Corporate Events at Franklin Park Zoo

 Pine Knoll

• Setting: Private, secluded outdoor fenced venue overlooking the Giraffe Savannah.
• Seating Capacity: 240 using 8ft banquet tables; additional seating possible outside tent.
• Features: 40x60 tent with clear, moveable sidewalls sitting on a 40x100 asphalt pad; additional outdoor space for seating, catering or activities; onsite restrooms; giraffes often walk over to visit.
• Best for: Corporate Events and Meetings, Staff or Client Outings, Company Picnics.
• Availability: May – October; Daytime and Evenings.
• Set Up: This space comes with 6ft or 8ft banquet tables or 5ft round tables and seating, and/or cocktail tables; specific set ups can be requested.
• Pricing: Full Day $4,200; Additional Hour $750

Nature's Pavilion

• Setting: Private, outdoor fenced venue inside Nature’s Neighborhood.
• Seating Capacity: 240 using 8ft banquet tables; additional seating possible outside tent.
• Features: 40x60 tent with clear, moveable sidewalls; additional outdoor space for seating, catering or activities; restrooms directly adjacent; located close to Children’s Zoo play area and animal exhibits. Nature’s Pavilion can be rented in conjunction with the Meeting Barn Classroom for AV capabilities.
• Best for: Corporate Events and Meetings, Staff and Client Outings, Company Picnics.
• Availability: May – October; Daytime and Evenings.
• Set Up: This space comes with 6ft or 8ft banquet tables or 5ft round tables and seating, and/or cocktail tables; specific set ups can be requested.
• AV: The directly adjacent Meeting Barn Classroom, which has a screen, projector, microphone and sound system, can be rented at a discount if you require AV for any portion of your event.
• Pricing: Full Day $4,200; Additional Hour $750; Add the Meeting Barn $1,000 (full day) or $500 (half day)

Meeting Barn Classroom

• Setting: Multipurpose, climate controlled indoor space situated inside Nature’s Neighborhood just steps to Children’s Zoo and Franklin Farm exhibits.
• Seating Capacity: 50 using 6ft banquet tables; more if the venue is set up theater style.
• Features: Built-in AV equipment; oversized photographed portraits of animals in our Zoo adorn the walls; two sets of doors open to the Children’s play area on one side and the Petting Corral on the other; restrooms are close by.
• Best for: Smaller business meetings, workshops, presentations and other company events; perfect space to host meetings or presentations in conjunction with rental of Nature’s Pavilion.
• Availability: All Year; Daytime and Limited Evenings.
• Set Up: This space comes with 6ft or 8ft banquet tables or 5ft round tables and seating, and/or cocktail tables; specific set ups can be requested.
• AV: Projector, screen, microphone and sound system.
• Pricing: Full Day $1,400; Additional Hour $250

Tropical Forest Classroom

• Setting: Multipurpose, climate controlled indoor space located inside the Tropical Forest Building.
• Seating Capacity: 70 using 6ft banquet tables; more if the venue is set up theater style.
• Features: Located only steps to indoor animal exhibits and restrooms; walls are adorned with hand-painted murals of Kiki and Pablo Gorilla.
• Best for: Smaller business meetings, workshops, presentations and other company events and gatherings. Excellent location for groups who want to include tours or zookeeper chats with the gorillas or other animals inside the Tropical Forest Building.
• Availability: All Year; Daytime and Limited Evenings.
• Set Up: This space comes with 6ft or 8ft banquet tables or 5ft round tables and seating, and/or cocktail tables; specific set ups can be requested.
• AV: Built-in smart screen, microphone and sound system.
• Pricing: Full Day $1,400; Additional Hour $250

Nature's Neighborhoods

• Setting: Includes the Children’s Zoo, Franklin Farm, Nature’s Pavilion and Meeting Barn Classroom
• Seating Capacity: 300+ depending on set up and style of event.
• Features: Exclusive private access to three areas of the Zoo, including the Nature’s Pavilion Tent and the indoor Meeting Barn. During an evening event, the animals living inside the Children’s Zoo and Franklin Farm remain on exhibit and visible for most of the evening.
• Specifically Includes: Three Animal Ambassador Encounters; Two Zookeeper Chats; Security.
• Best for: Larger Corporate Staff or Client Outings; Events during Boston Lights and other evening happenings at the Zoo.
• Availability: May – October; Evenings Only
• Set Up: The three areas can be set up in several different configurations using 6ft or 8ft banquet tables, 5ft round tables and/or cocktail tables; set ups can customized to your needs.
• AV: The Meeting Barn Classroom with its built-in AV is included.
• Pricing: $5,500

Tropical Forest Building

• Setting: The Tropical Forest Building is an indoor, climate-controlled Exhibit building housing our gorilla troop, ring tailed lemurs, pygmy hippos, cotton-topped tamarin monkey, exotic birds and many other species.
• Capacity: 300+ with a cocktail style set up.
  Features: Exclusive private access to the whole Exhibit building; during an evening event, the animals living inside the Tropical Forest Building remain on exhibit and visible for most of the evening.
• Specifically Includes: Use of the Tropical Forest Classroom for dining or presentations; Three Animal Ambassador Encounters; Two Zookeeper Chats; Security.
• Best for: Larger Corporate Staff or Client Outings; Corporate Holiday Parties.
• Availability: Year-Round; Evenings Only.
• AV: The Tropical Forest Classroom has a built-in smart screen, microphone and sound system.
• Pricing: $5,500

All events taking place while the Zoo is open to the public will require the purchase of Zoo admission fees at a discounted, flat rate of $15/event guest. Children aged 2 and under and guests who are Zoo members may enter the Zoo for free and at no cost to you.

