Special Events

Monterey Zoological hosts several special events throughout the year to benefit the animals as well as many other non-profit efforts in the community. We also welcome those wishing to bring their special occasion or holiday gathering to the zoo.

For those interested, we invite you to click here to view a PDF 2023 June Monterey Zoo Newsletter  to bring you up to speed on our concerns, our efforts and the hopeful future of Monterey Zoo.

Past Newsletters:  Monterey Zoo   PDF Newsletter Newsletter-June 2022      PDF Newsletter-June 2021       PDF Newsletter Oct. 2020 

Our 2024  Gala is fast approaching and we’re hoping you’ll join us for an enchanting Arabian Night. Once again, a magical new theme that we are very excited to present. Invitations to our mailing list will go out in the coming months however if you’re not sure you’re on that list and wish to be, send us an email to info@montereyzoo.org and we’ll be sure you get one. Check back here soon as information on purchasing tickets to this event will be posted soon. 

Few events we’ve ever hosted have been more rewarding than our most recent “Saving Rhinos”. This was a first for Monterey Zoo as we shared our very confidential donor list with an alternative non-profit effort in an attempt to further their efforts to save an iconic species that is very near and dear to our hearts, rhinos. $105,000 was proudly and generously raised in one afternoon! ALL proceeds from this event went to International Rhino Foundation and CARE for WILD Rhino Sanctuary to benefit the rhinos of Africa and Indonesia. Please visit our FaceBook page at www.facebook.com/montereyzoo  to see photos and learn much more about this event. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to learn how you can still contribute to this very worthwhile cause.

If you’ve never attended one of our gala’s in the past, you’re truly missing out as they are unlike any other fundraising event you’ve ever attended. They are truly magical thanks to the many who contribute so greatly to the evening, especially the animals! Each year is a different theme, this year’s being a magical evening, “Out of Africa”.  This event, like the many before it could not have been more successful and beneficial to the many animals at Monterey ZOO. Photos will be available soon on our FaceBook page at www.facebook.com/montereyzoo

Our Annual Zoo Fundraising Gala on September 24th, 2022 at the Vision Quest Ranch in Salinas ~ Monterey County was a HUGE success, thanks to the many who helped bring Monterey Zoo to our community.

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Our annual ZOO GALA is typically held in late September, a VERY unique and exciting theme-party that includes a formal dinner, fine wine, spirits, live music & dancing, live and silent auctions and best of all, ANIMALS! Below are just some of the many theme’s we’ve enjoyed over the years.