OREGON ZOO   .    PORTLAND, OREGON   .   WWW.OREGONZOO.ORG

Event Guidelines and Policies

Catered Events at the Zoo
Banquets & Receptions w Group Picnics and Barbecues w Reunions
Meetings & Retreats w Private Parties w Weddings
Facilities w Event Guidelines & Policies
Catering Menus w Meet Our Catering Staff w Event Services

Guaranty
Please call 10 days prior to your event to inform the Catering Department of your confirmed guest count. This enables the Chef to accurately order the required amount of food and to ensure we get the best product available. Your confirmed guest count will be considered a minimum guaranty and is not subject to reduction. If your actual count is higher than the original confirmed count, you will be billed for the actual count. If the Zoo Catering Department is not notified of your confirmed count on or before the established 10-day notification period, the original estimated figure automatically become the guarantee.

Cancellations
If the event is cancelled for any reason, all deposits will be forfeited. If a client cancels at least fourteen (14) days prior to the original event and reschedules for a new date, the deposit will be credited 100% towards the new date except in the months of July, August and December.

Times
We request that catered events held outdoors at the Zoo close by 11:00 PM. If you have a special request regarding this, please discuss it with the Catering Manager while coordinating the event. All events are based on a four-hour period. If your event is to extend over a four hour period appropriate extra charges will occur for staff overtime.

Rental Fees/ Food & Beverage Minimums
A 17% service fee will be billed on the food & beverage portion of all events

Set-Up Fees
Additional set-up fees will apply to events staged in the following area:
Africafe Patio ( available after 6 p.m.) $150.00

The zoo reserves the right to reassign your event to an appropriate space based on the size of booked events.
Please note: There is a non-smoking policy for all indoor events.

Zoo Admission
Zoo admission must be paid for all visitors who enter the zoo. There is, however, a discount of 20% for groups of 20 or more. Friends of the Zoo membership passes are not valid for catered events. Except during ZooLights, events held only in the Cascade Crest Banquet Center do not include a Zoo experience and do not require zoo admission.
Admission tickets, based upon your confirmed count, will be mailed for all events occurring during regular zoo operating hours. A guest list in alphabetized order needs to be provided a minimum of 24 hours in advance for all events staged outside regular zoo hours. Guests will be admitted through the reception area.
As your guests enter the Zoo, catered event signs with the name of your group and directional arrows will be placed along the route to your event area.

Security
Due to the size and nature of some events, additional security may be required. In this instance additional charges will be applicable.

Parking
Please park in the regular Zoo lot. If you are having an event during the summer months, particularly on a Saturday or Sunday during regular Zoo hours and incur some difficulty parking in the Zoo lot, the Zoo provides overflow parking. Signage directing guests to the overflow parking area (one exit west of the Zoo on Highway 26the Sylvan Exit) starts at the Zoo's off-ramp. Shuttles run continuously during these times from the Zoo to the overflow parking.

Westside Light Rail
For easy access to the Zoo, take Tri-Met's Light Rail. The Washington Park Station is only 50 yards from the entrance to the Zoo.

Summer Picnics
(usually held during regular visitor hours - there may be a few exceptions)
Picnic type tables will be used for all picnics. Each table seats 6 - 8 people. High quality paper and plastic products are used. Some canopies will be available for outside events should inclement weather occur.

Food & Beverages
The Zoo does not allow any food or beverage to be brought onto or removed from Zoo grounds. Wedding cakes may be brought in with the understanding that the client assumes all liability.
Beverages are included as follows:
Breakfasts, Lunches & Dinners - Coffee (regular & decaf), Hot Tea
Picnics - Lemonade (Coffee available at an additional charge)

Entrée selections listed in our Catering Menus are by no means the only items available. Alternate or customized menus can be arranged. Special dietary restrictions will be accommodated. Such exceptions must be arranged when the menu is decided upon, but cannot exceed more than 5% of the guaranteed number. All menu selections must be finalized three weeks prior to your scheduled function.

Prices listed in our general menu information are based on guest counts of 100 or more. Price adjustments may be made for groups whose estimated guest count decreases below this number. A service charge of 17% will be added to the food and hosted beverage portion of your bill.

Bars
Extra charges will apply for alcohol, sodas and mineral water. There are two ways in which to set-up your event bar.
HOSTED - This means that you, the host of the event, will pay for all beverages. Billing will reflect consumption. There are no drink charges to the guests.
NO-HOST - This is a cash bar. Guests are charged on a per drink basis.

There will be a $75 labor charge if minimum sales of $150 are not achieved. All bars are serviced by OLCC licensed bartenders. The zoo promotes alcohol awareness and social responsibility and reserves the right to refuse to service anyone who appears to be intoxicated.
Please Note: Neither clients nor clients' guests are allowed to bring alcoholic beverages onto zoo grounds.

Event Services
Check out information on Event Services for special arrangements for Games & Activities, Souvenirs, Birds of Prey shows, Train Tickets, Shuttle Vans, Deliveries, Audio/Visual Equipment, Displays, Decorations, and Personal Property.

Become a Corporate Partner Member of the Oregon Zoo
Corporate Partners are a distinguished group of businesses that support one of Oregon's most beloved and important institutions, the Oregon Zoo. As a Corporate Partners member, you are entitled to many benefits. For example, depending on your level of support, you may be entitled to have the site fee waived for your business' use of the Zoo's conference/banquet facility. For more information about the Corporate Partners program, please call the Zoo's Corporate Relations Manager at (503) 220-5734.

We hope this helps you in the planning of your event. If we can answer questions or be of any kind of assistance to you please feel free to call us at 220-2789.

Thank you.