This summer, Chester Zoo visitors will get to spend the entire day plus the evening at the landmark attraction. The new opportunity is part of the ever-popular Afterglow event and enjoyment of an evening at the zoo is being included with standard daytime entry for the first time ever.
The evening initiative will see the award-winning zoo come alive with a festival-style feel that features live entertainers, street theatre, music and intriguing wildlife experiences held in five zones with different themes.
In the past, zoo day visitors wishing to access Afterglow needed to leave and come back to buy another ticket. This year, they can spend a full day immersed in the zoo and simply stay for the evening programme with one standard admission ticket.
The longer opening allows zoo guests a unique chance to experience the attraction’s 520 species late into the day, with tropical houses, aviaries and indoor habitats kept open for the event. Between 3 pm and 8 pm, giant animal puppets representing species like peacocks, giraffes and elephants will welcome zoo visitors, while life-size dinosaurs wander the gardens, creating interactive experiences.
Other Afterglow features include comedic street theatre, live music, giant bubble displays, funfair rides and a UV silent disco. There will also be wildlife trivia games at the zoo’s pub, The Oakfield, and a chance to enjoy cocktails while watching the animals.
Chester Zoo is easy to find just outside the city, and Afterglow will run on specific dates starting on Friday, July 31 and ending on Sunday, August 16.