SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Potawatomi Zoo opens to the public on March 28; the zoo will also be open to Potawatomi Zoo Members only on March 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Regular zoo hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through May 31. Starting in the summer, from June 1 to August 31, the zoo will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Then in the fall, from September 1 through the last day of the season November 22, the zoo will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Regular admission is $16 for adults; $14 for children ages 3-14 and seniors 62+; and free for children 2 and under. Zoo Members are admitted free of charge during regular hours and extended summer hours.

Two of the zoo’s most popular attractions, the Potawatomi Zoo Express Train, and Endangered Species Carousel, will be open during the 2026 season. The zoo welcomed a new electric replica CP Huntington train this year with help from Indiana Michigan Power Foundation.

This year, the zoo’s Education Department will have a full range of classes and camps in both the Learning Center and the AEP Foundation STEM Classroom. Spring classes are currently in session, and Zoo Camps begin in June. Details are listed on the zoo’s website.

The zoo will continue to host a series of events this year. The first major event of the season is Zoo Luminate, which begins April 22 and runs through June 28 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The zoo’s newest event, Wild About Mom, is a Mother’s Day brunch on May 10, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Other events include Children’s Day on June 10, Brew at the Zoo on September 25, and Zoo Boo on October 16-18 and 23-25. All event details can be found on the zoo’s website, potawatomizoo.org/zooevents.

For more information about new animals, Education programs, construction projects, special events, or to become a Zoo Member, please see potawatomizoo.org, or check the Zoo’s social media pages for the most up-to-date details.