Wild Ride

1. What is admission to the event and what does it entail?

Date: Sunday, September 14, 2025
Event time: 6:00 – 9:00 P.M.

Member: $16 per person (all ages 2 and up)
Non-Member pricing: $17 per person (all ages 2 and up)

Children under 2 years are free. If you will have a child under the age of 2 riding on an adult’s bike in an infant bike seat or pull-behind carrier, please disclose during the ticket purchase process so waivers can be collected for all attendees. 

The price includes a non-refundable transaction fee of $1.00 per ticket that will be added at check-out for all online ticket purchases.

All participants must have a ticket for entry. 

Wild Ride is a bicycling event and will feature one course (the Asian Lantern Festival route) for cyclists of all ages to enjoy after-hours at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Bike helmets are mandatory and waivers will completed online during the ticket purchase process. Riders will be permitted to bike the loop more than once during the ticketed time frame. NOTE: Children riding in pull-behind carriers also need a ticket if they are 2 years of age or older.

2. Does a ticket to Wild Ride also provide entry to the Zoo?

Wild Ride is a separate ticketed event that provides entry to the Zoo when the event begins at 6 P.M. on September 14. Regular Zoo general admission does not provide entry to Wild Ride. Guests wanting to also visit the Zoo during operating hours of 10 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. will need to purchase general admission separately or utilize their Cleveland Zoo membership for daytime entry before the Wild Ride event. Guests will be asked to leave the Zoo between 5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. as zoo staff prepare for the Wild Ride event.

3. Can I attend the event if I do not ride a bike? Do you permit spectators?

No. All guests must have a bike and helmet to enter. The exception to this are children that will be riding in a pull-behind carrier/wagon attachment. Those children do not need their own bicycle to ride.

4. Are there bicycle restrictions?

Bicycles, tricycles, handbikes, and bicycles with attached pull-behind child carriers are all permitted. E-bikes are also permitted but must not go faster than 15 m.p.h. Pull-behind pet carriers are not permitted.

5. Can I bring other items to ride besides a bike?

No. The following items are not permitted: roller blades, roller skates, scooters, hoverboards, skateboards, child motorized cars, and golf carts. The use of motorized wheelchairs and manually powered mobility aids by individuals with mobility disabilities is permitted in all areas open to pedestrian use with limited exceptions. An Admissions Lead will discuss these with you upon arrival.

6. Will tickets be able for purchase on-site, same-day?

Pending availability, tickets can be purchased on-site during the event at the Guest Resource Center near the main entrance. Capacity is extremely limited, so advanced sale purchases online are highly recommended to secure entry to the event. Tickets may be purchased online until 5:00 P.M. the day of the event.

7. Help! I can’t find my online ticket. What do I do?

After an online purchase, guests should receive their ticket order via email within the hour. If you notice that you haven’t gotten your emailed ticket order yet, try the following. Ticket orders from the Zoo are emailed from [email protected]. Try searching for that sender in your inbox. Ticket orders are attached as a link within the receipt email and some email clients will divert these attachments into a Spam/Clutter/Junk or similar folder. Try checking these alternate locations if you cannot locate your ticket order in your inbox.

Guests may also retrieve their own online ticket order by going back to the online store and clicking MENU in the top left corner and then selecting “Order Lookup”.

Past online order history can be retrieved by entering the email address and phone number used during the original purchase process.

If these suggestions did not work, please call 216.635.3391 for assistance in having the ticket order resent to you. 

On the evening of your event, if you notice that you cannot locate your online ticket purchase, please check in at the Guest Resource Center between 6:00pm-8:30pm to have Zoo staff assist you in person.

Guests can now add their tickets to their virtual wallets. Please make sure to add EACH ticket separately.

8. How do members get their discounted tickets?

Members should log in to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo website using the email and password associated with their membership. Once logged in correctly, members can access the reduced price ticket from the "Member Tickets" section of the webstore. If you have any questions regarding your Membership you may contact Cleveland Zoological Society between 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. at 216.635.3329.

9. Can I get off my bike and walk around during the event?

No. For the safety of everyone, we ask that you remain on your bicycles during the event with the following exceptions – restroom breaks and parking your bike to get a closer look at an animal habitat. Volunteers may assist or direct you to designated parking areas to keep the paths clear for fellow riders.

10. Will animals be visible during the event?

Certain animals will be available for viewing throughout the event and are given free choice between their indoor and outdoor areas. Some animals such as the Amur Tiger and Snow Leopards are nocturnal and may be more active during event hours while other animals may be less visible depending on their individual needs. Animal visibility is expected to lessen after 7 P.M.  

11. Are refunds or rain checks available for inclement weather?

No. This is a single-day rain or shine event. No rain checks are available.

12. Will I see the lights from Asian Lantern Festival?

Yes.

13. Will food or concessions be open / available during Wild Ride?

There will be food options available at Tenders, Love and Chicken in the main food court area to include chicken tenders, French fries, soft pretzels, bottled water and sodas.