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Events at Como Park Zoo and
Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
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Woo at the Zoo & Conservatory
February 12-15
10am-2pm - FREE
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
Celebrate love and romance amongst the flowers and animals at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. Special story times, crafts, games, Zoo Keeper & Gardener Talks & learn how the animals ‘woo’ one another.
- An Enchanted Evening: Valentine's Day Dinning Experience
February 14th is SOLD OUT - but still OPENINGS FOR February 13
This Valentine's Day, don't just give your sweetheart flowers; take them where they can dine amongst them. Candle-lit tables of two will line the North Garden, Palm Dome and Sunken Garden of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. Click HERE for more details.
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POLAR BEAR PLUNGE
Saturday February 20 10:30 a.m.
This is your chance to plunge for the Polar Bears and support Polar Bear Odyssey! Click here and join Como's Polar Bears Team! Don't want to plunge - you can still help raise money for Polar Bear Odyssey by sponsoring a specific plunger or sponsor Como's Polar Bears Team. The Winter Plunge will take place on Saturday February 20, 2010, at Lakeside Beach in Forest Lake, Minnesota. Registration begins at 10:30 am. Plus, all plungers on Como's Polar Bears Team will be invited to a team rally on February 10 from 6-8pm. The rally will include a sneak peek of the Polar Bear Odyssey exhibit! Participants ('Plungers') must be 12 years of age and in good health to participate. Plungers must wear shoes to plunge and raise a minimum of $50 in pledges. Written waivers the day of the event will be required from all Plungers. For Plungers under age 18, a parent must also sign the waiver form. Plungers raising at least $75 in pledges will receive a Winter Plunge 2010 shirt.
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Minnesota Parent Camp Fair
February 27
10am-2pm - FREE
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
What are your kids doing this summer? Whether you're looking for a week-long day camp or an all-season sleepaway experience, you'll find plenty of choices at Minnesota Parent's annual Camp Fair, including Camp Como. It's one-stop shopping for all your summer options: music, art, science, computer, sports camps and more.
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Bridal Showcase
March 21
5pm – 8pm - FREE
Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
The Conservatory will open its gardens after hours to feature the dramatic change from day to night in the lush tropical and flower gardens for the Como Wedding Showcase.
Visit with many vendors, photographers, musicians, officiates, and more, that offer wedding services.
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Spring Fling Weekend
March 27-28 - FREE
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory
Spring blooms and guests can jump into the season with the opening of the Spring Flower Show in the Sunken Garden, gardener talks, story time, make and take crafts and more.
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Spring Flower Show
March 27 – May 2 - FREE
Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
Our bulbs, daffodils, tulips, hyacinth, bearded iris, lilies, crocus, plus ranunculus, pansies and violas, hydrangea and snapdragons, all in the color scheme of orange and purple.
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A Party for Polar Bears
April 24-25
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory will celebrate Earth Day by inviting exhibitors to come and talk about their organizations conservation, education and preservation messages during Party for the Planet. Celebrate a wild, green bash for wildlife preservation and resource conservation. Three full days chock-full of activities are planned.
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Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden
May 1 - September 30
The Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden is a living symbol of the peace and friendship that exists between Saint Paul and its sister city Nagasaki, Japan. A renowned landscape designer in Nagasaki, Masami Matsuda, created the garden according to time honored Japanese design principles using plants and trees that are hardy in Minnesota. Infused with true Japanese design, the garden is meant to delight your senses.
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Summer Flower Show
May 8–October 4 10am-6pm
The Summer Flower Show displays the greatest plant diversity of any of the Sunken Garden Flower Shows, as well as the longest duration. Roses, Statice, Geraniums, Asiatic Lilies, Heliotrope, New Guinea Impatiens, Petunias and Caladiums are some of the floral features, representing a rainbow of colors, bloom sequence, form and fragrance.
Sunken Garden Closed May 3 – May 7.
