Turtle Back Zoo

Turtle Back Zoo

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WEB: turtlebackzoo.com NJ's #1 Zoo! (And a Top 10 Tourist Destination in the Garden State)

19/06/2026

Our Summer ZOO-vie Line up is out! 🎬
Wednesdays in July once again feature Movie Nights starting at 6pm in the Picnic Area.
July 1 DISNEYNATURE AFRICAN CATS
July 8 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
July 15 The Lion King (1994)
July 22 Zootopia 2
July 29 How to Train Your Dragon (2025)
No need to bring snacks, our CafΓ© will be open for food and drinks. πŸ•πŸΏπŸ¦πŸΊ
Zoo admission is required to view the movie. Zoo-vies are part of Family Fun Nights, featuring extended zoo hours Wednesdays & Thursdays till 7pm (off grounds by 8pm) in July & August. All Zoo Admission Tickets are discounted to $17 per person between 4pm - 7pm.
πŸ‘‡Comment below on which movie you are most excited to see! πŸ“½

18/06/2026

Dinner and a movie? Been there. 🎬❌

This summer… get a little wild. 🐾🍻

Wander the Zoo after hours. Sample from 37 breweries. Grab bites from local food vendors. Catch a live performance from New Jersey’s own Joe P.

Brew at the Zoo isn’t your average date night - it’s the kind you’ll actually talk about afterward!

Grab your person, gather your crew, and make some memories.

🎟️ Tickets available now at TBZBrew.com

18/06/2026

πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸ§ SAVE THE DATE πŸ§πŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ

We’re excited to announce the return of Penguin Waddle Family Fun Run & Walk powered by Fleet Feet Montclair!

πŸ“… Sunday, October 18

Get ready to waddle, walk, or run your way toward a wild morning of family fun, animal spirit, and a one-of-a-kind finish at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo. Whether you race like a cheetah or stroll like a penguin, this event is perfect for all ages.

More details coming soon… πŸ‘Ÿ
www.zoologicalsocietyofnj.org

17/06/2026

🍻 37 breweries. One night. One very important decision…

Where’s your first stop going to be at Brew at the Zoo 2026? 🐾

It's okay, we’re here to help map out your game plan 😎

𝐻𝑖𝑑 π‘ƒπ΄π‘ˆπ‘†πΈ π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘£π‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘œ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑠𝑒𝑒 π‘€β„Žπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘“π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘  π‘¦π‘œπ‘’β€¦ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘› 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘  π‘€β„Žπ‘–π‘β„Ž π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘€π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’β€™π‘Ÿπ‘’ β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘‘π‘œ π‘“π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘ π‘‘ πŸ‘‡

Don't have tickets yet?! VIP is already sold out, but general admission tickets are still available.

Support the conservation, have a night out, let's do this! --> https://tbzbrew.com/

16/06/2026

THE LIGHTS.

THE MUSIC.
THE ENERGY.
THE ATMOSPHERE.

It's almost here and you just have to experience it!

Brew at the Zoo tickets are ON SALE NOW --> TBZBrew.com

16/06/2026

🍻 The night doesn't have to end when Brew at the Zoo does...

Keep the party going at the official Brew at the Zoo After Party at McLoone's Boathouse on Saturday, June 27 from 9PM-11PM! Enjoy live music, late-night kitchen specials & great drinks - all while supporting wildlife conservation, with $1 from every beer purchased after 9 PM donated back to the Zoo.

Don't have your Brew at the Zoo tickets yet? Grab them now and make it a full night of craft brews, live entertainment and an unforgettable after party. 🍺🦁 www.tbzbrew.com

See you at the Zoo... then see you at McLoone's!

14/06/2026

🐾 Father's Day Behind-the-Scenes - LION

You sold out the first session, so we added another, but this time it's all about Dad! This isn’t your average zoo visitβ€”it’s a deep dive into the lives of our whole lion pride with dad Demarcus, mom Makena & our new energetic cubs, Anga and Kito.

The experience includes:
Exclusive Access: See where the pride spends their downtime and learn about the care of these incredible big cats.
Meet & Greet: Chat with the dedicated keepers who work with the pride every day.
Light Refreshments: Start your morning right with snacks and drinks provided.
Expert Insights: Discover what it takes to raise lion cubs and the conservation efforts protecting their wild cousins.

πŸ“…Sunday, June 21st @ 9:00am. $100-120 per person. For ages 13+ (A perfect outing for teens and adults).

30/05/2026

Oh. My. Capy!
Behind the Scenes Tours in June feature our new Capybara & pups!
πŸ“…Sundays in June @ 2pm
Get a sneak peek at what happens inside your favorite Turtle Back Zoo exhibits. Your ticket includes a 30-minute guided tour and a meet and greet with the animal keeper.
$65/person. Zoo admission is not included in the ticket price; non-zoo members must purchase separate zoo admission in order to enter. Group sizes are limited based on the tour location. Attendees must be at least 6 years old and children under 18 must be accompanied by a ticketed adult.

29/05/2026

Happy National Alligator Day 🐊
Listen as our Reptile Keeper Team talks about the history of American alligators and watch some great footage of Peaches enjoying his outdoor habitat.

πŸŽ₯ Animal Keeper Scott Noetzli

29/05/2026

It’s almost officially Brew at the Zoo month πŸ»πŸŽ‰

And we’re kicking off with a big announcement… Joe P is coming to Brew at the Zoo! 🎢

Fresh off festival stages like Lollapalooza, ACL, and Sea.Hear.Now, New Jersey’s own Joe P is bringing his indie rock energy to the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo amphitheater for a special solo live performance during our wildest fundraiser of the summer.

Join us on June 27 from 6PM-9PM for an unforgettable evening of:
🍺 Craft beer tastings
🍴 Local food vendors
🎡 Live music from Joe P
🦁 After-hours zoo vibes, all supporting animal care, conservation and education

VIP is officially SOLD OUT! General Admission tickets are going fast, so grab yours before they’re gone. 🎟️ www.tbzbrew.com

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Opening Hours

Monday 10:00 - 15:00
Tuesday 10:00 - 15:00
Wednesday 10:00 - 16:00
Thursday 10:00 - 15:00
Friday 10:00 - 16:00
Saturday 10:00 - 16:00
Sunday 10:00 - 15:00