Party Like an Animal During ‘Brew at the Zoo’ (May 17)

This article was written by Sedona Hartley and first appeared on Arizona Sonoran News.

The Reid Park Zoo’s popular “Brew at the Zoo” nocturnal event is back, inviting guests to sip craft beverages while enjoying a safari under the stars, all in support of local wildlife conservation initiatives.

Admission comes with 16 tasting tickets and an eco-friendly commemorative sampling glass to take home. The event will feature a wide selection of craft beers, hard ciders, lagers, and ales from breweries across Arizona. Pub-style food will be available for purchase throughout the zoo and at the Flamingo Grill near the front entrance.

“Brew at the Zoo is one of our most popular fundraisers at Reid Park,” said Deborah Carr, the zoo’s director of marketing and communications.

The 21-and-over ticketed event will be held at Reid Park Zoo, 3400 E. Zoo Court, from 6:30-9 p.m. Saturday, May 17.

“It’s a great way for us to bring in new visitors and introduce them to what we’re all about,” said Chelo Grubb, a spokeswoman for the Reid Park Zoo. “We also enjoy partnering with incredible local breweries. It is such a fantastic opportunity to showcase the local beer scene here in the city.”

Participating breweries include Barrio Brewing Co., Bawker Bawker Cider House, Ray Ray’s Sonoran Spirit Tea from Cocktail Lab AZ, Crooked Tooth Brewing Co., Dragoon Brewing Co., Mother Road Brewing Co. out of Flagstaff, and Willcox’s The Brewery at Tirrito Farm.

Rachel D’Acquisto, aka Ray Ray, said she is very excited to once again take part in the zoo event.

“We love Tucson and we love participating in community events, and fundraisers are especially great at the zoo,” she said. “We tend to jump at the opportunity to help raise money for great causes, and do sampling events that help create community.”

D’Acquisto launched Cocktail Lab during the pandemic and brews at Tucson’s Brick Box Brewery.

D’Acquisto said the zoo event is a chance for Ray Ray’s to “tell people who we are, what we brew and offer them samples of our Sonoran Spirit Tea.” You can find Ray Ray’s Sonoran Spirit Tea at dozens of restaurants, bars, and retailers throughout the greater Tucson area.

Don Rubino, the owner and brewer of Tucson’s lone hard cider house, Bawker Bawker, is also excited to return to the zoo.

“We love the opportunity to support the zoo. They do so many great things for the community,” he said.

Rubino opened Bawker Bawker Cider House on Tucson’s historic Fourth Avenue in 2020. They brew all of their ciders in-house using apple juice sourced from the Pacific Northwest. Their ciders are naturally gluten-free and vegan, and served unfiltered, which gives them a hazy appearance.

“We are staying positive that new people will try our ciders and keep coming back. Cider is still a growing market in the U.S., and we are happy to be a part of that trend,” said Rubino. “We will be serving a few of our cider flavors at the zoo, including lemon prickly pear.”

Tucson’s hard-rocking Drive-By High 5 band and the country and bluegrass group Dry Wash Anglers will perform live music along with acoustic guitarist and singer Derdog.

“There are also fun photo opportunities, zookeeper chats, and games throughout the evening,” said Carr.

Carr said tickets, starting at $55 for general admission and $50 for zoo members, typically sell out. The premium experience that includes early admission and an encounter with a giraffe has sold out.

Tickets for the Brew at the Zoo event and more information can be found at reidparkzoo.org. Online ticket sales will close at 3 p.m. on May 17; it’s $10 more at the gate. 

Some zoo animals may be sleeping and out of their habitat during the event.

Proceeds support the zoo’s animal care and worldwide field conservation programs with which the zoo assists, as well as local education programs, including free zoo admission for Title 1 schools and scholarships for education classes and camps for underserved children.

“We are expecting around 1,500 guests,” Carr said. “It has a relaxed vibe and a festival feel that is different from a daytime zoo visit. ” 

“I definitely think it’s one of the zoo’s more laid-back and fun events; it really makes it feel like summer,” said Grubb.

This summer, the zoo will be open from 6-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from May 23 – August 9 for Summer Safari Nights, featuring cool evening viewings with the animals, live concerts from a variety of Tucson bands, special themed experiences, games, and more. 

On June 26, Reid Park Zoo will host its second annual Family Pride Night from 6-8 p.m., with music, family activities, and an information fair.

For details and information on other upcoming zoo events, visit reidparkzoo.org.

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.