Upcoming Events and Programs

While plants cannot enter flight mode when under attack, they can certainly fight back with an array of defenses. Join us as we explore some of the unusual ways that plants have of protecting themselves from predators.

10:30 – 11:30_AM

The Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$25 per family (up to 6 people max per family). Plus admission for general public.

Become a part of Riverbanks’ night life as we explore animal and plant’s unique adaptations.

6:00_PM until 9:00am the next day

Ages 6–adult.

Colonial Life Discovery Center.

$250 per family members / $310 per family general public. A family is up to 4 guests. Additional family members can be added for $35 each (maximum of 6 guests per family).

Nature loves a good game of hide and seek. Uncover the mysterious world of models and mimics that allow living things to survive.

10:30_AM – 12:00_PM

Children ages 5–12.

Colonial Life Discovery Center (at the Zoo).

$36 per participating student per session (3 classes). Plus admission for general public.

They are cute and furry, but these tree-hugging animals are not bears! Come find out what they are and what makes them truly special.

10:45 – 11:45_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Safari Camp at the Zoo.

$10 per child.

Level up your knowledge on the unique features that make giraffes so special!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Level up your knowledge on the unique features that make giraffes so special!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Nature loves a good game of hide and seek. Uncover the mysterious world of models and mimics that allow living things to survive.

10:30_AM – 12:00_PM

Children ages 5–12.

Colonial Life Discovery Center (at the Zoo).

$36 per participating student per session (3 classes). Plus admission for general public.

They are cute and furry, but these tree-hugging animals are not bears! Come find out what they are and what makes them truly special.

10:45 – 11:45_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Safari Camp at the Zoo.

$10 per child.

Level up your knowledge on the unique features that make giraffes so special!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Join us for the wildest party in town. Celebrating 24 years, ZOOfari is Riverbanks’ premier party with a purpose. The annual fundraiser, hosted by Riverbanks Society, helps support the care and conservation of the Zoo’s more than 2,000 magnificent and fascinating animals.

7:00 – 10:30_PM

$80 Riverbanks members; $100 general public.

Fall is a great time to garden in South Carolina. With cooler temperatures but mild winters, homeowners can grow fresh produce all winter long. Learn what vegetables grow well in the fall and winter, as well as tips and techniques to having a successful garden in the spring.

10:00 – 11:30_AM

$15 per person. Pre-registration required.

Come hop about with us and learn how to tell the difference between a wallaby and a kangaroo!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Come hop about with us and learn how to tell the difference between a wallaby and a kangaroo!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Come hop about with us and learn how to tell the difference between a wallaby and a kangaroo!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

From scales to horns, suits of armor make life tough for predators. Join us as we explore the differences in animal armor among the zoo’s smallest and largest residents.

10:30_AM – 12:00_PM

Children ages 5–12.

Colonial Life Discovery Center (at the Zoo).

$36 per participating student per session (3 classes). Plus admission for general public.

Armadillos look like a mixture of a huge roly-poly, a pig, and a medieval knight, but they’re actually mammals, closely related to anteaters and sloths. Learn more about how these guys eat, move, and roll up into a ball in this fun program!

10:45 – 11:45_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Safari Camp at the Zoo.

$10 per child.

Explore opposites using examples from animals and the natural world around us!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Explore opposites using examples from animals and the natural world around us!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

From scales to horns, suits of armor make life tough for predators. Join us as we explore the differences in animal armor among the zoo’s smallest and largest residents.

10:30_AM – 12:00_PM

Children ages 5–12.

Colonial Life Discovery Center (at the Zoo).

$36 per participating student per session (3 classes). Plus admission for general public.

Armadillos look like a mixture of a huge roly-poly, a pig, and a medieval knight, but they’re actually mammals, closely related to anteaters and sloths. Learn more about how these guys eat, move, and roll up into a ball in this fun program!

10:45 – 11:45_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Safari Camp at the Zoo.

$10 per child.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Air plants are an interesting addition to your home plant collection and can be used in a variety of ways for a fun and fresh look in your home décor. Participants will create two different air plant projects with a glass orb and a natural material as we discuss how to care for these unique plants.

10:00 – 11:00_AM

$25 per person. Pre-registration required.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Join us for an informal evening in the Garden as we talk about Monarch migration to Mexico and Riverbanks’ role in helping to tag these amazing insects to monitor their trek. This is the time of year that monarchs end their journey to Mexico, and it coincides with Day of the Dead on November 2. For some people in Mexico, monarchs represent the souls of their ancestors returning to visit them for Day of the Dead. A guest speaker will join us to explain the Day of the Dead traditions and symbolism.

6:00 – 7:00_PM

$15 per person. Pre-registration required.

Event details TBA.

Help us piece together the parts of the body and compare different types of skeletons!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Event details TBA.

