Kinderadvent im Zoo

Advent Magic at Zoo Schmiding – Winter Atmosphere, Animal Encounters, and Special Insights

Even in the cold season, a visit to Zoo Schmiding is worthwhile. Many animals are especially active now, and fascinating observations can be made in the warm indoor areas – from gorillas to the colorful lorises in the tropical house. The new family program “Children's Advent at the Zoo” additionally brings festive cheer.

Advent Atmosphere for Young and Old 

Every Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday during Advent, as well as on the holiday, December 8th, Zoo Schmiding invites you to a festive Advent time starting at 4:00 PM. In the petting zoo area, animal Christmas stories will be told – lovingly designed and an experience for the whole family.

While the children listen to the stories, parents can enjoy the pre-Christmas atmosphere with punch, children's punch, marshmallows, and little treats.
On December 6th, there is also a special highlight: St. Nicholas visits the zoo and brings small surprises.

Winter Time is Explorer Time – with Exciting Animal Encounters

Even outside of the Advent magic, a visit to Zoo Schmiding is particularly worthwhile in the cool season. Many animals, such as the red panda, the Siberian tiger, or the snowy owls, are now more active than in summer – and thanks to the numerous covered and heated areas, the zoo can be explored even in bad weather.

A special highlight is the popular “Meet the Keeper” stations, which take place on holidays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Here, keepers provide exciting insights into their daily work, report on the care and behavior of their charges, and allow exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpses – from feeding giraffes to interesting animal training sessions, like with the tapirs. These personal encounters make the zoo visit an experience that uniquely combines knowledge and closeness to the animals. 

In the large gorilla house, the gorilla family can be observed in the spacious indoor area around silverback Awembe and young Jabari throughout the winter through the panoramic glass. The tropical house also delights with its colorful inhabitants, the lorises, chameleons, and lion-headed marmosets.
In the new partially covered exhibition “Biodiversity of Europe,” visitors receive further exciting insights into the indoor enclosures of the ibises and herons as well as a unique view into the nests of the birds of prey, and weather-protected areas await at the ring-tailed lemurs, black-and-white ruffed lemurs, hornbills, tapirs, ... where the animals can be experienced up close – the ideal tip for cold days.

Thus, a day at Zoo Schmiding can also be varied during the cool season:
with fascinating animal encounters, cozy indoor areas, and atmospheric moments between nature, knowledge, and Advent magic.