Thank You!

Zoofari raises integral support for the care and sustainability of almost 400 animal and 3,000 plant species, groundbreaking conservation efforts, and educational outreach programs.

Because of you...A record breaking Zoofari, over 1.1 million dollars was raised for the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden!

Welcome to the Neon Jungle...

As guests arrived, they were transported to a jungle filled celebration with bright colors, animal print and so much fun to be had!

Cheers to 150 years!

Even the welcome drink got in on the neon fun!
Spotted! A wild entrance welcoming you into the Neon Jungle!

The style in the jungle was absolutely magnificent! Guests went all out, rocking black-tie glamour with neon jungle vibes that lit up the night.

At Zoofari, everyone was a winner in the Best Dressed category — their neon jungle style is now forever immortalized in our jungle books!

Thank you to our presenting Sponsor: Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. and Western & Southern Financial Group

With a brand-new layout this year, guests kicked off their wild night in the pre-party—an immersive kickoff where glowing lights, jungle vibes, and bold flavors set the tone for the adventure ahead. From tasty bites by a variety of restaurants to glowing body art and sparkling hair tinsel at Luminous Body Art by Lexus, plus live painting and the Stay Wild photo booth, there was a little something wild for everyone to sink their claws into

Guests went all out at the Luminous Body Art by Lexus zone on Hops Deck, lighting up the night with glow paint and totally neon vibes! Jungle-ready colors turned everyone into a walking Neon Jungle — the ultimate Zoofari accessory!

From neon body paint to sparkling hair tinsel, guests were completely neon-ified!

Let the real party begin! At 7:00 pm, guests ventured deep into the heart of the Zoo, where the Neon Jungle pulsed with color, the music roared, and the wild celebration of Zoofari truly came alive

Over 40 restaurants provided delicious bites for all of our guests!

This event would not be possible if it weren't for the participation of local restaurants. 100% of their time and food is donated. We are so grateful to each and every restaurant, we could not do this without you.

Zoofari party animals prowled the Zoo, discovering wild adventures and glowing delights at every twist and turn.

From face-to-face animal encounters to lively chats at glowing habitats, the Zoo was buzzing with wild energy around every corner!

A fierce cheetah was the ultimate party starter, unleashing the night’s wild energy!

Wild Nights, Wilder Memories

This year, the Glow Wild Art Auction took center stage!

Inspired by our Neon Jungle theme, the collection burst with one-of-a-kind creations from some of the Zoo's most unexpected artists. From Fiona's playful kisses to Rico's creative boops, the goats' masterpieces, and so much more, every piece was truly unforgettable. Every dollar raised helped the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden continue to shine as a global leader in wildlife care and conservation.

Guests stepped into the Glow Wild Art Gallery in Manatee Springs and saw these neon-inspired masterpieces up close. From brushstrokes to hoof prints, surprises awaited at every turn — and no one wanted to miss a single wild creation!

During the event, our animal artists went full Neon Jungle mode, painting live for guests to watch! From Van Goats to little blue penguins and Fiesta the Macaw, these creative critters brought bold, glowing artwork to life right before everyone’s eyes. Huge thanks to the animal care teams who poured their energy into making this gallery roar with color — and to our friends of the Zoo who added their own artistic flair to the mix!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Glow Wild Art Auction! Over $17,000 was raised for the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden!

Your night, captured!

Special thank you to volunteer photographer Lisa Hubbard for capturing the arrival photos!
Stay wild! Guests prowled up and posed big in the Rivertown Photo booths located in Vine Street Village, Manatee Springs and the Asian Waterfall Garden!

Glow, groove, go wild!

Time to jungle boogie with Living Proof!

New this year, The Grove became a full-on concert venue! The perfect spot to dance all night to live entertainment, it set the stage for a wild Zoofari 2025. Celebrating 20 years of electrifying performances, Living Proof was our top pick — and it’s easy to see why! Voted Indy’s Best Cover Band and Best Indianapolis Wedding Band three times, they’ve shared the stage with legends like Morris Day & The Time, Earth, Wind & Fire, KC & The Sunshine Band, and Chicago.

Thank you Living Proof for bringing the fun to Zoofari!

Back and better than ever, the Silent Disco with DJ Chill took over The Jungle Lounge in picnic pavilion!

Guests danced the night away to their choice of three curated music channels through wireless headphones! Not So Loud Silent Party, Ohio’s largest silent disco company for over 10 years, brought the ultimate Neon Jungle beats to Zoofari 2025. With DJ Chill spinning throughout Ohio and the U.S., the Zoo pulsed with glowing party energy from start to finish.

The Jungle Lounge wasn’t complete without this Tiger-ific couch, generously provided by our friends at Fifth Third Bank!

But wait—there was even more entertainment to keep the Neon Jungle party roaring!

Dazzling performances by Cincy Circus at the Wild Lights Theater, Jonathan Carlisle at Elephant Trek, DJ Lady Slay in Vine Street Village, The Laurelys on the LaRosa's Deck and Elevated Aerials throughout the Zoo! Not to mention, surprise guest, Bronson Arroyo!

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Special Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. & Western and Southern Financial Group!
Special thank you to our official vehicle sponsor

From neon slippers to lit-up jungle cars and a splash of glowing body art, we loved seeing the creativity of our partners at Lexus — thank you for bringing so much style and support to Zoofari!

Prestige truly understood the assignment! They brought the neon, glow-in-the-dark vibes to life with their dazzling, creative lighting throughout the Zoo!

Sponsors kicked back in private suites at Picnic Shelters, Siamang Point, and Elephant Trek, while table sponsors soaked up the action from reserved spots at The Overlook at Elephant Trek, Mai Thai’s Marketplace, and the Picnic Shelters — the perfect way to enjoy all the wild Zoofari fun!

Interested in sponsoring Zoofari? We want to hear from you! Contact David Plogmann at david.plogmann@cincinnatizoo.org

THANK YOU for joining us to experience the majesty of Zoofari throughout the Zoo! This year, we are celebrating 150 years of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, and we are so grateful to our presenting sponsors — Western & Southern Financial Group and Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. — along with the many other sponsors who make Zoofari possible.

There is so much adventure to look forward to at the Cincinnati Zoo, and your presence at Zoofari supports all of it and more. Your generosity brings everyone closer to caring about animals and our planet.

Thane Maynard, Zoo Director

Thank you to all of our AMAZING photographers for the evening!

Rivertown Photo Booth, Tony Bailey Photography, and Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden volunteer photographers, Lisa Hubbard and Joe Mastrullo!

Thank you! Because of you, we had a TON of success, raising over $1.1 million in support of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden!

Zoofari stands as the largest fundraising event at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. This event provides essential support for the care and sustainability of nearly 400 animal species and 3,000 plant species, as well as groundbreaking conservation efforts and educational outreach programs. By attending Zoofari 2025:Neon Jungle, you are helping us to create A Wilder Tomorrow.

Neon lights, jungle nights—thanks for going wild with us!

Zoofari Photos