Fairytale Weekend (formerly Princess & Pirate Weekend) returns to the Santa Barbara Zoo, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 1 and Sunday, March 2 at the Santa Barbara Zoo.

From Belle to Snow White kids will find a zoo full of storybook characters during Fairytale Weekend at the Santa Barbara Zoo. (Courtesy photo)
From Belle to Snow White, kids will find a menagerie of storybook characters during Fairytale Weekend at the Santa Barbara Zoo. (Courtesy photo)

Children are encouraged to dress up as their favorite fairytale characters, whether a princess, pirate, or any character they dream to be.

The enchanted event is filled with kid-friendly fun, including meet-and-greets with fairytale characters, photo opportunities, themed crafts and activities, fairytale storytime, live stage performances, and bounce houses.

Beyond magic of fairytale magic, visitors can learn about real-life conservation efforts to protect frogs and other amphibians.

Frogs and toads play a vital role in ecosystems, yet nearly one-third of all amphibian species are at risk of extinction due to habitat loss, pollution, and climate change, according to the zoo.

Throughout the weekend, visitors can discover how they can help through FrogWatch USA, a national citizen science program the Santa Barbara Zoo participates in. The initiative trains community scientists to identify and track local frog and toad populations, contributing valuable data to conservation efforts.
Fairytale Weekend is free with Zoo admission or membership. Zoo members can enjoy early admission at 9 a.m.

Online reservations are required and can be made through the following links: 
March 1: Free with paid admission or SB Zoo Membership reservation
March 2: Free with paid admission or SB Zoo Membership reservation.

The zoo is also recruiting volunteers for Fairytale Weekend. Those interested can find more details and sign up on the zoo’s website. For more, call 805-962-5339 or click here.

To request accommodations or for inquiries about accessibility, email the accessibility team at welcome@sbzoo.org. For more about the Snow Leopard Festival, call 805-962-5339 or visit sbzoo.org.