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!

What are you waiting for?

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)*

Additional cleaning fee of $250

* times based on summer operating hours

Menu: Must be catered by Lancer Catering. Download the Picnic Menu.

Animals: Choose from our animal ambassadors on this page (extra fee)

Information: 253.404.3823 or pdzasales@lancercatering.com

Check back for 2022 bookings for Zoolights holiday parties.

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. Rent a portion for a more intimate occasion or the entire facility for a large banquet or reception.

• Overall capacity: 400 guests cocktail (entire aquarium)
• Available after hours and during Zoolights
• Rental fee: $4,000 entire building; $2,000 Baja Bay; $1,200 Northwest Waters
• Additional cleaning fee of $250
• Fee includes 4 hours rental time

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: 175 guests (entire facility)
Rental Fee: $400 for 1 room for 4 hours, $800 for 2 combined rooms for 4 hours, $1,000 for the entire facility for 4 hours

• Available After Zoo Hours
• $150 per additional hour
• $250 cleaning 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: 150 guests (seated, entire complex)

Rental Fee: $1300 entire area includes 4 hours of rental time; $500 day-room only

• Fee includes 4 hours rental time
• Animals on exhibit will incur an additional fee
• $150 per additional hour
• Additional cleaning fee of $250

Available after zoo hours

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

Rental Fee: $500

• Fee includes 2 hours rental time
• $150 per additional hour
• Additional cleaning fee of $250

Available after zoo hours

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

• Fee includes: 4 hours rental time
• Additional: $150 per additional hour
• Additional cleaning fee of $250

Available after Zoo hours

Located next to the Red Wolf Woods exhibit and new Pacific Seas Aquarium, the newly built 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: 150

Available: 11am-6pm

Fee: $550 (11am-2pm); $400 (3-6pm); $750 (all day)

Additional cleaning fee of $250

Menu: Must be catered by Lancer Catering.

Download the Picnic Menu

Animals: Choose from our animal ambassadors on this page (extra fee)

Information: 253.404.3823 or pdzasales@lancercatering.com