Thank you for joining us for Zoobilee 2026! It is a joy to welcome you to this Party with a Purpose, to enjoy a beautiful evening together, sample a rainbow of culinary delights, and …oh, by the way… support the mission and activity of your Roger Williams Park Zoo.
Zoobilee has always been about our shared passion for conserving wildlife and wild places, and your presence tonight has an impact on the Zoo team’s ability to achieve those goals. As you meet the human and animal ambassadors tonight, we hope you will learn things that make you say, “Wow!” as well as those that make you think, “Hmmm.” You’ll meet a few critters that you haven’t seen up close before, and then you’ll encounter species you probably live with, like the Canines for Conservation, whose talents and skills will certainly surprise and inspire you. Of course, you’ll engage in conversation with a Zoo team eager to fill you in on their adventures and projects, too.
Tonight, VIP hour inaugurates the Zoo’s new Event Pavilion, next door to the brand-new Conservation Learning Center, where you get to groove with the Fisher Jazz Trio while our food and beverage partner, SSA, presents a variety of treats that will be available when you rent this amazing new facility for your own special event!
We are glad you chose to be here, and we’re grateful for your support. It’s no easy feat to plan and present the Party with a Purpose, and we certainly could not accomplish it without all the restaurants and beverage purveyors who so generously provide all the food and drink. Please be sure to tell them you are glad they’re here, too!
Thank you to Beacon Bank, our presenting sponsor. We are proud to partner with them every day, not just at Zoobilee.
Last, but not least, I applaud and thank the Zoobilee Ambassadors, along with the incomparable RWPZoo team – staff and volunteers – who make this evening happen. You are all truly the best! Cheers!
Stacey Johnson
Rhode Island Zoological Society, Executive Director
Dear Guests,
Welcome to the 34th annual Zoobilee – Party with a Purpose!
Thank you for joining us for an unforgettable evening where exceptional food, live entertainment, and extraordinary wildlife come together in support of Roger Williams Park Zoo. Zoobilee is one of Rhode Island’s premier fundraising events, bringing together local restaurants, beverage partners, sponsors, and supporters to celebrate our shared commitment to conservation, education, and animal care.
Tonight marks the culmination of months of planning and the debut of our new Event Pavilion for VIP guests. As you explore the Zoo, you’ll encounter our talented four-legged friends from Canines for Conservation, meet some of our animal ambassadors, and enjoy an evening of music and dancing with the talented local band, GQ and the Lady.
The future of your Zoo is bright. Thanks to supporters like you, the new Conservation Learning Center is nearing completion and will soon become a hub for learning, exploration, and discovery. This fall, the Center will welcome its first family programs, and next summer it will serve as a home base for over 2000 Zoo Camp participants. This exciting new space will provide innovative environmental education opportunities and inspire learners of all ages to become the next generation of conservation leaders.
Your generosity tonight helps provide outstanding care for the animals who call the Zoo home, create meaningful educational experiences for our community, and advance conservation efforts both here in Rhode Island and around the world. Every ticket purchased, auction bid placed, and donation made tonight helps advance the Zoo’s mission.
Events like Zoobilee are only possible because of the dedication of many individuals. On behalf of the Development Committee, I extend my sincere gratitude to our Zoobilee Ambassadors, Zoo staff, volunteers, sponsors, and vendors for making tonight possible.
Thank you for supporting Roger Williams Park Zoo. I hope you enjoy this special evening and celebrate knowing that your participation helps ensure a thriving future for wildlife and our community.
See you on the dance floor!
Warm regards,
Claire Carrabba
Claire Carrabba, Esq. Chair, Development Committee Trustee, Rhode Island Zoological Society
Program Of Events
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
VIP Early Admission & Welcome Reception
Admissions Plaza
VIPS & Sponsors enjoy a complimentary welcome pour of prosecco. (New for 2026)
Event Pavilion Tent (New for 2026)
Be among the first to experience the Zoo’s new Event Pavilion while enjoying:
• Live music by the Fisher Jazz Trio
• Delicious bites from the Zoo’s exclusive caterer, SSA
• Opening remarks by Stacey Johnson, Executive Director
7:00 p.m.
General Admission Opens
Main Stage Entertainment
7:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Welcome: Tony Petrarca – WPRI Chief Meteorologist
GQ & The Lady
Enjoy a vibrant mix of music and dancing under the tent.
9:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Dance Party Continues with GQ & The Lady
Keep the celebration going with more great music and dancing.
9:15 p.m.
Last Call at Main Bar (soft drinks and water served from 9:30 – 10:00 p.m.)
Events Not To Be Missed!
6:00 – 7:45 p.m.
Animal Encounters
Meet fascinating ambassador animals throughout the Lower & Upper Zoo.
6:00 – 7:45 p.m.
Canine Champions for Conservation Meet & Greet (New for 2026)
Visit Penguin Point to meet our high-flying canine performers and their trainers.
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Botanical Wall Photo Experience
Capture a ‘gram-worthy photo near the Main Bar, courtesy of LeCru Rentals.
