Rates
The Zoo offers a 10% discount off the rental fee ($6,500) for non-profit entities and Zoo members. Rates are subject to change without notice.
Reservation
A non-refundable payment of 100% of your venue rental fee and a signed contract are required to secure your event on our calendar. The rental fee must be received no later than thirty (30) days prior to the event date. The Zoo will consider an event cancelled, and services will not be provided, if a deposit and signed contract are not received by that date.
The balance for the event, including enhancements, admissions and any other accrued equipment or vendor charges, will be billed after the event and will be payable within ten (10) business days of your receipt of the invoice.
Service Fee
The Zoo imposes an administrative fee of 12% of the total fees associated with a corporate event, excluding catering costs and any Zoo admissions (which your event would not require); this administrative fee includes the Zoo’s administrative overhead, documentation, preparation, management and operating costs of the event.
Rain or Shine/Cancellation Policy
Absent a safety issue and/or severe weather causing the Zoo to close, events take place Rain or Shine (rain or light snow is not severe weather). The Zoo will not transfer your guests’ admission tickets to another date unless the Zoo closes. If the Zoo closes, ZNE will provide a full refund of the payments made to date. Otherwise, all fees paid are non-refundable.
Animal Visibility and Animal-Based Experiences
Kindly note that animal visibility and all animal-based experiences at the Zoo are not guaranteed. Animals may or may not be viewable or available at any given time due to animal choice, changes in the animal collection, weather conditions, season, and actions to promote the health and well-being of the animals. When necessary, the Zoo may make an appropriate substitution for the event.
Outside Vendors/Music/Entertainment
Other outside vendors are permitted, subject to prior approval by the Zoo. Please ask our Events staff if you would like recommendations for vendors for your event; we will be glad to provide suggestions.
All outside vendors must contact the Zoo no later than two (2) weeks prior to the event date to coordinate delivery times, loading areas, set-up locations and pick-up schedule. Zoo staff cannot transport vendors or equipment in or outside the Zoo.
All music is subject to a sound check. The Zoo reserves the right to ask for the volume to be lowered or silence any music that is bothersome to any of its animals.
Event Materials
We do not provide storage facilities for events. All items needed for events must be brought on the day of the event and removed immediately after unless prior arrangements are made with the Zoo.
If you must ship items to the Zoo for the event, advance arrangements with the Event Coordinator are required. Each shipment may incur a handling fee of up to $50 per shipment. All deliveries must be delivered during normal shipping hours and within 2 days of the event. The Zoo is not responsible for late deliveries.
There is a $150 removal fee for any leftover company-related, branded, or promotional materials and/or giveaway items.
Décor, Giveaways and Restricted Items
For the safety and wellbeing of our animal collection and our guests, the following items are prohibited on Zoo grounds:
• Balloons
• Confetti
• Glitter
• Rice and Seeds
• Streamers
• Bicycles, roller blades/skates, scooters, skateboards, any riding apparatus (except wheelchairs or disability aids)
• Drones
• Frisbees and kites
• Plastic straws (juice boxes ok)
• Glass bottles
• Styrofoam products
• Alcoholic beverages
• Open flames (LEDs ok)
• Yo-Yos
• Silly string
• Squirt guns
• Pompoms
• Piñatas without pull-strings
• Laser pointers
• Kinetic Sand
• Pets (service animals welcome)
• Any balls, hacky sacks
• Games involving throwing or striking objects
• Bullhorns, noisemakers and whistles
• Radios/speakers played at high volume and/or heavy bass
• Grills or heating elements
• Fireworks
• Sparklers
• Cap guns
• Smoking
• Weapons of any kind (guns, knives, etc.)
All décor, giveaways, handouts and prizes must be pre-approved by the Zoo; feel free to ask if you are unsure if items are permitted.
Directions, Parking and Public Transportation
Free parking is available in the Zoo’s main parking lot at 149 Pond Street, Stoneham MA 02180. Please note that guest vehicles are not allowed inside Zoo grounds unless cleared by the Event Coordinator. More information regarding directions, public transportation and parking can be found here: SZ Directions and SZ Map.
Smoking
To ensure the health of our guests, animals and staff, the Zoo is smoke-free and tobacco-free. This includes e-cigarettes. Guests will be asked to put out their smoke and may be escorted from the premises for noncompliance.
Accessibility
The parking area and Zoo walkways are wheelchair accessible. The Zoo has wheelchairs available for rent for an additional fee. The Event Coordinator can assist with these arrangements. Service dogs are welcome at the Zoo.
