Social Events
WAIT LIST! Pre-Conference Tour - The Wilds
Saturday, September 9, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Additional $75 per person; not included with registration
The Pre-Conference Tour to The Wilds is currently sold out. You can be added to the wait list using the registration form. If spots become available, you will be contacted before being added to the tour. Your card will not be charged unless a spot becomes available and you confirm you are still able to join.
After a scenic 90-mile bus ride, experience The Wilds, one of the largest and most innovative conservation centers in North America! Open to the public since 1994, The Wilds is located on nearly 10,000 acres of reclaimed surface-mined land that has been transformed into a lush landscape. During your visit, you will experience first-hand this living laboratory, which has a strong focus on restoration and wildlife ecology, as you explore vast pastures that are home to rhinos, cheetahs, and many other rare and endangered animals. The Wilds is one of the best destinations in Ohio for adventure seekers and for those who yearn to connect to the natural world.
Fee includes lunch and transportation.
The Wilds is also hosting a Post-Conference Tour on Friday, September 15.
WAIT LIST! Pre-Conference Tour - Cincinnati Zoo and Boonshoft Museum OR Newport Aquarium
Saturday, September 9, 7:30 am - 6:00 pm
Additional $75 per person; not included with registration
Choose your morning adventure! Visit either Boonshoft Museum or Newport Aquarium. Then all attendees will spend the afternoon at the Cincinnati Zoo.
The Pre-Conference Tour to The Newport Aquarium is currently sold out. You can be added to the wait list when you register. If spots become available, you will be contacted before being added to the tour. Your card will not be charged unless a spot becomes available and you confirm you are still able to join.
During your morning visit to the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, you will have an opportunity to see a children’s museum, a natural history museum, a science and technology center, a planetarium, and an accredited zoo! Come experience public programs taking place throughout the museum, including in our Caryl D. Philips Space Theater, and behind-the-scenes looks at our Discovery Zoo and Collections department. Come prepared for a fun and fast-paced time at arguably the smallest AZA-accredited facility!
Or start off your morning at Newport Aquarium! SEA thousands of the world’s most exotic aquatic creatures as you waddle with playful penguins, meet rare white alligators, and surround yourself with sharks and smiling stingrays at the Newport Aquarium! Encounter thrilling adventures like the first-in-the-world Shark Bridge, where you can cross inches above a tank full of sharks on a rope bridge. Plus, experience the NEW exhibit Shipwreck: Realm of the Eels and explore a long ago-sunken ship and the creatures that call this accidental reef home. Come discover the wonder of an underwater world!
After your exciting morning adventure, you’ll spend your afternoon with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden! Upon arrival, eat like a Cincinnatian during a special “Zinzinnati” buffet before venturing out to grab a selfie with Fiona, the world-famous Hippo. While exploring the greenest zoo in the nation, you’ll have the opportunity to see 3,000 unique plant species and over 400 different species of invertebrates, reptiles, birds, mammals, fish, and amphibians. Experience one-of-a-kind animal encounters while learning about how our groundbreaking research is securing a positive future for endangered species. Come see why the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is nationally recognized as one of the top zoos in the country!
Icebreaker at Nationwide Arena
Monday, September 11, 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
One ticket is included in a full registration. Daily registration DOES NOT include a ticket. Additional tickets are available for $95 each.
It’s time to chill out and mingle! For a true “Icebreaker,” we invite you to meet up with your AZA pals at the home of the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets. We will be “on the ice” with several bars stocked with beer, wine, and two specialty drinks in honor of the Columbus Blue Jackets and The Ohio State Buckeyes. Two complimentary drink tokens will be distributed to each guest upon arrival at the event. A cash bar will be available after tokens are redeemed. To complement your beverages, enjoy some light arena fair with a flair. Entertainment will include the cool blend of soul and pop from the band, Honey and Blue, and all the fun the arena has to offer! Please note that there will be times when the arena will come to life with music, light, and sounds. This $150 million venue sits in the center of the Arena District surrounded by trendy entertainment, restaurants, and bars. So, even after the Icebreaker is over, conference attendees will be able to eat, drink, and dance throughout the night. Please join us as we officially kick off the 2023 AZA Annual Conference!
Nationwide Arena is a short walking distance from the hotels. For anyone needing special assistance going to and from the arena, transportation will be available at the bus pickup location outside the convention center.
Zoo Day at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Thursday, September 14, 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm
One ticket is included in a full registration. Daily registration DOES NOT include a ticket. Additional tickets are available for $95 each. Children ages 3-9 are $50 additional. No ticket needed for children under 3.
View the Zoo Day schedule of activities!
Cap off a great conference by visiting the home of more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species from around the world. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is proud to welcome you to Zoo Day, a day full of animals, food, and fun. Complimentary transportation will be available to and from the Zoo from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. loading at the south end of the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Wristbands and drink tickets will be distributed as you board the buses to the Zoo or at the Zoo’s main entrance if you are not utilizing the busses. Upon arrival at the Columbus Zoo, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious boxed lunch. Then, it’s off to explore the Zoo, where we are just four years away from our centennial celebration. That’s right—over the last 96 years, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has evolved to be a cornerstone of the community and a destination inspiring the appreciation and conservation of many of the earth's most amazing animals.
During your visit, we invite you to take a closer look at some of our signature programs by experiencing behind-the-scenes opportunities featuring a variety of open houses and tours. You can also check out several animal presentations and experiences that are guest favorites. After a full afternoon of adventure, the Zoo welcomes you to the Lakeside Pavilion for a reception with light bites and a chance to shop at the Conservation Marketplace. As the sun sets on your time here in Columbus, you are invited to take part in a scrumptious meal featuring Midwestern fare at our beautiful Water’s Edge Events Park. The Menus, the same band that entertained us 20 years ago when the Zoo hosted the conference in 2003, will help you rock the night away as together we bid farewell to an impactful AZA Annual Conference here in Columbus!
WAIT LIST! Post-Conference Tour - The Wilds
Friday, September 15, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Additional $75 per person; not included with registration
The Post-Conference Tour to The Wilds is currently sold out. You can be added to the wait list using the registration form. If spots become available, you will be contacted before being added to the tour. Your card will not be charged unless a spot becomes available and you confirm you are still able to join.
After a scenic 90-mile bus ride, experience The Wilds, one of the largest and most innovative conservation centers in North America! Open to the public since 1994, The Wilds is located on nearly 10,000 acres of reclaimed surface-mined land that has been transformed into a lush landscape. During your visit, you will experience first-hand this living laboratory, which has a strong focus on restoration and wildlife ecology, as you explore vast pastures that are home to rhinos, cheetahs, and many other rare and endangered animals. The Wilds is one of the best destinations in Ohio for adventure seekers and for those who yearn to connect to the natural world.
Fee includes lunch and transportation.
The Wilds is also hosting a Pre-Conference Tour on Saturday, September 9.
WAIT LIST! Post-Conference Tour - Akron Zoo
Friday, September 15, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Additional $50 per person; not included with registration
The Post-Conference Tour to Akron Zoo is currently sold out. You can be added to the wait list using the registration form. If spots become available, you will be contacted before being added to the tour. Your card will not be charged unless a spot becomes available and you confirm you are still able to join.
Explore the Akron Zoo, while coming nose-to-nose with more than 1,000 exotic and endangered animals in amazing habitats. We invite you to experience behind-the-scene tours of our animal habitats and education center. You’ll also have access to our compost facility and learn about our sustainability and conservation programs.
Fee includes lunch, snacks and transportation.