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.

Special set ups, entertainment, catering/bar, and presentation requirements may affect guest capacities in all venues.

The Zoo offers a 10% discount off the rental rate for non-profit entities and Zoo members.

Rates are subject to change without notice.

Information on Zoo Buyouts is available upon request.

Regardless of the venue selected, all corporate events include the following:

• 30 minutes access to the venue prior to the event for client setup;
• Venue set up by the Zoo;
• Tables and seating for your guests with animal print table covers;
• Catering tables with black linens;
• Pop up tents, tables, and chairs, as needed, for any added vendors and/or entertainment enhancements;
• Two encounters with Ambassador Animals (three encounters are included for evening events in the Tropical Forest Building and Nature’s Neighborhood venues);*
• Self-guided Scavenger Hunt;
• Wayfinding signage and event maps;
•  Event Staff;
• Free parking; and
• Clean up by the Zoo.

Customization is possible!

If you have a theme in mind, let us know! Are you looking for a classic summer picnic, a Hawaiian luau, or a daytime glamping trip with a food truck or two? If we can make it work inside the Zoo, we're happy to make your vision come to life!

Optional Package Enhancements

Animal Experiences
Take a break to meet some of our animals! Members of our animal care or education staff will tell you about our animals, answer questions, and let you know about our conservation efforts at the Zoo and worldwide.

• Additional Encounter with an Ambassador Animal $100/animal
• Small Group Animal Encounter
  (approximately 15 or fewer guests per encounter) $250/encounter
• Zookeeper Chat $200/chat

*Kindly note that all animal-based experiences are subject to availability depending on date, weather conditions, and animal health and wellbeing. When necessary, the Zoo may make an appropriate substitution(s) for your event.

Entertainment

• Disc Jockey $1,000/four hours
• Photo Booth $1,000/four hours
• Caricature Artist $200/hour per artist
• Face Painter $200/hour per artist
• Airbrush Tattoo Artist $250/hour per artist
• Costumed Character $250/hour per character
• Bubble Artist $1,300/three hours
• Cornhole, Jenga and other Lawn Games $25 per game

Venue Upgrades

• Black linens instead of animal print table covers $10/each
• AV Package for tented venues Pricing varies upon needs
• Podium/Microphone $60
• Specialty Furniture Pricing varies upon needs
• Pop Up Tents $60/each
• Additional Tables $7/each
• Additional Chairs $3/each
• Additional Lighting Pricing varies upon needs

Sodexo Live! is the Zoo’s exclusive caterer and provides all food, beverage and bar service for corporate events. Outside catering is not permitted. Sodexo is able to accommodate most allergies and dietary restrictions.

Sodexo will make the necessary arrangements to provide bar service at your event, including obtaining the necessary liquor permit, bonded and licensed bartender(s) and state police detail. You and your guests may not bring alcoholic beverages into the Zoo. Sodexo staff reserves the right to require identification from any guest in attendance, and limit and control the number of alcoholic beverages consumed by guests. Alcoholic beverages will not be served to guests under the age of 21. Alcohol consumption must be confined to the event venue during daytime events.

Sodexo's Catering Manager will be your contact for all food, beverages and bar service. Sodexo requires its own contract and will invoice you separately. 

If you have additional questions, Sodexo’s Catering Manager, Alejandra Richardson, can be reached directly at Alejandra.Richardson@sodexo.com.

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 final balance for the event, including enhancements, admissions and any other accrued equipment or vendor charges, will be billed after your event and will be payable within ten (10) business days of your receipt of the invoice.

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.

Event Coordinator

With the exception of Catering, an Event Coordinator will serve as liaison between you and the Zoo for all event-related needs. Any arrangements/requests/communication must be made directly with the Event Coordinator. Bear in mind that the Event Coordinator reserves the right to refuse any decorations, entertainment or vendors that may be considered a health or safety issue, negatively impact our animals’ wellbeing, or cause damage to the premises.

Catering Manager

The Sodexo Catering Manager will be your contact for all food, beverage and bar needs for the event. While the Catering Manager and Event Liaison work hand in hand, the Catering Manager is the person with whom you should discuss all menu choices, guest allergies and dietary restrictions, food and bar presentation, and the scheduling of service, as well as the estimate, contract and invoice for all food, beverage and bar services.

