Cincinnati’s favorite spring activity is back at the Cincinnati Zoo
Colors. Scents. 100,000 tulip bulbs.
It’s Zoo Blooms time! From April 1 through 30, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden transforms into a spring wonderland—filled with thousands of bright flowers, shrubs and flowering trees.
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Events Manager Kim Denzler says spring is the best season to visit the zoo if you like colors or “anything botanical.”
“It’s so pretty to see 100,000 tulips all through the zoo and then all the other plants. We are a botanical garden, so just to see all of that in bloom and how impressive our horticulture team is with laying out the different plants in the different areas,” Denzler says. “You’ll see some really interesting floral designs as well.”
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is one of only two accredited botanical gardens in Ohio, making Zoo Blooms one of the largest tulip displays in the Midwest.
Denzler says spring is a huge turning point for the zoo as it comes out of winter and prepares for more events. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the zoo had to cancel many events. This year, Zoo Blooms is back in full force.
“We’re really looking forward to it. All of our Zoo Blooms are going to be happening again this year. We plant over 100,000 tulip bulbs throughout the Zoo. It’s definitely when the zoo smells the best,” Denzler laughs. “It’s probably the only time the zoo smells great.”
In addition to Zoo Blooms, this year the zoo is bringing back Tunes & Blooms. Every Thursday in April, the zoo offers free admission for everyone after 5 p.m. During this time, bands play throughout the zoo in what Denzler describes as a “bluegrass kind of vibe.”
Guests are welcome to bring picnic blankets or their coolers and enjoy the bands during a spring evening, Denzler says.
“The whole zoo is open at that time, too, so they can walk around and see animals and just enjoy the zoo for free at night,” Denzler says. “That’s pretty exciting. I’m really happy we’re bringing that back; it’s one of our favorite events.”
Other spring events include an Easter celebration April 16 where kids and their families can walk around the zoo and get treats at various stations, meet the Easter Bunny and enjoy the warm weather.
The zoo also partners with the Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District for a rain barrel art auction. Hamilton County gets local students to paint designs on the rain barrels to be sold for an auction.
“They all have a really great message, and the paintings always turn out really impressive. They’re really fun to have displayed at the zoo,” Denzler says.
Moving forward, Denzler said she’s excited to have guests back at the zoo experiencing the events they love.
“I’m just really excited to see all the tulips blooming. We’ve had them in past years but, obviously, we were closed during COVID and people didn’t get to see all the tulips,” Denzler says. “I’m really excited to have everybody back at the zoo, seeing the blooms and taking advantage of taking some great family pictures.”