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Cafesjian's Carousel
May 1 - September 6
Tuesday - Friday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday - Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Operated by volunteers, the 68-horse carousel was built in 1914 and rescued from auction in 1988 for $1.1 million, ten minutes before the first horse was to be auctioned.
www.ourfaircarousel.org ( http://www.ourfaircarousel.org/ )
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ComoTown
Weekends beginning May 1, Open Daily May 9 - September 6
Como Town, the family amusement park at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, will open on Saturday May 1st with a few new attractions. Kids and adults will be thrilled on the wide variety of kid friendly rides including the Screamin’ Dragon Roller Coaster, The Tornado and The Kiddie Grand Prix. They will also enjoy the new attractions inside HodgePodge Park, a super jungle gym that gives kids the chance to climb, slide, swing and bounce. In 2010, HodgePodge Park will feature a Splash Zone and interactive village, complete with a School House, Police Station and Fire Department.
www.comotown.com
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Bonsai Show
May 8-9 10am - 6pm
The Minnesota Bonsai Society Mother's Day Weekend Bonsai Show is a unique opportunity to see privately owned bonsai. Bonsai are 'trees in pots' and are an ancient art form from Japan that blends artistic vision and horticultural expertise. Each bonsai represents nature in miniature and creates appreciation for the aesthetic of great age and rugged form.
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Sparky the Sea Lion Show
May 31 – September 6
Sparky presents "Sparky's Tundra Tour." Sparky is excited about the return of polar bears Buzz and Neil. In celebration of this event, Sparky will take a trip to the Arctic where she could run into other animals such as a seal, walrus, Arctic fox and polar bear. Each show is a little different – you never know what you might see!
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Polar Bear Odyssey Grand Opening Weekend
June 3-4
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Como Shuttle
Weekends starting May 1 – September 30
'Get Closer' to the plants, animals, and now the front door with the Como Shuttle. The Shuttle will run weekends May 1st through September 30th.
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MELSA Kick-Off to Summer Reading Event
June 17 – 10am-2pm
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Blooming Butterflies
June 18-September 6
Back by popular demand, this seasonal butterfly exhibit is a total immersion experience. Witness hundreds of butterflies as they metamorphose from crawling caterpillars into beautiful winged creatures.
Current Events
January 30, 2010 – March 21, 2010 (Sunken Garden closed 3/22 –3/26 for show change)
10am-4pm - FREE
Marjorie McNeely Conservatory
The Sunken Garden blooms with vibrant pinks, yellows and red created by azaleas, clyclamen, veltheimia, amaryllis, cineraria and more.
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“seen & unseen” Photo Exhibit
February 5-28 - FREE
Photos of The Japanese Garden by St. Paul photographer Peter Leach displayed in the Bonsai Gallery
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2010 Artist & Photographer Days
Opportunity to bring in easels and tripods before or after hours.
$5 per person
Marjorie McNeely Conservatory & Japanese Garden (in season)
Sunday, Feb. 7 - 8:00 am- 10:00 am
Sunday, March 28 - 8:00 am- 10:00 am
Sunday, May 16 - 8:00 am- 10 am (MMC and JG)
Wednesday, June 30 - 6:30pm - 9:00 pm (MMC and JG)
Wednesday, July 14 - 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm (MMC and JG)
Sunday, October 24 - 8:00 am- 10:00 am
Sunday, December 12 - 8:00 am - 10:00 am
- Daily Interpretive Talks
Daily at 11am Keeper Talk
Daily at 1:30pm Gardener Talk
Meet the Keepers and Gardeners! Everyday a different topic will be featured and guests will learn about the day to day operations of running Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. Learn about the animals and plants and how they are cared for, plus guests can ask questions.
- Enrichment
Primates Thursdays at 10am
Large Cats Saturdays at 10am
Como staff and volunteers develop special activities which stimulate the animals’ curiosity and assist their overall well-being by prompting their natural behaviors.
- Story Time
Thursdays-Sundays 12:30pm
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