedule on the San Diego Zoo website.