Zoo Access and Admissions

Events held during the Zoo’s operating hours require the purchase of Zoo admission fees for event guests. We offer a discounted, flat rate of admission of $15/person in conjunction with events; children under the age of 2 and Zoo members may enter the Zoo at no cost to you. During a daytime event, event guests will have access to all parts of the Zoo that are open on the date of the event.

Corporate events taking place in the evening during any time the Zoo is open to the public, such as during Boston Lights, will also require the purchase of Zoo admission fees for your guests. During such a public evening event, corporate event guests will have access to all parts of the Zoo that are open to the public on the night of the event. The discounted rate of admission for such evening events varies.

Evening events taking place after the Zoo is closed to the public require no admissions fees, but access to the Zoo is limited to the area rented under the contract.

Zoo admissions are only available on the date of the corporate event and may not be transferred to another date unless your event is rescheduled.

Animal Visibility

Animal visibility at the Zoo is not guaranteed. Animals may or may not be viewable 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.

Venue Access

You will have a scheduled set-up window that will be determined based on the contracted event time. Additional time may be requested (at a cost) but is not guaranteed. The Zoo cannot accommodate the early drop-off of event materials. On the date of the event, the Event Coordinator will arrange for load in/out at the gate nearest to the event venue. The Event Coordinator can discuss all feasible options with you.

Onsite Audio/Visual Equipment

We have basic A/V resources (smart screen, projector, screen, microphone, audio) depending on the venue you choose. Some items may have additional charges. Please ask the Event Coordinator for more details.

Outside Vendors/Music/Entertainment

Outside vendors are permitted, subject to prior approval by the Zoo. For the safety of our animals, entertainment allowances will vary based on the venue.

Please ask the Event Coordinator if you would like recommendations for vendors for your event; we will be glad to provide suggestions.

All outside vendors must be in contact with the Event Coordinator 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 to lower or silence any music that is bothersome to any of its animals.

Lighting, Power and Electrical Needs

The Zoo’s outdoor venues have basic lighting. Thematic lighting is available at an additional charge. If interested in hiring outside vendors to provide lighting, please note we allow par can lighting. Fog or bubble machines, strobe, laser, and police lights are not permitted. Please alert the Event Coordinator of your power and electrical needs at least two (2) weeks prior to the event date. Extensive power needs may be subject to additional charges. We do not guarantee additional electricity on the day of the event, and we do not have an electrician on site.

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 Event Coordinator.

If you must ship items to the Zoo for the event, you must make advance arrangements with the Event Coordinator. 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
• Yo-Yos
• Silly string
• Squirt guns
• Pompoms
• Piñatas without pull-strings
• Laser pointers
• Kinetic Sand
• Pets (service animals welcome)
• Bicycles, roller blades/skates, scooters, skateboards, any riding apparatus (except wheelchairs or disability aids)
• Drones
• Frisbees and kites
• Any balls, hacky sacks
• Games involving throwing or striking objects
• Bullhorns, noisemakers and whistles
• Radios/speakers played at high volume and/or heavy bass
• Plastic straws (juice boxes ok)
• Glass bottles
• Styrofoam products
• Alcoholic beverages
• Open flames (LEDs ok)
• 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 Event Coordinator; 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 three parking lots and along Circuit Drive. All parking is available on a first come, first served basis, and there is no reserved parking for event guests. Please note that guest vehicles are not allowed inside Zoo grounds unless cleared by the Event Coordinator.

More information regarding directions and parking can be found here: Franklin Park Zoo Directions and Franklin Park Zoo Parking Map. Information on public transportation options can be found here: www.mbta.com.

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

All parking areas and walkways to private venues in the Zoo are wheelchair accessible. The Zoo has traditional and motorized scooters available for rent for an additional fee. The Event
coordinator can assist with these arrangements. Service dogs are welcome at the Zoo.

Gorillas on the Line

Did you know that you and your team can recycle old cell phones and small electronics devices at the Zoo? Some materials used in cell phones and small electronics devices are mined from the ground in Africa. When you recycle your old cell phones and small electronics with us, you help to reduce mining, which helps to protect the rainforest area that gorillas, chimpanzees and other primates call home. You and your guests are welcome to bring old cell phones and small electronics to the event for recycling! See here for more information: Donate Your Cell Phone to Help Gorillas.

If your team is the competitive type, the Zoo can offer a prize to the guest who brings the highest number of phone/small devices on the day of the event!

Enrichment Roundup

In lieu of traditional event giveaways or prizes, give your guests a gift that gives back! Make a charitable donation on your group’s behalf to support enrichment at the Zoo. For example, just $25 could help our red pandas to stay cool with frozen fruit treats on a hot day. You’ll help keep our animals healthy and happy!

Donations can be made at this link, Zoo Donations, or you help enrich the lives of our animals by donating items from Zoo New England’s Amazon Wishlist, found here: FPZ Amazon Wishlist. Gift cards to home improvement and pet stores are also welcome!

If there is a particular species or animal that your group would like to support, let us know and we can reach out to learn what items can help the Zoo offer enrichment for them!