Sunset at the Zoo

A Fundraising Event Like No Other
Sunset at the Zoo, presented by KeyBank, is our annual celebration of the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) and the wildlife we protect. Stroll the Zoo with craft cocktail in hand, enjoy delicious local bites, bid on incredible prizes, dance to live music and experience the Zoo in exciting new ways.
Your attendance directly supports our mission to create meaningful connections between people, animals and the natural world so all can thrive — here, and around the world.
If there’s one night a year you support the Zoo, make it this one.
Why Your Attendance Matters
Sunset is more than an unforgettable evening of elegance, excitement, entertainment and exploration. Your generous support enables work like this:
• Wildlife Nourishment. Providing expert nutrition to thousands of animals is a complex daily operation. Your support ensures every resident — from king penguins to western lowland gorillas — receives the specialized, high-quality diet essential for their well-being.
• Excellence in Animal Welfare. Your ticket supports the dedicated teams who provide daily wellness checks, preventative medicine and lifesaving care for every resident of the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center.
• Global Conservation Impact. Beyond our gates, your attendance funds field work that protects endangered species in the wild, from Great Lakes piping plovers here in Michigan to Grauer’s gorillas in the Congo.
Experience Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails
Sunset at the Zoo offers an experience unlike any other, and this year we have an extra reason to celebrate. Just weeks after the ribbon is cut for the general public, be one of the first to have an exclusive evening in Erb Discovery Trails, our new 7-acre immersive experience.
What to Expect
• Entire Zoo open until the sun goes down, giving you a chance to see the animals after close
• A culinary expedition featuring signature bites from Detroit’s top eateries
• Exclusive access to Erb Discovery Trails in an intimate, private setting
• Premium open bars pouring summer spirits and classic cocktails
• Silent auction, Sunset Keys and raffle with incredible prizes
• Zoo tram tours and carousel rides
• Exclusive animal encounter opportunities