Events

Bouquets

Join us for Bouquets, an intimate, after-hours benefit for Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, in support of the plants, animals, and free access you love at Como!

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Save the Date | February 29th, 2024 | 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Bouquets

Registration Closed

Important Bouquets Update

Thank you for supporting Bouquets and Como Park Zoo and Conservatory!

A note of gratitude to all of our guests, staff, and sponsors for your graceful pivot in rescheduling Bouquets to Thursday, March 23.

The fundraising event in March will have all the event festivities you expect at Bouquets—gorgeous gardens, animal ambassadors, and extraordinary wine, beer, and food. The event times will remain the same with the Plus Experience from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. and the General Admission event from 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. The add-on experiences will also go forward as scheduled.

If you are already registered for Bouquets, your ticket automatically provides you admittance for the rescheduled event on March 23rd. If you can’t attend, your ticket purchase can become a charitable donation to Como to support the plants, animals, and free access that makes this community treasure so special. Please consider this option as the need for critical resources to benefit Como’s plants, animals, education programs, and conservation work still exists! If you prefer to have your ticket refunded, email events@comofriends.org or call 651-487-8229.

Come in from the cold and feel your senses unfurl in the balmy beauty of Bouquets, an intimate, after-hours benefit for Como Park Zoo & Conservatory.

From the soaring Palm Dome to the fresh and fragrant Sunken Garden, the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is the verdant backdrop for Como Friends’ annual winter fundraiser, Bouquets, featuring extraordinary wine, beer, food, and fun. A favorite mid-winter tradition for Como supporters, proceeds from Bouquets help to keep all the plants and animals at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory growing and thriving throughout the year and to help sustain free admission for every visitor.

Bouquets guests will soak up the temperate, tropical feel of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, and to take part in a fantastic silent auction featuring exceptional vintages, food experiences, and more. Your support for Bouquets brings the Como Friends mission to life, to protect the free admission, family-friendly programs, and first-class animal habitats and beautiful gardens that make Como Park Zoo and Conservatory a community treasure.

TICKET OPTIONS

SOLD OUT – Bouquets Plus: $125
The Bouquets Plus experience begins at 6:00 p.m. (SOLD OUT)

If you are interested in attending the Bouquets Plus experience, please email events@comofriends.org or call Como Friends at 651-487-8229 to be placed on the waiting list. You are encouraged to purchase a General Admission ticket, which will be upgraded if a spot in the Plus experience becomes available.

Arrive early at Bouquets and explore balmy Tropical Encounters, a living rainforest and Como’s most diverse habitat. Tropical Encounters is filled with brightly colored birds, fish, and frogs, soaring palms, and lush greenery. Say hello to one of Como’s most beloved animal ambassadors, Chloe the sloth. The experience includes delicious culinary treats and full pours of select wine and beer, which you will enjoy from the unique rooms overlooking Tropical Encounters’ vibrant canopy. Following this special experience, you will be able to join the full event.

SOLD OUT – Individual Ticket: $75
Bouquets begins at 7:00 PM (SOLD OUT)

If you are interested in purchasing a General Admission ticket, please email events@comofriends.org or call Como Friends at 651-487-8229 to be placed on the waiting list.

With wine, beer, and food tastings arrayed throughout Como’s Visitor Center and the gardens of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory, no other fundraiser in town has a more beautiful backdrop. Starting at 7:00 p.m., Bouquets guests can sip and sample hors d’oeuvres, listen to live music, bid on a host of exceptional silent auction packages, take a turn at popular Bouquets games, and learn more about the high-priority improvements supported by Bouquets’ Fund-a-Mission donations.

SOLD OUT – Add-on Experience (Growing Range Tours): $25
Must purchase a General Admission or Plus ticket for this add-on experience.
Tours at 7:30 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. (SOLD OUT)

If you are interested in purchasing an add-on experience for either a Plus or General Admission ticket, please email events@comofriends.org or call Como Friends at 651-487-8229 to be placed on the waiting list.

Are you looking to add more Como to your evening at Bouquets? Join us for an exclusive tour of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory’s extraordinary 30,000-square foot behind-the-scenes growing range and learn how Como’s horticulturalists cultivate and care for exceptional plant species from around the globe—many that are used to flavor wine, beer and food!

Covid-19: Como Friends and Como Park Zoo & Conservatory continue to follow state, local and venue guidance pertaining to Covid-19. Masks are welcome at Bouquets, but not required. Please stay home if you don’t feel well, if you have symptoms of Covid-19, or if you have been in recent contact with someone diagnosed with Covid-19. Thank you.

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BETHANY PAUL

Events Manager

Como Friends’ Bouquets benefit includes a silent auction featuring fine wines, rare brews, accessories and tasting experiences donated by the Twin Cities’ best vendors and vintners. To make an in-kind donation to the Bouquets silent auction, contact Bethany Paul, Como Friends’ Events Manager.