Help us piece together the parts of the body and compare different types of skeletons!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Join us in our investigation of the unique birds that stay on land or in the water!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Join us in our investigation of the unique birds that stay on land or in the water!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Join us in our investigation of the unique birds that stay on land or in the water!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Participants will learn the secret to having long term spring blooms as we put together a bulb container with layers of 5 different bulbs for successive blooming over a few months. The instructor will cover basic bulb care and discuss which bulbs will be in the container. Program fee includes container, soil and all bulbs for each participant.

10:00 – 11:00_AM

$50 per person. Pre-registration required.

Wildlife often uses the art of surprise to get the upper hand. Don’t miss out on this exciting exploration into some of the most unusual defenses in nature.

10:30_AM – 12:00_PM

Children ages 5–12.

Colonial Life Discovery Center (at the Zoo).

$36 per participating student per session (3 classes). Plus admission for general public.

Level up your knowledge on the unique features that make giraffes so special!

10:45 – 11:45_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Celebrate with us and learn about seasonal produce though art, activities, and time in our garden.

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Celebrate with us and learn about seasonal produce though art, activities, and time in our garden.

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Wildlife often uses the art of surprise to get the upper hand. Don’t miss out on this exciting exploration into some of the most unusual defenses in nature.

10:30_AM – 12:00_PM

Children ages 5–12.

Colonial Life Discovery Center (at the Zoo).

$36 per participating student per session (3 classes). Plus admission for general public.

Level up your knowledge on the unique features that make giraffes so special!

10:45 – 11:45_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Dive into our class where we learn all about otters and their special features!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Event details TBA.

Dive into our class where we learn all about otters and their special features!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Riverbanks will provide the wreath base and all the fresh greenery for you to create a unique fresh wreath. We will provide basic instructions and an assortment of seed pods to inspire participants to create the perfect wreath for their home.

10:00_AM – 12:00_PM

$30 per person. Pre-registration required.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Discover the distinctive characteristics of snowflakes and the wonders of winter!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Event details TBA.

Discover the distinctive characteristics of snowflakes and the wonders of winter!

10:30 – 11:30_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Event details TBA.

Plants are the backbone of survival for all animals. Let’s take a peak at how they provide oxygen, food, and shelter for all creatures big and small.

10:30 – 11:30_AM

The Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$25 per family (up to 6 people max per family). Plus admission for general public.

All living things need energy. Join the quest to uncover how all living things connect in the great web of life.

10:30_AM – 12:00_PM

Children ages 5–12.

Colonial Life Discovery Center (at the Zoo).

$36 per participating student per session (3 classes). Plus admission for general public.

Come hop about with us and learn how to tell the difference between a wallaby and a kangaroo!

10:45 – 11:45_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

All living things need energy. Join the quest to uncover how all living things connect in the great web of life.

10:30_AM – 12:00_PM

Children ages 5–12.

Colonial Life Discovery Center (at the Zoo).

$36 per participating student per session (3 classes). Plus admission for general public.

Come hop about with us and learn how to tell the difference between a wallaby and a kangaroo!

10:45 – 11:45_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Did you know zoo staff prepare over 300 different diets a day? Come find out what’s on the menu as we take a deeper look into herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores.

10:30_AM – 12:00_PM

Children ages 5–12.

Colonial Life Discovery Center (at the Zoo).

$36 per participating student per session (3 classes). Plus admission for general public.

Join us in our investigation of the unique birds that stay on land or in the water!

10:45 – 11:45_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

Did you know zoo staff prepare over 300 different diets a day? Come find out what’s on the menu as we take a deeper look into herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores.

10:30_AM – 12:00_PM

Children ages 5–12.

Colonial Life Discovery Center (at the Zoo).

$36 per participating student per session (3 classes). Plus admission for general public.

Join us in our investigation of the unique birds that stay on land or in the water!

10:45 – 11:45_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Waterfall Junction Learning Center in the Botanical Garden.

$10 per child.

The quest for energy connects all living things. Discover how one tiny change can have a big impact on the ecosystems around us.

10:30_AM – 12:00_PM

Children ages 5–12.

Colonial Life Discovery Center (at the Zoo).

$36 per participating student per session (3 classes). Plus admission for general public.

Join in as we learn all about zebras and their fantastic zigzags!

10:45 – 11:45_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Safari Camp at the Zoo.

$10 per child.

The quest for energy connects all living things. Discover how one tiny change can have a big impact on the ecosystems around us.

10:30_AM – 12:00_PM

Children ages 5–12.

Colonial Life Discovery Center (at the Zoo).

$36 per participating student per session (3 classes). Plus admission for general public.

Join in as we learn all about zebras and their fantastic zigzags!

10:45 – 11:45_AM

Children ages 3–5 with an adult.

Safari Camp at the Zoo.

$10 per child.