Three-Day Festival Features Free Family Activities Alongside Ticketed Happy Hour and Yoga With Elephants Program
Visitors can celebrate elephants, culture and conservation during EleFest, a three-day festival at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute leading up to World Elephant Day Wednesday, Aug. 12. The festival runs Friday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 9, and features after-hours experiences, early morning yoga alongside the Zoo’s elephant herd, live performances, family activities and interactive art designed to connect visitors with one of the Zoo’s most beloved species.
Friday: Adults-Only Happy Hour
EleFest kicks off Friday, Aug. 7, with a 21+ Happy Hour from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Elephant Community Center and Elephant Outpost. Guests can enjoy a complimentary specialty elephant-themed batch cocktail, see the Zoo’s newest elephant calf, Linh Mai, test their knowledge with wildlife trivia and take in live DJ entertainment. A commemorative 5-ounce wine glass will be available for purchase.
Tickets for members go on sale on the Zoo’s website today, Tuesday, June 9, for $25 per individual, and are on sale for non-members Tuesday, June 16, for $25 per individual. Tickets may be purchased the day of the event on the Zoo’s website for $30 per individual. Tickets will not be sold on-site at the Zoo. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend. ID is required for entry, and each attendee will need a ticket. Members may use parking passes for this event and non-members may purchase a $30 paid parking pass online before their visit or a $40 paid parking pass on-site, subject to availability. Only guests with a valid parking pass will be permitted to park on-site. All cars must enter through the main vehicle entrance on Connecticut Avenue.
Saturday and Sunday: Yoga With Elephants
Guests can take part in Yoga with Elephants inside the Elephant Community Center Saturday, Aug. 8, and Sunday, Aug. 9, from 7 to 7:45 a.m. and 8 to 8:45 a.m. each day. Guests can practice yoga alongside the Zoo’s elephant herd in a peaceful setting before the main festival activities begin.
Participants should bring a yoga mat and water bottle; a complimentary elephant-branded cooling towel is included. Tickets are $75 and go on sale on the Zoo’s website Tuesday, June 9, for members and Tuesday, June 16, for non-members. Guests must be 12 years of age or older to attend, and each attendee will need a ticket. Members may use parking passes for this event and non-members may purchase a $30 paid parking pass online before their visit or a $40 paid parking pass on-site, subject to availability. Only guests with a valid parking pass will be permitted to park on-site. All cars must enter through the main vehicle entrance on Connecticut Avenue.
Weekend Festival Programming
Festival activities continue Saturday, Aug. 8, and Sunday, Aug. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring elephant-themed activities, cultural experiences and family-friendly entertainment throughout the Zoo. Guests can obtain a free entry pass and/or paid parking pass on the Zoo’s website and explore at their own pace while learning more about elephants and wildlife conservation through special demonstrations, performances and interactive experiences, including:
- Traditional Thai dances celebrating Asian heritage from the Somapa Thai Dance Group (Saturday, Aug. 8)
- Elephant-themed story times and literacy activities from the DC Public Library (Saturday, Aug. 8)
- Community chalk mural activities by Chalk Riot (Sunday, Aug. 9)
- South Indian dance performances and interactive workshop from the Rhythmaya Dance Group
Additional programming details and a full schedule of demonstrations will be updated on the Zoo’s website.
Parking and Public Transportation
On-site parking is subject to availability if a parking pass is not purchased in advance. Guests using ride-share vehicles will be dropped off and picked up at the designated ride-share zones near the Connecticut Avenue entrance. Zoo staff will scan tickets and parking passes at the Connecticut Avenue entrance and tickets at the lower entrance near the Kids’ Farm. Metro Bus (D70) and Metro Rail (Woodley Park-Zoo and Cleveland Park) have stops within walking distance of the Zoo’s main pedestrian entrance on Connecticut Avenue. For more information, visit the Zoo’s website.