A Wild Weekend of fun including local eats, trendy music, and of course, 2,000+ animals.

The Zoo welcomes these major musical performers and headliners for the 2022 A la Carte:

• Thursday, August 18
  Daily Schedule
  Bella Cain at 6 p.m.
  Bella Cain has become one of the largest and most “in demand” Top 40 country groups in the region. With amazing musicianship, unmatched high energy onstage, production that includes one of the premier sound and light shows teamed up with the Bella Girls, this is truly musical variety not seen before on the regional country music scene. The WAMI-award winning band features over 23 members, including musicians, dancers, sound and light engineers, techs/crew, merchandise staff and drivers. Bella Cain performs 120+ shows a year across the Midwest and is known as the hottest “Top 40 Country Group” in the area.
• Friday, August 19
  Daily Schedule
  Spin Doctors at 7 p.m.
  Revisit the class of 1988 and the Spin Doctors are the last men standing, still making music like their lives depended on it, still riding the bus, still shaking the room. Even now, plans are afoot for a seventh studio album and another smashing world tour, adding to their tally of almost 2,000 shows! But faced with that milestone, even a band of their velocity takes a breath for reflection: “I’d never had guessed,” admits drummer Aaron Comess, “this would have turned into 30 years of making great music together.”
• Saturday, August 20
  Daily Schedule
  Plain White T’s at 7 p.m.
  Award-nominated, multiplatinum Chicago quintet, Plain White T’s, has amassed an enduring and engaging catalog, spanning two gold-certified offerings including All That We Needed (2005) and Every Second Counts (2006). “Hey There Delilah” went quadruple platinum, topped the Billboard Hot 100, and earned a pair of 2008 GRAMMY® Award nominations in the categories of “Song of the Year” and “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.” Expect new music in 2022 from the Plain White T’s!
• Sunday, August 21
  Daily Schedule
  De La Buena at 4 p.m.
  Featuring jazz harmonic sensibility and a deep-seated love of diverse cultures, De La Buena explores textures and rhythms of Latin music of the Americas with roots planted firmly in African Diasporic traditions. Growing from a trio into a powerful 10-piece band over the last six years, De La Buena has been electrifying audiences with their own brand of Afro-Cuban and Latin Jazz.

The 2022 A la Carte offers a wild weekend of fun including local eats, trendy music, and of course, 2,000+ animals! Here are the highlights:

Local Eats

Enjoy a variety of cuisines as you stroll through the park to enjoy our renowned animal population. Participating restaurants include:

A la CrepesBubble Waffle ShoppesCafé El SolCatalano CornCrawdaddy’s on GreenfieldC-VicheKealoha’s Hawaiian Shave IceLa Masa Empanada BarMama Bev’s BakeryMeat on the Street

MIL-WOK-EENothing Bundt CakesPig TailzSaz’sScrima’s Woodfired PizzaShawarma HouseThe Soup MarketThunder Bay GrilleUltimate ConfectionsWong’s Wok

National and Local Musicians

In addition to fabulous food and headline acts, local bands will perform on five stages throughout the Zoo. Relax to the soothing sounds near your favorite animal! From hip-hop and jazz to Top 40 and everything in between, there’s something for everyone’s musical tastes.

Activities and Attractions

Crafty kids can create fun and imaginative projects inspired by works of art at the Milwaukee Art Museum — Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The wild weekend wouldn’t be complete without “Zoo Favorites” like the North Shore Bank Safari Train, Animals in Action Talks, Ocean Connections, the Goat Yard, and Kohl’s Wild Theater. Let your imagination take flight with Dino Don’s Dragon Kingdom, sponsored by Sendik’s Food Market, located in a lush forest behind the Small Mammals building. Here visitors will encounter more than 15 awesome animatronic creatures found in cultures throughout the world. Compare physical attributes of these mythical dragons with animals found at the Zoo and learn the similarities and connections between them. Be transported to the mists of Rwanda in the Zoo’s newest attraction: the Gorilla Trek Virtual Reality Experience. This fully immersive and dynamic exhibit with interactive pre-show combines 360-degree virtual reality film with motion platform seating to give a once-in-a-lifetime experience of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. It’s an immersive journey of discovery you’ll never forget!

Purchase Advance Tickets and Save!

Tickets are on sale online. Advance tickets for A la Carte are also available at all locations of Tri City National Bank, while supplies last.

Buy Tickets

Day-of ticket pricing may vary. See the Hours and Fees page for more information about flex pricing.

All musical entertainment is included with admission. Food, special attractions, and Zoo rides can be purchased for an additional fee. Zoological Society membership is valid for A la Carte.

For more information, please contact the Zoo’s Marketing and Communications Division at 414.256.5466