FORT WORTH, Texas – So you can’t run as fast as a cheetah, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dress the part! Runners are invited to dress up like their favorite Zoo animal and take a run – or walk – on the wild side at the 24th annual Zoo Run, presented by Ideal Partners, on Saturday, April 1. This family-friendly event supports the Zoo’s extensive wildlife conservation and education efforts locally and around the world.
Zoo Run includes a 5K (timed or untimed) as well as a 1K Fun Run. The races will take place on a USA Track and Field-certified course along the Zoo’s main pathway and through the beautiful surrounding neighborhoods.
All participants will receive a 2023 Zoo Run T-shirt, virtual race bag full of offers from area businesses and one admission ticket to the Fort Worth Zoo. Runners will enjoy snacks, water and activities after the race, including an awards ceremony and a live animal presentation. Participants may register the morning of the race, but T-shirt sizes and timing devices (optional; $3) are only guaranteed for pre-registered runners. School groups and teams must register online by March 19.
Entry Fees & Registration
Individual Early (by March 19) $30; Standard (March 20 to 31) $35; Race Day (April 1) $40
School groups (K-12) $20 per person, 10-person minimum by March 19
Teams $25 per person, five-person minimum by March 19
Timing device (optional) $3
Zoo members receive a $2 discount
Race Start Times
1K Fun Run 7:30 a.m.
5K 8 a.m.
For more information and to register for Zoo Run, visit the Zoo’s website at https://www.fortworthzoo.org/zoo-run.
PLEASE NOTE: On the day of the event, Colonial Parkway will be closed to all thru traffic. Limited parking is available in the Zoo’s main parking lot via Forest Park Boulevard, as well as the grass lot adjacent to the Zoo’s main lot and the grass lot at the corner of University Drive and Colonial Parkway. The Zoo encourages all participants to carpool to the event, if possible. Please allow as much as an hour for parking.
The nationally acclaimed Fort Worth Zoo has been voted a top zoo in North America by USA Today, one of the “World’s Greatest” by BloombergTV, the Best Zoo in Texas by Yahoo Travel, the No. 5 zoo in the nation by USA Travel Guide, the No. 1 family attraction in the DFW Metroplex by Zagat survey and a Top 10 Zoo or Aquarium by FamilyFun magazine. Home to nearly 7,000 animals, the Zoo is in the third of a four-phase master plan. The first phase, African Savanna, opened in 2018; the second phase, Elephant Springs, opened in April 2021. The third, featuring big cat species, is currently under construction and set to open in 2023. The institution’s focus on education and conservation is second to none, enhancing the lives of more than 1 million visitors a year and the animals that live there.