The St. Augustine Alligator Farm is more than just a zoo, it also hosts lots of fun events. From private parties to public holiday events, there’s always something fun to do at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm.
The following is a list of events at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm:
Creatures of the Night:
Every Halloween, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm hosts the Creatures of the Night event for kids. The event is a three-day Halloween experience where kids ages 2 to 11 can trick-or-treat inside the zoo.
During the event, the kids walk around the park and visit 11 stops throughout the zoo where the staff will hand out candy and introduce them to a variety of animals such as snakes, lizards, tarantulas and turtles.
The event takes place for three days each October between 5:30pm and 8pm. Kids are encouraged to wear their favorite costume and bring their own bag to collect candy in.
Croctoberfest:
On the first weekend in October, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm holds its annual Croctoberfest, which is an Oktoberfest event where guests can explore the zoo at night while sampling local beers from neighborhood breweries.
This event is also catored by local restaurants and live music is held throughout the park. The event takes place between 6pm and 9pm and is restricted to people 21 or older.
Zoo Night:
Zoo Night is a private event for people who want to explore the park at night with a group of their friends.
It’s a great opportunity if you want to explore the park without the crowds and see the nocturnal animals in the park, such as the alligators, snakes, sloths, owls and porcupines, at their most active.
The event includes a night-time zoo tour, a hands-on animal presentation, pizza and drinks as well as crafts and games. It takes place between 6pm and 9pm, although the time varies with the seasons.
3k Raptor Run:
Every Spring, the park holds its annual 3k Raptor Run which is a fundraising road race to help save native wildlife species in Florida.
Pre-registration is required and all proceeds from the event benefit a local conservation organization dedicated to helping the conservation and research of native wildlife.
Runners receive a Raptor Run 3K t-shirt, a finisher’s medal, refreshments after the race and a free child’s admission ticket to the Alligator Farm for every adult ticket purchase.
Birthday Parties:
The park offers private birthday parties for children ages three to 11 years old at the Conservation Center near the main entrance of the park.
The party includes animal masks for each of the guests, hands-on animal presentations and a keepsake photo with an alligator or snake for the birthday child.
The party takes place on Saturdays or Sundays only between 10am and 11:30am, after which all the party guests will be allowed into the zoo.
Photo Contest:
The park hosts an annual photo contest for photographers who enjoy photographing the native wild birds in the park’s Wild Bird Rookery exhibit as well as the other animals in the park.
A total of 10 winning photos are selected and one is declared Best In Show. The winning photographer gets a $1,000 cash prize and automatic renewal of their Photo Pass, which is a special pass that allows photographers early access to the park each day. The nine runners up each receive a $300 cash prize.
The photos are judged by a professional nature photographer and are judged on originality, composition, behavior, habitat and image quality.
Sources:
Danley, Stephanie. “First Coast Brews: From Croctoberfest to Palatka.” First Coast News, 4 Oct. 2018, firstcoastnews.com/article/life/food/first-coast-brews/first-coast-brews-from-crotoberfest-to-palatka/77-600720863
Hahn, Laurie. “Top 5 things to do in St. Augustine this week: Touchable art, Motown, Croctoberfest.” St. Augustine Record, 30 Sept. 2021, staugustine.com/story/entertainment/events/2021/09/30/things-do-st-augustine-week-brew-zoo-motown-musical-concerts-craft-fair/5898165001/
Rodriguez, Mekena. “The Buzz: Mekena explores the First Coast, St. Augustine Alligator Farm.” First Coast News, 22 Oct. 2021, firstcoastnews.com/article/entertainment/buzz60/the-buzz-mekena-explores-the-first-coast-st-augustine-alligator-farm-local/77-ff5a741d-43bd-45b6-bd04-41ae14f1a4b6
“Events.” St. Augustine Alligator Farm, alligatorfarm.com/events/
