The weekend will include Aztec Dance, Folkloric Dance, Mariachi Luna Llena, and bilingual activities. The schedule is included with general admission and is free for members.
Houston Zoo will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Weekend on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026 with music, dance, bilingual activities, and family programming during Hispanic Heritage Month.
The program includes performances of Aztec Dance at 10:30 a.m., Quetzal Folklórico at noon, and Mariachi Luna Llena at 1 p.m., in addition to family activities between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Special activities incur no additional cost, but visitors who are not members will need a general zoo admission. Members have free access with their membership.
Aztec Dance will begin at 10:30 a.m. and the mariachi will play at 1 p.m.
The weekend’s cultural programming will feature three main performances:
- Aztec Dance: 10:30 a.m.
- Quetzal Folklórico: 12 p.m.
- Mariachi Luna Llena: 1 p.m.
Houston Zoo will also host bilingual animal- and conservation-related activities on both days.
Family activities will be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Activities will be concentrated in the Reflection Pool area from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The weekend will also include bilingual Meet the Keeper sessions, in collaboration with the organization T.E.J.A.S., so families can learn more about different species and the zoo’s conservation work.
Specific times for these sessions may vary throughout the day.
On Sunday there will be a lottery and papel picado
On Sunday, September 20 there will be additional activities at Lone Star Pavilion.
Families can participate in lottery games and create their own papel picado, a traditional craft used in celebrations in Mexico and other cultural contexts.
That same Sunday, Houston Zoo will also celebrate World Gorilla Day at 10 a.m. in the Great Ape Gallery, an additional activity included with general admission.
Non-members must book their tickets online
Houston Zoo uses a variable pricing system for general admission, so the cost depends on the date and the moment the ticket is purchased.
Visitors who are not members must reserve their entry online. Tickets are not sold at the zoo entrance.
Members do not need to reserve a time for a regular visit, and access to Hispanic Heritage Weekend is included with their membership.
The schedule, availability and tickets can be checked on the official Hispanic Heritage Weekend site of Houston Zoo.
Houston Zoo opens from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Houston Zoo is located at 6200 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77030.
The regular hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last entry at 4 p.m.
There is free parking available in various Hermann Park lots, though spaces are limited and may fill up during weekends and peak attendance periods.
Houston Zoo Hispanic Heritage Weekend: dates and times
- Dates: Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026.
- Houston Zoo: 6200 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77030.
- Zoo hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; last entry at 4 p.m.
- Family activities: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Aztec Dance: 10:30 a.m.
- Quetzal Folklórico: 12 p.m.
- Mariachi Luna Llena: 1 p.m.
- Sunday: lottery and papel picado activity at Lone Star Pavilion.
- Cost: included with general admission; free for members.
