Zoo Ribbon Festival

Blank Park Zoo's homage to fun, fair-time activities. Participate in a ‘rhino-chip’ throwing contest, a watermelon-eating event, try out your best gibbon-call, enter your masterpiece in an art and photography competition, and have fun making a cake for an ugly cake decorating contest. Help us decide which Blank Park Zoo animal should hold the honorary title of mayor in our Direct Your Dollar  fundraiser, and many more activities. All activities will be socially distanced.

Check below for rules for specific contests happening throughout the festival.

20/20 Wild Focus Photography Challenge

Ugly Cake Decorating Contest.

Hula Hoop Contest

Chalk Contest

Schedule of events

Monday, August 17

Around the Zoo - Conservation Action Station - Eco Cell & Recycling
Classroom Stage - STEM Program 10:00 am - 10:25 am
Watermelon Eating Contest 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Large Pavilion - Hula Hoop Contests 11:00 am & 2:00 pm

Tuesday, August 18

Around the Zoo - Enrichment Making Station
Africa Pavilion - Yoga with YogaSix 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Classroom Stage - Ambassador Animal Program 10:00 am - 10:25 am
Discovery Center Reef Exhibit - Tic-Tac-Toe Dive 3:00 pm
Large Pavilion - Chalk Drawing Contest 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm (pick up materials from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm)
Nyala & Giraffe Path - Rhino Chip Throwing Contest 11:00 am

Wednesday, August 19

Around the Zoo - Conservation Action Station -  PGF & Seed Balls
Africa Pavilion - Wool Spinners - Cindy Griese & friends 9:00 am - 3:00 pm          
Classroom Stage - STEM Program 10:00 am - 10:25 am
Irish Dancers 11:00 am
Gibbon or Sea Lion Call Contest 2:00 pm
Discovery Center - Ugly Cake Judging - Submissions accepted 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM - Judging to commence at 1:00
Discovery Center Reef Exhibit - Tic-Tac-Toe Dive 3:00 pm
Nyala & Giraffe Path - Rhino Chip Throwing Contest 11:00 am

Thursday, August 20

Around the Zoo - Enrichment Making Station
Classroom Stage - Ambassador Animal Program 10:00 am - 10:25 am
Discovery Center Reef Exhibit - Tic-Tac-Toe Dive 3:00 pm
Large Pavilion - Yoga with YogaSix 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Nyala & Giraffe Path - Rhino Chip Throwing Contest 11:00 am

Evening Hours - Mask Night 5:30 - 8:00

Friday, August 21

Around the Zoo - Conservation Action Station - T-shirt bags & Stomp the Straw
Discovery Center Reef Exhibit - Tic-Tac-Toe Dive 3:00 pm
Nyala & Giraffe Path - Rhino Chip Throwing Contest 11:00 am

Throughout the Week

Around the Zoo - Hopscotch - People vs Animals
Zoo Scavenger Hunt - Nature/Conservation/Culture
Discovery Center - 20/20 Wild FOCUS Photography Competition Submissions displayed in DC Rooms