The Fort Wayne Zoo is inviting four-legged friends to a special Dog Day event on November 1, 2026.
Fort Wayne Zoo news release:
Fort Wayne Zoo Announces New Dog Day Event
Fort Wayne, Indiana (October 11, 2026) – The Fort Wayne Zoo is inviting four-legged friends to a special Dog Day event on Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are available now at .
During Dog Day, dogs will have the opportunity to explore select areas of the Zoo alongside their owners, creating a unique day of adventure for pets and people alike. The event will feature special animal activities, pup cups, a dog costume parade with prizes, several photo opportunity spots, and a special Dog Day souvenir.
Tickets are $25 per dog and pet parents are encouraged to review the event guidelines before registering for the event. Admission for pet parents is free for Zoo Members, and $12 for non-members.
“We are excited to see lots of tails wagging at our new Dog Day event,” said Rick Schuiteman, Executive Director and CEO of the Fort Wayne Zoo. “This is the first time we have ever hosted an event for dogs, and it’s a great opportunity for pet parents and their four-legged friends to experience the sights, sounds, and excitement of the Zoo. We hope the experience is both fun and enriching for our canine guests and inspires an even greater appreciation for the amazing animals who call the Zoo home.”
For additional information about the event, please visit fwzoo.com.
Additional November Events:
- Teddy Bear Clinic on Nov. 1: Guests are welcome to bring their favorite stuffed animals to the Fort Wayne Zoo on November 1 for a veterinary exam and see firsthand the multitude of tasks that our veterinary team does every single day. Each patient will see a member of our veterinary team, receive a thorough exam, and leave with a certificate of health. Tickets are on sale now at fwzoo.com.
- Wild Lights Opens on Nov. 13: Wild Lights is returning! Guests can journey into the Zoo and walk among a dazzling display of over one-million lights, attend a dance party and nightly tree-lighting hosted by Santa’s elves, toast s’mores, ride the Evergreen Express, and decorate sugar cookies with festive favorites! Tickets on sale now at
- Note: To accommodate more Wild Lights dates, previously planned Fall Weekend hours have been cancelled for 2026.
About the Fort Wayne Zoo
The Fort Wayne Zoo is northeast Indiana’s largest tourist attraction, hosting more than 650,000 guests annually. The Zoo is home to Red Panda Ridge named #6 in USA Today 10 Best Zoo Exhibits for 2024. In 2021, the Zoo was voted Visit Indiana’s “Summer Bucket List Top Attraction” and is consistently named one of the nation’s Top Ten Zoos for Kids by national media outlets.A conservation leader, the Zoo invests annually in local, regional, and international efforts to protect wildlife and their habitats. The Zoo cares for more than 1,500 animals and participates in 41 cooperative species survival plan programs and 42 taxon advisory groups, which are critical to supporting threatened species.
As a self-supporting facility, the Fort Wayne Zoo receives no tax dollars for daily operations, unlike most accredited zoos where those dollars fund approximately 40% of their annual operating budgets. The Zoo’s mission is made possible thanks to support derived from admissions, memberships, donations, group picnics, special ticketed events, and other visitation-related activities.
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