{"id":413689,"date":"2025-12-22T21:12:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T21:12:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/frontporchalabama.com\/magazine\/?post_type=event_listing&#038;p=413689"},"modified":"2026-01-01T00:27:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T06:27:49","slug":"zoo-years-eve-cougar-countdown-to-2026","status":"expired","type":"event_listing","link":"https:\/\/frontporchalabama.com\/magazine\/event\/zoo-years-eve-cougar-countdown-to-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Zoo Year\u2019s Eve \u2013 Cougar Countdown to 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83c\udf89 <strong>Zoo Year\u2019s Eve \u2013 Cougar Countdown to 2026 at Birmingham Zoo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Start your New Year <strong>early and wild<\/strong> at the Birmingham Zoo\u2019s family-friendly <strong>Zoo Year\u2019s Eve \u2013 Cougar Countdown to 2026<\/strong>! This exciting event is perfect for kids and animal lovers who want to celebrate the coming year with educational fun, interactive activities, and a special <em>cougar-themed countdown<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join the Birmingham Zoo for <strong>two festive celebrations<\/strong> on New Year\u2019s Eve centered around the Zoo\u2019s magnificent cougars and unique lantern displays crafted by the artists behind <em>Glow Wild<\/em>. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>During the <strong>daytime celebration<\/strong>, enjoy zookeeper chats at the <em>Wojciechowski Cougar Crossing<\/em>, a cougar lantern countdown drop, scavenger hunts, and engaging educational activities that bring learning to life for all ages. In the <strong>evening celebration<\/strong>, stroll through the Zoo\u2019s glowing lantern installations, participate in a second countdown, and explore more hands-on activities designed to entertain young explorers as the sun sets. Best of all, both celebrations are included with regular zoo or Glow Wild admission, making this a fun and affordable way to ring in 2026 early with family and friends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\uddd3 <strong>When &amp; Where <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\ud83d\udcc5 Date:<\/strong> Wednesday, <em>December 31, 2025<\/em> \u2013 Zoo Year\u2019s Eve celebrations all afternoon and early evening<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>\ud83d\udd50 Daytime Celebration:<\/strong> <em>1:00 PM \u2013 3:00 PM<\/em> (activities, zookeeper chats, countdown) <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>\ud83c\udf06 Evening Celebration:<\/strong> <em>5:00 PM \u2013 7:00 PM<\/em> (lantern scavenger hunt, second countdown) <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>\ud83d\udccd Location:<\/strong> <strong>Birmingham Zoo<\/strong> \u2013 <em>2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, AL 35223<\/em> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>\ud83d\udcb5 Admission:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Included with <strong>regular zoo admission<\/strong> or <strong>Glow Wild ticket<\/strong> (ticket prices vary by experience) <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additional experiences like the Red Diamond Express or VR ride may be available for an extra fee <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83c\udf88 Celebrate New Year\u2019s Eve with Fun for All Ages!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Make this New Year\u2019s Eve one to remember by joining the <strong>Birmingham Zoo\u2019s Cougar Countdown<\/strong>! Whether you\u2019re learning about big cats with zookeeper chats, hunting for lanterns throughout the zoo, or watching the unique <em>2026 cougar lantern<\/em> countdown, this event brings festive fun and family-friendly celebration to a beloved local destination. Perfect for families, friends, and animal lovers alike, Zoo Year\u2019s Eve offers an exciting way to welcome 2026 together! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":413690,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":""},"event_listing_category":[187],"event_listing_type":[165],"class_list":["post-413689","event_listing","type-event_listing","status-expired","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","event_listing_category-family-education","event_listing_type-attraction"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - 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