Love animals? Don't miss these upcoming events

Megan Raposa -

This is a paid piece from the Great Plains Zoo.

Simplified: The Great Plains Zoo and its sister campus at the Butterfly House and Aquarium have an event-packed few weeks for everyone trying to soak up the last bit of summer fun before back-to-school season. Here's a look at what's happening.

Why it matters

  • These events are a way to give people an opportunity to both see and learn more about the animals at the zoo and butterfly house.
  • Both campuses have been under the same leadership for about a year and a half now, and that merger – creating the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium – means animal experts are able to work between both campuses to share their care and conservation expertise.
  • This year, a couple of the annual events at the butterfly house have been reworked to place more emphasis on connecting activities with animals.
"We really want people to leave with a deeper appreciation of the animals they’re seeing and have an opporutnity to ask questions about those animals," PR and Marketing Director Denise DePaolo said.

Tell me more about upcoming events

Here's a roundup:

Scoops and Seahorses

  • When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24
  • Where: Butterfly House & Aquarium
  • What to expect: Visitors will get a ticket for a scoop of ice cream while supplies last. There will also be a seahorse chat with aquarium staff at 10:30 a.m., crafts and seahorse-themed coloring sheets. Event activities are included with regular admission.

Bugapalooza

  • When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10
  • Where: Outside of the Butterfly House & Aquarium
  • What to expect: This free, outdoor event will feature a number of partner organizations including Pheasants Forever, Big Sioux Bee Lovers and Friends of the Big Sioux River.
    • There will be animal encounters, games, crafts and lots of opportunities to learn why bugs are an important part of our world.
"We want people to understand and be excited about bugs, insects, and things with wings and lots of legs because they play an incredibly important role in our ecosystem and food chain," DePaolo said.

Books and Butterflies

  • When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17
  • Where: Butterfly House & Aquarium
  • What to expect: Visitors will be able to make their own butterfly-themed bookmark, as well as learn about butterflies during a zookeeper chat in the conservatory.
    • New this year is a partnership with REACH Literacy where kids will also be able to look through books and even take one home.

Wild Wednesdays

  • When: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday evenings through Aug. 7. The last admission is at 6 p.m.
  • Where: Great Plains Zoo
  • What to expect: The zoo has extended hours and special events to celebrate summer and give people a chance to experience animals in the evening. Each Wild Wednesday event has its own theme, including:
    • "Let's Roar!" on July 24,
    • "Meet the Roos" on July 31, including a magical performance by Spellbound Entertainment at 5:30 p.m.
    • "Giraffe Tall Tales" on Aug. 7, including a performance by South Dakota Aerial & Arts at 5:45 p.m.