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Experience Wild Nights at the Minnesota Zoo + Ticket Giveaway!

Looking for an unforgettable night out this summer? The Minnesota Zoo Wild Nights are back and better than ever, and I’m giving YOU a chance to kick things off with a bang by winning two tickets to the June 13 opening night!

This year, the Minnesota Zoo has curated an incredible lineup of music, food, drinks, and animal encounters that turn the zoo into a full-on adult-only festival. That’s right—this 18+ event lets you explore the zoo after hours while grooving to some of Minnesota’s best local acts.

Here’s What to Expect on Opening Night:

Minnesota Zoo Wild Nights
  • Gates open at 5 p.m., with a whole evening of fun until 10 p.m.
  • Wander the animal trails and get up close with llamas, camels (rides available!), and more.
  • Live music all evening across multiple stages:
    • Daphne Jane – roaming sets from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m. and 7:15 to 8:00 p.m.
    • Lighter Co – Upper Plaza opener from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
    • Smells Like Nirvana – rock the Upper Plaza from 8:00 to 8:45 and again at 9:15 to 10:00 p.m.
    • Nur-D – bring down the house at the Amphitheater during the same time slots.
  • Silent Disco in Discovery Bay from 8 – 10 p.m.
  • Artisan vendors, craft drinks, food trucks, and more from 5 – 9:30 p.m.
  • Bonus: View the performances from the iconic Treetop Trail—yes, conservation literally rocks from above too!

This is one of the best ways to enjoy summer in Minnesota. It’s wild, musical, and a total vibe. I’m lucky enough to be partnering with the Minnesota Zoo to not only attend this epic night, but to give YOU a chance to be there too!

How To Enter the Giveaway

Minnesota Zoo Wild Nights

It’s easy to win your way into Wild Nights:

  1. Sign up for my newsletter
  2. That’s it—you’re entered!

Giveaway closes May 29, 2025, and I’ll be announcing the winner on May 30 on my social media channels. So be sure you’re following me there for updates and bonus content from the event.

Want to learn more or buy extra tickets? Click here to check out the full Wild Nights lineup and plan your visit.

Don’t wait—enter today for your chance to experience Minnesota Zoo Wild Nights like never before. Bring your appetite, your friends, and your love of great music and animals. Let’s make some wild memories!


Follow Along: Tag @MNZoo and use #MNZoo #WildNights when sharing your own zoo adventures.

Just Go!

About Jason Mayhew

For more than 20 years, Jason Mayhew has been a respected travel journalist, storyteller, and media personality whose voice seamlessly blends wit, honesty, cultural insight, and a hint of bourbon-fueled swagger—teaching you that the best option is to say Why Not instead of Why, and to Just Go!

Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you – it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart and on your body. You take something with you… Hopefully, you leave something good behind.

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