Included with admission. All ages welcome!
Celebrate the life of your beloved pets at the North Carolina Zoo!
The North Carolina Zoo is hosting a new, special event called the "Beloved Pet Ofrenda" from October 27 to November 2 at the North America Plaza. This event honors the memories of beloved pets that have passed on, in conjunction with the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) tradition. We are working with Casa Azul, a local art non-profit organization in Greensboro, NC to bring this Beloved Pet Ofrenda to life at the North Carolina Zoo!
We welcome all guests to participate in the Beloved Pet Ofrenda! This event is free with Zoo admission. Guests are encouraged to bring a 4 x 6" photo of their cherished pet that has passed on. In the spirit of Día de los Muertos, we'll honor their memories through a beautiful Ofrenda, where you can decorate frames for your pet photos and engage in creative crafts. Participants can engage in crafts like marigold making, coloring pages, and frame decorating. The marigold, a flower traditionally used in Day of the Dead celebrations, symbolizes the fragility of life and serves as a guiding light for spirits returning to the earthly realm.
Pet Photo Requirements:
- Pets only, please! No photos of humans.
- Size: 4 x 6"
- Crop out any living beings, human or animal in the photos of your pets. It is important to only have photos of our loved animals that have passed on the Ofrenda.
- Bring more than one photo of a pet if you want!
The Day of the Dead is a Mexican cultural holiday, predating pre-Hispanic times that celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed away, with Ofrendas (offerings) being a central part of the observance. The Ofrendas are altars adorned with photos, favorite foods, and items that represent the deceased. The items are displayed as a way of welcoming their spirits back to the world of the living for a brief visit. The Beloved Pet Ofrenda specifically honors the animals that have touched our lives, offering a space to remember and celebrate them, because if you are remembered, you are not truly dead. You still live on in your loved ones’ hearts and minds.
A unique element of this event is the inclusion of monarch butterflies, which hold special significance in Day of the Dead traditions. In Mexican culture, monarchs are believed to carry the souls of the departed as they return to visit their loved ones. These butterflies migrate to Mexico every year around the time of the Day of the Dead, making their appearance a powerful symbol of renewal and the connection between life and death.
The event also nods to the importance of conservation efforts for monarch butterflies, whose populations have been declining due to habitat loss and climate change. By raising awareness and supporting conservation initiatives, we can help protect this vital species and the cultural traditions they embody. The North Carolina Zoo is on the path of the migration that the monarch butterflies make every year.
This meaningful event offers a unique opportunity to connect with the cultural significance of the Day of the Dead while cherishing the memories of our beloved pets and supporting the conservation of monarch butterflies. Join us at the North Carolina Zoo from October 27 to November 2 for the "Beloved Pet Ofrenda," a heartfelt event celebrating the lives of our cherished pets who have passed on. Together, let’s remember our beloved companions and reflect on the enduring bond we share.