6:00 – 9:45 p.m. (or until sold out)
Fork Pull (New for 2026)
Try your luck for a chance to win incredible prizes. Quantities are limited!
6:45 – 7:45 p.m.
Up-Close Animal Encounters
Get face-to-face with extraordinary animals on the Faces of the Rainforest Plaza.
Saturday, June 29, 2024
Sponsor listing as of 6/23/26
Bison Brigade
Domenic & Sandy Coletta
Betsey Kilmartin
Joanne M. Quinn
Tree Kangaroo Crew
Arthur & Catch
Bank Newport
The Beacon Mutual Insurance Company
Cherry & Scott Chun
Coastline Trust Company
Dimeo Construction Company
First Hartford Realty Corp.
Parsons Capital Management, Inc.
The Philmoney Trust
Wave Federal Credit Union
Gibbon Gang
Del’s Lemonade / Anthony DePalma
Delta Dental of Rhode Island
Sarah Denby
Fast Signs
The Glocker Family
Happy Birthday Mom! (Take 2)
The Mayforth Group
Miles River Direct
Narragansett Brewing Company
Page & Parlour
Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP
Tortoise Troop
Nancy J. Allen
Anchor Forensic Pathology
Bally’s Twin River Lincoln
Bock Foundation
Jessica & Peter Chaffee
Eastern Ice
Ferestien Feed & Farm Supply, Inc.
Meg Ferguson
General Environmental Services
Jim & Lexy Hager
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Pam & Bill Heffernan
KPMG LLP
Lahlaf Geotechnical Consulting, Inc.
Patrick T. LeBeau
Liberty Cedar, Inc.
Mark & Chris
The Nedder Family
North-Eastern Tree Service, Inc.
Pier Fish Company
Ann Potter
Karen & Stephen Prest
The Raytas
Paige Robinson & Chris Buttermelon
Roxanne Beretta - RE/MAX
SDS Disposal, Inc.
Ted & Sue Seager
Althea & Bailey Shaheen
Signature Printing
Elizabeth Taylor-Samos
Zachary & Abigail Trayers
Michelle Viveiros & Brian Chaignot
Thomas Watson & Carlo Oddo
David & Jill Wolff
Woodlawn Gardens
Special Thank You
Rhode Island Zoological Society Staff
Roger Williams Park Zoo Staff
Sponsor listing as of 6/23/26
Attention Guests:
Photographs will be taken by Zoo staff during the course of the evening for use in future public relations materials such as our annual report, on-site event promotion posters, invitations, or on social media.
Thanks to these fabulous food and beverage providers!
Admissions Plaza
(serving 6:00 - 7:00pm)
Gooseneck Vineyards
Polar Beverages
VIP Pavilion Tent
(serving 6:00 - 7:00pm)
The SSA Group at Roger Williams
Park Zoo
Lower Zoo / Africa
(serving time 6:00 - 8:30pm)
CHOP
Hangry Kitchen
Indian Restaurant GroupChaska, Kabob & Curry, Rasa, Rasoi
Narragansett Brewery
NAVAD Bakers
Polar Beverages
Ten Prime Seafood
Terrazza Restaurant
The Catering Gourmet
The Original Italian Bakery
The SSA Group at Roger Williams Park Zoo
Beverage Providers
Douglas Wine & Spirits
Eastern Ice
Pepsi Bottling Company
Upper Zoo / Rainforest Plaza / Dessert Tent
(serving time 6:00-9:30pm)
13 Stars Hot Sauce
Casa Azul Taqueria
Corner Market Café
Crumbl Cranston
Del’s Lemonade
Edible Arrangements
Flatbread Company Providence
Gather Café
Gregg’s Restaurants
Hill’s Home Market
Ice Cream Emergency
JA Patty
Le Petit Pouf
Legal Sea Foods
Mare Rooftop
Martucci Group
McBride’s Pub
Sarcastic Sweets
Shake Shack
Starbucks Coffee Company
The Elliotte Events & Catering
Two Ten Oyster Bar & Grill
Drink Tickets - $4 each
1 ticket Soda/Bottled Water
2 tickets Beer/Wine/Mocktails
3 tickets Zootinis & Mixed Drinks
WINE & BEER FORK PULL
Help support the Zoo and purchase a wine bottle or a pack of beer with a mystery gift certificate valued at $25 or more
There’s still time to bid!
The online auction is open for bidding until Monday, June 29, 12:30 p.m. Visit biddingforgood.com/ rwpzooauction
Take a selfie with the Zoo’s 250th parade float!
Don’t forget to save room for desserts near the gift shop
Call is at 9:15pm
your drink tickets before
by the American Association of Zookeepers booth to learn more about its mission.
2026 Zoobilee Online Auction and Wine & Beer Bazaar Donors
Thank you to the following friends who generously donated unique items for this year’s online auction and wine/beer bottle bazaar.
