Milwaukee County Zoo

The Milwaukee County Zoo has welcomed visitors to its 190-acre grounds since 1892, when a small mammal and bird display in Washington Park drew crowds; today it is home to more than 2,400 animals across 340 species. For private events, the Zoo offers a distinctive mix of indoor and outdoor spaces that put guests in the company of its animal collection, from a glass-walled ballroom to picnic groves tucked among the trees. The Peck Welcome Center anchors the Zoo's largest gatherings with an indoor ballroom seating up to 320 guests, while the Zoofari Center, just off Bluemound Road, brings a permanent stage and dance floor to weddings and galas for up to 300. Smaller meetings and receptions can be booked inside animal habitat buildings such as the Northwestern Mutual Learning Loft, which overlooks the elephant care center, or the Hippo Learning Center, set eye-level with the hippo habitat. Outdoors, picnic areas including Maple Cove, Oak Grove, and the Generac Zoo Terrace accommodate groups from a few dozen guests to several thousand. Every rental includes access to Zoo grounds, and the Zoo's own events team coordinates approved caterers, beverage service, and setup for corporate parties, birthdays, and wedding receptions alike.