Powell, OH — Fall fun has arrived for all at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium! On Sunday, September 29, 2024, the Zoo is offering Quiet Hours and a Sensory-Friendly Halloween Character Meet and Treat event to provide guests of all ages and abilities the opportunity to experience the wonders of the Columbus Zoo.
Quiet Hours
From 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., guests can enjoy the Zoo during Quiet Hours, which provides a less stimulating experience without the added park sounds, music, and technology that can be challenging for individuals with sensory sensitivities.
The following options and amenities are available during this event:
- Meet and greets with the Zoo’s Character Ambassadors
- Select attractions such as the North America Train, 1914 Mangels-Illions Grand Carousel, and Wild Explorer Virtual Reality. (Please note these experiences require an additional fee. Safety announcements will be in place, and rides are subject to weather and mechanical conditions.)
- Sensory kits with noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, and fidget devices will be available at Guest Relations for a $10 refundable deposit.
- A calming room located at the Suzie Edwards Conservation Education building near the Zoo’s entrance for individuals who may require a quiet space for self-regulation
Tickets are $10 per general guest and complimentary for members. Tickets must be pre-purchased before the event, as the number of available tickets are limited. Both members and general guests must pre-register. The Zoo will be open to all guests, so there may be large crowds during this experience. Some sounds and visuals are also required for safety purposes and these will not be altered during Quiet Hours. There is also construction noise around the Zoo's North America region.
Guests can also enjoy additional opportunities to experience Quiet Hours at the Zoo later this year. During Wildlights, efficiently powered by AEP Ohio, a Sensory-Friendly Light Stroll will be held on November 19 from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., and Sensory-Friendly Santa Experiences will be available on December 8 from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Reservations and tickets will be available for purchase starting in November.
For more information and to register for this event and others, please visit the Zoo’s Events page.
Sensory-Friendly Halloween Character Meet and Treat
From 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., guests are also invited to dress in their favorite costumes and meet some of the Zoo’s Character Ambassadors dressed in their Halloween best in a sensory-friendly environment!
Located inside the Zoo's Suzie Edwards Conservation Education building, this experience also includes reduced sounds, decreased visual stimulation, and access to a calming room. Tickets to this portion of the day are $5 per group (up to six people) and limited to maintain smaller groups admitted every 15 minutes. Reservations are required and can be made through the Zoo’s website. Following the event, guests are welcome to visit the Zoo and enjoy Quiet Hours using their membership or paid admission.
Additional Resources and Experiences
Planning Your Visit: Social Stories and Sensory Maps. A trip to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium begins before guests even arrive. There are many sensory-friendly ways that guests can plan their day, and to assist in explaining the Columbus Zoo experience prior to a visit or field trip, social stories are available on the Columbus Zoo’s Accessibility page. These short narratives, along with accompanying pictures, help illustrate different situations so guests better understand what to expect during their visit and why. This can include explaining that guests must wait in line and be patient because the Zoo is busy; that something may move or make a sound while one waits in line; how one might be able to see more animals by observing quietly; and that there are some areas of the Zoo that are a bit louder than others and so a guest may wish to cover their ears or wear headphones.
Additionally, sensory maps are available on the Zoo’s website to identify sensory-friendly locations. These locations help families plan their visit by marking busy areas, quieter areas, places that include louder noises, strong smells, low lighting and free play. Signage at the Zoo also designates locations that are quiet areas and headphone zones to assist guests during their visit.
Created by the Zoo’s Conservation Education and Engagement team and Cassie Beam, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, these social stories and sensory maps were designed in a way to assist children, adolescents or adults with autism spectrum disorder and other needs, as well as individuals with anxiety, learn about these experiences in a way that helps them feel physically, socially and emotionally safe.
Upon Arrival: Sensory Bags. As a Sensory Inclusive™ certified facility through KultureCity, an organization dedicated to providing sensory accessibility and acceptance for individuals with differing abilities, the Zoo offers sensory bags to offer another layer of comfort during a guest’s visit. These sensory bags consist of headphones and sunglasses to minimize loud sounds and bright lights, fidget items, a KultureCity VIP lanyard and a communication card to help a guest let others know how they are feeling during a situation. The bags are designed to help meet sensory needs in children and adults. These items lessen sensory overload while also engaging guests, and are easily cleaned and sanitized between uses. Sensory bags are currently available to be checked out through the Zoo’s Guest Relations office located at the front of the park. Please note that numbers are limited and they are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Experience the Ride! The Columbus Zoo follows the ADA Guide to Rides and Attractions to assure a safe and inclusive experience. While team members do not have the proper training to physically assist, guests are encouraged to enjoy the rides and attractions with someone who is aware of the individual’s needs and can physically assist the guest when needed. Rides and attractions that are currently ADA-accessible at the Zoo include (but are not limited to): the 4-D Theater, Columbus Zoo Train Ride, Grand Carousel, Polar Playground, Shores Play Park, and several Rides at Adventure Cove (weekends only .
Adult Changing Station. As part of the Zoo’s commitment to prioritizing inclusion initiatives, the Adventure Cove region includes a family restroom built with the vision of staying proactive in meeting and exceeding Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. This family restroom, which opened in 2020, is larger than others previously built on the property so that guests with various needs can be better accommodated. A goal for this restroom included an adult changing station, and when Westerville teen, Olivia Brohard, approached the Zoo with an idea to raise funds and help with the installation of this amenity, the goals of the project aligned perfectly for it to move forward. Inspired by her brother, Abram, who lived with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and loved the Columbus Zoo, Olivia worked on this initiative as part of her “Stay All Day” project. This project earned her the American Heritage Girls Starts and Stripes Award, and—while honoring her brother’s memory—helps to ensure that guests with differing abilities enjoy the Zoo. The family restroom at Adventure Cove also features a mural painted by Olivia and handprint tiles created by children and young adults living with disabilities to encourage inclusion and community.
For additional updates about the Columbus Zoo’s conservation initiatives, hours, events, and more, follow the Zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok, and visit us at ColumbusZoo.org. Additional information about the Zoo’s inclusion initiatives can be found by visiting the Zoo’s Accessibility page.
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About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species worldwide, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads by making a positive impact on people, wildlife, and wild places. The Zoo complex is a recreational and educational destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a wildlife conservation organization with regional, national and global impact, annually supporting conservation and research projects locally and worldwide. For more information, please visit ColumbusZoo.org.