Andino’s Restaurant
Apponaug Brewing Company
Audubon Society of Rhode Island
Avon Cinema
Cathy Azzoli
Bayside Resort Hotel
Big Man Kitchen
Black Oak Restaurant
Blithewold Mansion
Gardens & Arboretum
Bloom Patisserie
The Block Island Ferry
Boston Professional Hockey Association
Bromley Mountain
Button Hole Short Course & Teaching Center
Cabot Creamery
Cooperative
Capital Genealogy
Cardi’s Furniture Co.
Casa Azul Taqueria
Catering by Dave’s
Marketplace
Cedarland Amazement Center
Charles Riverboat Company
Chaska / Rasa / Rasoi / Kabob & Curry
Cindy Ko Photography
Cocktail Hour Essentials
Coffee Exchange
Cumulus Media
Daniel Doke Photography
Dash Bicycle
Dave & Buster’s of Providence
Del’s Lemonade & Refreshments, Inc.
Samir Dhamija
Douglas Wine & Spirits
EcoTarium
Edible Arrangements
Elizabeth’s Portofino
Endicott Dance
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
The Farmer’s Daughter
Fish Co.
Flatbread Company
Providence
Fleming’s Prime
Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Foxwoods Resort Casino
Frances Fleet
The Freedom Trail Foundation
Gamm Theatre
Gather Glass
George’s of Galilee
GourmetGiftBaskets.com
Hartford Yard Goats
Harvard Museums of Science and Culture
Kathy Haronian
Hawthorne Hotel
Homewood Suites by Hilton
Hot Club
Hy-Line Cruises
Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises
Elisa Iacono-Mears
Iggy’s
In The Pink
Inked Restaurant Group
Institute of Contemporary Art Boston
International Tennis Hall of Fame
Jackson Ski Touring Foundation
JA Patty
Jayd Bun
John F. Kennedy
Presidential Library and Museum
Jordan’s Jungle
Kaplan Tutoring Services, Inc.
Knead Doughnuts
La Gondola Providence
Launch Trampoline Park
Legal Sea Foods
Level 99
Leyden Farm Vineyard & Winery
Luciano’s
Dr. Francois I. Luks
Macera’s Italian Restaurant
Main Street Coffee
Mare Rooftop
Mary Originals
The Mark Twain House & Museum
Massachusetts Audubon Society
Mastery Martial Arts
Meritage Restaurant
Mews Tavern
Montaup Country Club
Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
Museum of Science
My Place for Medical
Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration
Naples Zoo
NBC 10
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
New England Revolution
Charitable Foundation
New Harvest Coffee Roasters
Newport Polo
Newport Restaurant Group
Newport Vineyards
Normandy Farms
Odeum Theater
Old Sturbridge Village
Outback Steakhouse
Pastiche Fine Desserts
Patriot Place
Pats Peak
Peabody Essex Museum
Pepsi
Planning for Good
The Preservation Society of Newport County
Providence Bruins
Providence College
Providence Performing Arts Center
Providence River Boat Company
Quonset Tavern on the Green
R1 Indoor Karting
Rhed’s Hot Sauce
Rhode Island Comic Con
Rhode Island Football Club
Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and Music School
RI Food Fights
RISD Museum
Rock Spot Climbing Gym
Salem Witch Museum
Salem Witch Village
The Sandwich Hut
Save The Bay, Inc.
ScrubaDub Auto Wash Centers, Inc.
Sheraton Boston Hotel
Siena Restaurant
Dameian Slocum
Southwick’s Zoo
Spectacle Live
Story Land
Studio B Salon
Swan Boats of Boston
Sweenor’s Chocolates
Tandem Designworks, Inc.
Tapped Apple Cidery & Winery
Terrazza
Theatre By The Sea
TLC Coffee Roasters
TopGolf
Treetop Adventures
Trinity Repertory Company
University of Rhode Island
- Department of Athletics
Water Country
Weekapaug Inn
Whaler’s Brewing Company
White Dog Distilling
Wicked Tulips
Willow Tree
Wonderworks Orlando
Woodlawn Gardens Florist
Woodstock Inn & Resort
Worcester Red Sox
WPRI 12 & Fox Providence
Wright’s Farm Restaurant
Yip Fitness
Zoo Atlanta
Zoo New England
ZooTampa at Lowry Park
Thank You for Your Support!
We are grateful for your presence tonight. It is through your support at events like Zoobilee, that the Zoo is able to contribute to the conservation of our earth’s animals and natural resources.
Because of YOU this year we are able to:
• Create memories for nearly 700,000 guests.
• Provide exceptional medical care to over 125 animal species.
• Bring the Zoomobile to over 6,500 school children last year.
• Share the importance of wildlife conservation with thousands of students who come on field trips, engage with the Zoomobile, partake in virtual programming or participate in internships.
• Provide curriculum appropriate environmental science programming to over 125 schools in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
• Save animals both locally and globally including the American burying beetle, New England cottontail, red wolf, Matschie’s tree kangaroo and snow leopard.
Thanks to you, Roger Williams Park Zoo continues to instill a sense of wonder and caring for the natural world in all those who visit.
