Zoofari 2023

Jun 17

Zoofari presented by Fifth Third Bank
7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Join us for the Zoo’s annual adults-only (21+) fundraising event. Zoofari continues to be one of central Ohio’s “see-and-be-seen” events of the summer!

Our signature fundraiser raises integral support for the care and sustainability of the animals in our care as well as supporting groundbreaking conservation efforts. This year’s event will directly benefit the revitalization of the Zoo’s North America region.

In its 51st year, guests can expect some of the familiar favorites but be on the lookout for some new and exciting surprises.

At 7:00 PM, guests will stroll through several regions of the Zoo and enjoy dinner-by-the-bite samplings, creative cocktails, animal encounters and a wide variety of entertainment.

At 9:00 PM, everyone will choose their own adventure:
- Laugh with nationally known comic Pete Lee at Lakeside Theater. 
- Sway the night away with musical entertainment at Water’s Edge Events Park (Act to be announced soon. Stay "tune"d!),

$300 Adventurer
• 3 drink tickets
• Food samplings
• Live entertainment

$500 Safari Club
• GermainCars Safari Club Reception in Polar Frontier at 6 pm
• Featuring delicious bites from Eddie Merlot's
• Preferred seating near entertainment stages
• 4 drink tickets
• Food samplings
• Live entertainment
• Commemorative gift

$5,000 Expedition
• 6 Safari Club Level tickets
• Recognition in event program
• Recognition on digital signage during event

Tickets are limited and are on sale now!

People around the entrance of Water's Edge
RESTAURANTS

Special thanks to the following establishments for their generous involvement:

  • Aladdin's Eatery
  • Al's Delicious Popcorn
  • Chicken Salad Chick - Westerville/Polaris
  • Dublin Cake Cottage at Shawnee Hills Bakery
  • Eddie Merlot's 
  • The Fat Girl Bakery
  • Graeter's Ice Cream
  • Harvest Pizzeria
  • Jets Pizza
  • Matt the Miller's  
  • Mrs. Turbo’s Cookies
  • Roosters
  • Star Lanes Polaris 
  • Tucci's

Participants will be added as they sign up.

ENTERTAINMENT

This year's Zoofari is set to be the best one yet with the following exciting line-up:

PETE LEE 
Pete Lee was the first standup comedian to get a standing ovation on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. This happened after Jimmy personally attended one of Pete’s live shows in NYC and immediately invited him on the show. Pete’s joyful humor comes from his Midwestern roots. Raised in Janesville, WI by divorced parents and a 19-inch television, he was destined to pursue a career in entertainment. In 2005, Pete flew to New York to make his television debut on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, and the taping went so well that he decided to move to NYC. Soon after moving to NYC, he was selected to perform at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, where he was voted a standout performer. In 2008 Pete made his network television debut performing on NBC’s Last Comic Standing finishing as a semi-finalist. That same year, he made his television acting debut on the CBS Soap Opera As The World Turns. At the end of 2008, he shot his own Comedy Central Half Hour Special, which earned him a cult following at comedy clubs, and the opportunity to perform over the next ten years at 500 colleges across the country. 

In 2010 Pete began producing and editing his own shows for the Internet which led to getting his own web show on MSN.com called New York Minute:30. His web shows attracted the attention of television talent scouts and in 2012 he was hired to be a writer and cast member on FUSE TV’s Video on Trial and the NFL Network’s Top 10’s. In 2013, Pete was hired as a cast member on VH1’s Best Week Ever, where he was a writer and cast member for three seasons. That same year, he made his late night television debut on CBS’s Late Show with David Letterman. 

Currently, Pete is a cast member of TruTV’s Greatest Ever and he hosts his own segment on Nickelodeon’s Nick Toons, in co-ordination with the NFL, called NFL Rush. He’s also a regular on TruTV’s Comedy Knockout and Comedy Central’s Roast Battle. And he starred in a documentary titled I Need You to Kill that is now available on iTunes and Amazon.

JASON QUICKSALL

JOY UNSPEAKABLE

TOPIARY QUAD STILT WALKER

More acts to be announced soon!
 

SPONSORS

We would like to thank the following community partners for their support in making this event possible:

PRESENTING SPONSOR
Fifth Third Bank

SUPPORTING SPONSORS
G & J Pepsi
GermainCars.com
Kroger
OhioHealth

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