Summer Sips

Welcome to Camp
Remember camp? Bug juice, s'mores, dancing under string lights, sneaking out past curfew, swearing you'd never forget your bunkmates. Summer Sips, presented by KeyBank, is that. Just 21+, with craft beer instead of bug juice and the Zoo as your campground.
Lawn games, live music, unlimited carousel rides, after-hours access to the brand-new Fred and Barbara Erb Discovery Trails and more — all included with your ticket. No counselors. No curfew. Just you, your group chat and the kind of summer night that used to feel endless.
The Cabin Roster
Learn what you can expect during your visit
• 100+ beverages including craft beer, cocktails, seltzers, wine and zero-proof options
• 10-14 3 oz. tastings depending on ticket type
• A complimentary welcome drink from Griffin Claw Brewing Company to kick off camp
• Access to Erb Discovery Trails
• Access to Dinosauria, presented by Michigan First Credit Union
• Live music from Phoenix Theory and DJ Big Ben
• Camp activities for the 21+ crowd
• S'mores kits available for purchase
• Oversized lawn games and themed photo ops
• Interactive Connection Station
• Zookeeper chats
• Free carousel rides until 9 p.m.
• Food available for purchase
What's New at Camp
Explore the newest features at Summer Sips 2026
• General admission now starts at 6:30 p.m., a half-hour earlier than 2025.
• For one night, the Detroit Zoo runs on camp rules, with the same hands-on energy and friendly competition you remember.
• S'mores kits are available for purchase, because no camp is a real camp without one.
• The campground also got bigger. Erb Discovery Trails — the Zoo's newest experience — is open, and access is included with your Summer Sips ticket.
The Camp Schedule
Plan your evening
• 6 p.m. — Event open to VIPs
• 6:30 p.m. — General admission opens, camp begins
• 8 p.m. — Animal habitats and the back of the Zoo close.
• 6 - 8 p.m. — One-way train rides from main admissions to Africa