Denver Zoo Closing Its Gates for a Few Days-Here’s What You Need to Know

If you were planning a late-summer trip to see the giraffes over the next few days, maybe pencil that in for a different day.

The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance will be closed to the public from Thursday, Aug. 20 through Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, before reopening its doors on Sunday, Aug. 23.

Before you panic about missing your favorite animals for a long stretch, don’t worry — it’s only three days, and there are actually pretty good reasons behind it.

So Why Is It Closed?

Good question. The closure isn’t just one thing — it’s a two-part situation.

Aug. 20–21: The zoo is using those two days to get some work done on campus. Think improvements to guest areas and animal habitats. Basically, the zoo is doing the kind of stuff that’s a lot easier to pull off when thousands of people aren’t wandering around eating funnel cake.

Aug. 22: This one’s a party — literally. The zoo will be hosting its annual Flock Party, a fundraiser event that takes over the grounds for the evening. It’s one of the bigger events on the Denver Zoo’s social calendar, and it helps raise money that goes right back into conservation and animal care efforts.

When Can You Go Back?

The zoo reopens to the general public on Sunday, Aug. 23, so the wait really isn’t that bad. Plan accordingly, grab your tickets, and you’ll be back in business before the weekend is over.

Bottom Line

If you’ve got a zoo trip on the calendar for that third week of August, double-check your dates. Aug. 20, 21 and 22 are out — but Aug. 23 is fair game. The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance does a lot of good work for animals and conservation efforts globally, so a few days of campus improvements and a fundraiser party seems like a pretty reasonable trade-off.

Just maybe don’t show up on Saturday expecting to see the penguins. They’ll be partying with donors.