The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has announced a series of special Franklin County Community Days that will take place in 2022 to thank Franklin County residents for graciously supporting the Zoo.

On May 15-16, September 11-12, and October 2-3, the Columbus Zoo is offering half-priced admission to all Franklin County residents. Additionally, Community Days will celebrate various local community partners and their service to Franklin County while guests have the opportunity to learn more about these important resources.

To help kick off Franklin County Community Days on May 15-16, the Zoo welcomes the following local community-based organizations, which will be located at stations around Conservation Lake to share and engage with guests:

Big Brothers Big Sisters
Boundless Health
The Buckeye Ranch 
Central Community House
Child Development Council of Franklin County
City Year
Columbus Humane
Columbus Recreation and Parks Department
Community for New Direction
Directions for Youth & Families
Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Gladden Community House
IMPACT Community Action
Liberty Township/Powell YMCA
MY Project USA
North Community Counseling Centers
*Please note the list of participants is subject to change.

To join in the fun, the Columbus Zoo’s Ambassadors will also be on hand to say hello and pose for photos at select times throughout the day.

“We are pleased to offer Franklin County Community Days to extend our gratitude to residents for their support. This support, along with the spirit of collaboration we share with our community partners, supports our important role as an educational resource for our community and a safe and fun place for families to visit. We hope that Franklin County residents will join us for these Community Days as we celebrate the tremendous impact we are making together,” said Tom Schmid, President and CEO of the Columbus Zoo Family of Parks.

Guests can purchase the half-priced admission tickets in person on the dates that Franklin County Community Days are offered, or online. To purchase tickets online, the billing zip code must match a zip code from Franklin County. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets online to help reduce their wait time in line. Franklin County Community Days tickets purchased online can only be applied to any date that the Community Days are offered in 2022. For more information and to purchase admission for this event, please visit the Zoo’s website here.

Zoo visitors can also ride COTA’s Zoo Bus if they decide to visit on May 15. COTA’s Zoo Bus provides a clean, safe ride to and from the Zoo from select stops. Riders receive $3 admission to the Zoo and $10 off admission to Zoombezi Bay (once it is open in late May). The Zoo Bus operates on Saturdays and Sundays starting on May 7-29 (Memorial Day is included); and daily from May 30 – September 5, 2022. The full Zoo Bus schedule is available here.