"Due to potential limited visibility of some animals, the zoo is free through February 28." That line sits on the Brandywine Zoo's winter visits page, and it explains the zoo's whole pricing calendar. Admission at the small zoo in Brandywine Park goes down as the temperature goes down. The discount is the zoo's own answer to animals moving indoors and out of sight.
This year that calculation looks different. In July, the zoo opened Hidden Falls, a $2.5 million mixed-species habitat with a climate-controlled indoor building designed for viewing animals all year. The months when admission is lowest now include an exhibit built for cold weather.
The Price Steps Down With the Thermometer
The posted admission schedule changes four times between spring and the following spring.
| Period | Adults, 18 to 61 | Seniors, 62 and up | Children and youth, 3 to 17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 1 to October 31 | $9 | $8 | $7 |
| November 1 to 30 | $7 | $6 | $5 |
| December to February | Free | Free | Free |
| March 1 to 31 | $7 | $6 | $5 |
Members and children under 3 get in free whenever there's a charge. The December-to-February free period does not cover special events, which are ticketed separately.
The zoo also says why the cold months are free. Its winter page says some animals have access to temperature-controlled buildings in the colder months and may not be visible, and its plan-your-visit page says some tropical animals may be out of view on days below 50°F. On the same page, the zoo calls fall, winter and cloudy days a good time to visit because crowds are smaller and many animals are more active. So the cheapest stretch of the year comes with two things working against each other: fewer people and livelier animals, but also some species tucked away indoors.
What Last Winter's List Couldn't Account For
The winter page, posted in December 2025, names six animals that may not be visible in cold months: Eastern box turtle, golden lion tamarin, lemurs, radiated tortoise, saki monkeys and scarlet ibis. It lists two as "inside this winter," the honeybee colony and the red-footed tortoise.
That list was written about seven months before Hidden Falls opened. The new exhibit has a 320-square-foot outdoor area plus an indoor building with heat, air conditioning and humidity control "for year-round use and animal observation." Inside are real and artificial climbing trees, a waterfall, and a stream with filtered water.
Five species live there: common squirrel monkeys, a prehensile-tailed porcupine, Patagonian mara, green iguana and red-footed tortoises. The red-footed tortoise also appears on last winter's indoor list, so a species that spent last winter inside now has a permanent indoor home built for public viewing. DNREC Secretary Greg Patterson said he expects the squirrel monkeys to be "a fan favorite."
The winter list currently posted is dated December 2025. Before a January trip, it's worth calling the zoo at 302-571-7788 to ask which animals are out that day.
The project took four years to fund. Money came from the Delaware Zoological Society board, the City of Wilmington, private foundations including The Longwood Foundation and Crystal Trust, donors, zoo patrons, and $600,000 from the state bond bill. It's the latest piece of the Our Zoo Re-Imagined campaign, which earlier added the Madagascar exhibit, home to several lemur species including the endangered crowned lemur.
October Is Full Price, and the Calendar Fills It
October is the last month at the $9 adult rate, and it's also the zoo's busiest event month. On the zoo's special events page, events are free with paid admission unless noted otherwise.
- Celebrate Lemurs!, Saturday, October 3, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is the zoo's version of the global World Lemur Festival, with keeper talks and a Storytime. Non-members pay $9 per adult and $7 per youth.
- Migratory Bird Day, Saturday, October 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year's theme is "Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!" Scotty Horey will play marimba at the Wildlife Amphitheater.
- Boo at the Zoo, Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Costumes are welcome and trick-or-treaters should bring their own bag. Non-members pay $8, children 2 and under are free, and library passes and other promotions aren't accepted.
- Creepy & Crawly Trivia Night, Saturday, October 17, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This one is 21 and up, costs $30 for a team of two or $55 for a team of four, and includes drinks, snacks and a chance to meet the zoo's ambassador animals.
- Halloween-themed Sip & Stroll, Thursday, October 22, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Expect a local food vendor, live music, craft beer and wine, and two costume contests starting at 6:30 p.m., one for kids and one for adults. It runs rain or shine. Members pay $5 per adult and non-members $10.
October also has tower Sundays just outside the zoo gates. The Delaware State Parks calendar lists Rockford Tower openings at 2000 Lookout Drive on Sunday, October 11 and Sunday, October 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. Kentmere Parkway, a half-mile tree-lined greenway with statues and garden areas, connects Brandywine Park to Rockford Park. That makes a morning at the zoo and an afternoon at the tower an easy walk on the same Sunday.
Blue Ball Barn at 1914 West Park Drive in Alapocas Run State Park has three events this month. Friends of Wilmington Parks holds its Art in the Park Silent Auction there on Friday, October 9, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., with tickets at $35, or $30 for members. Delaware State Parks lists a free Folk Art Friday there on October 16 at 5:30 p.m. And a free exhibit of Earl Abbott paintings, "From Our State Parks," runs from October 3 to 29. DNREC reopened the Bancroft Bridge, a connector to Alapocas Run and the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail, in October 2025. The lower section of the trail follows the Brandywine River past the zoo.
November Costs Less and Gets Quieter
On November 1, adult admission drops from $9 to $7, seniors from $8 to $6, and youth from $7 to $5. The November calendar is much lighter. The one listed special event is Scout Night on Saturday, November 7, from 4:30 to 7 p.m., at $10 per person for scouts, parents and siblings 3 and older. The zoo recommends registering early because it often sells out, and says to dress for the weather since the program takes place outdoors in the zoo.
The same Saturday, Happy Hour at the Tower runs from 1 to 5 p.m. with food trucks, beer and wine, live music, local artists and seasonal tower lighting. Advance general admission is $17.85 including a $2.85 fee, or $25 at the gate. Children 12 and under are free, and food and drinks cost extra.
A weekday in November is probably the clearest way to see what Hidden Falls changes. The price is still discounted, the weather is often hovering around the zoo's 50°F visibility line, and the heated building is set up for exactly that kind of day.
Planning for the Free Months
From December through February, admission is free except for special events. The zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with last admission at 3:30. It closes on Christmas Day and may close for bad weather. The zoo covers less than five acres, and a typical visit takes 45 minutes to an hour, so a free winter visit fits easily into a lunch break or a short Saturday outing.
A few details that matter more in winter:
- Food. The snack bar is closed from January to mid-March, and visitors are welcome to bring their own food. Brandywine Park has public grills and picnic tables.
- Parking. Parking is free in Brandywine Park along the river, across from the zoo grounds. Accessible spaces are next to the Education Building, near the entrance.
- Closings. The zoo posts maintenance, weather and event closings on its calendar and Facebook page, and the daily schedule of feedings and keeper talks is posted at the front gate.
- Getting there by foot. The park's address is 1080 N. Park Drive, and the Jasper Crane Rose Garden and Josephine Fountain are both inside the park. Friends of Wilmington Parks keeps a rose gardener on staff year-round.
The lemurs and tamarins may still be out of sight on a cold January morning, as the zoo has said in past winters. This winter, though, the squirrel monkeys, mara, porcupine, iguana and red-footed tortoises live in a building heated and humidified for viewing, and entry is free.
At Nicholas Barrett Group, we follow how places like Brandywine Park shape everyday life in the Wilmington neighborhoods around them. If you're thinking about what your home near the park is worth this season, we'll put together a free home valuation using current local sales.
