Private Events

Make your wedding unforgettable. With sweeping views of Puget Sound, Mount Rainier and the Cascade Mountain Range, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium offers a romantic, picturesque setting for your special day. We can handle big crowds or intimate gatherings with exceptional food and seamless service – and even a celebrity animal guest!

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Enjoy family reunions, birthday parties, graduation parties, quinceañeras and other special events at the zoo! Keep scrolling for venues, prices, animal ambassadors and bookings.

Hold your company event at the Zoo and make memories! Our venues can handle everything from meetings to parties and beyond. Keep scrolling for venues, prices, animal ambassadors and bookings.

How about a picnic right next to our Red Wolf Woods? You’ll have a howling good time in our brand-new Picnic Pavilion.

The Picnic Pavilion features an open-air structure, permanent picnic tables and a grassy area for extra activities. Surrounded by lush greenery, this area provides a private wooded space for you and your guests.

Capacity: 250 guests

Fee: $550 (11AM-2PM); $400 (3-5PM)*; $750 (All Day 11AM-5PM)*

* times based on summer operating hours

• $250 cleaning fee
• Animal Ambassador can make an appearance at your event for an additional fee
• Must be catered by Lancer Catering. Download the Picnic Menu.
• Discounted admission for Event guests
  For Information: email pdzasales@lancercatering.com or call 253.404-3823

Nothing says the holidays like Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Dazzle your guests with our brilliant holiday light displays and our exceptional holiday menus. Enjoy a private venue, professional catering services and of course, Zoolights just outside your door!

The new, 35,000 square foot state-of-the-art Pacific Seas Aquarium is a spectacular, unique venue with stunning art and mesmerizing marine life. Use a portion for a more intimate occasion or the entire facility for a large banquet or reception.

Overall Capacity: 250 guests(cocktail), 120 guests(seated)

Rental Fee: $2,000, this includes 4 hours of rental time

• Available after Zoo hours and Zoolights
• $250 cleaning fee
• Animal Ambassador can make an appearance at your event for an additional fee

This versatile 3,000 sq. ft. venue has a private entrance and can be divided into three separate rooms. Rent a portion of the space for a cozier feel or the entire facility for a large banquet or reception.

Capacity: For the entire building 175 guests(cocktail), or 150 guests(seated)

Rental Fee:

$400 – 1 room for 4 hours of rental time

$800 – 2 combined rooms for 4 hours of rental time

$1,000 – the entire building for 4 hours of rental time

• Available during or after Zoo Hours
• $150 per additional hour
• $250 cleaning fee
• Animal Ambassador can make an appearance at your event for an additional fee

This lush five-acre exhibit complex is the ultimate outdoor event location. Enjoy six romantic exhibit areas complete with two waterfalls, exotic flowers, and a bamboo forest. Two viewing pavilions and the Asian Dayroom provide covered space for buffet stations and seating.

Capacity: entire complex -150 guests(cocktail), 100 guests(seated)

Rental Fee: $1300 includes 4 hours of rental time

• Available After Zoo Hours
• Animals can be on exhibit for an additional fee
• Animal Ambassador can make an appearance at your event for an additional fee
• $150 per additional hour
• $250 cleaning fee

Spectacular views of Puget Sound and Mount Rainier make this globe-shaped plaza the premier setting for wedding ceremonies and outdoor celebrations.

Overall Capacity: 200 guests

Rental Fee: $500 this includes 2 hours of rental time

• Available After Zoo Hours
• $150 per additional hour
• $250 cleaning fee
• Animal Ambassador can make an appearance at your event for an additional fee

For gatherings large and small, the Plaza Cafe will make your event special with big views onto the Pacific Rim Plaza.

Capacity: 80-120 guests

Rental Fee: $600 includes 4 hours of rental time

• Available After Zoo Hours
• $150 per additional hour
• $250 cleaning fee

Located next to the Red Wolf Woods exhibit and new Pacific Seas Aquarium, the Picnic Pavilion features an open-air structure, permanent picnic tables and a grassy area for extra activities. Surrounded by lush greenery, this area provides a private wooded space for you and your guests.

Capacity: 250 guests

Rental Fee: $550 (11AM-2PM); $400 (3-5PM*); $750 (All Day 11AM-5PM*)

*times based on summer operating hours

Additional cleaning fee of $250

• $250 cleaning fee
• Must be catered by Lancer Catering
• Available during or after Zoo Hours
• Animal Ambassador can make an appearance at your event for an additional fee