Raise a glass to our animals at Lions, Tigers & Beer
Join us September 11, 2026, at the Animal Park at the Conservators Center for our
eagerly awaited—and wildly delicious—dining experience.
Your experience begins with a premium Twilight Tour of the Animal Park, followed by a dining experience with small plates and craft beverage pours.
Enjoy food and beverages generously donated and served by talented local chefs, restaurants, and craft beverage partners. Take time to talk with the creators who are sharing their time, talent, and flavors in support of this fundraiser.
As the night continues, enjoy live music by acoustic guitarist and singer Kevin Holdson, explore our silent auction for the chance to take home one-of-a-kind items available only at this fundraiser, participate in our raffle, and enjoy great food, refreshing beverages, and the chance to support the Animal Park in a truly memorable way by while you sip and savor delicious food and drinks.
Note: This experience is available only to guests ages 21 and over.
Your presence makes a difference.
By attending, you’ll be supporting specialized care for our animals—who you’ll be able to meet face to face—as well as our mission to educate the public about the amazing species that share our planet. Tickets for Lions, Tigers & Beer are available for $100† each, or in pairs for $190†.
Your purchase of one pair could cover the cost of dietary supplements for animals like Enoch and Willow, older lions with mobility issues, or keep servals Mia and Milo cozy with new bedding. What could be better than sampling unique food and beverages while helping animals live rich, full lives? We’ll drink (and eat) to that!
Act quickly, don’t wait! There are limited tickets available.
We’re only offering 200 tickets—total—for this incredible benefit, so you’ll have to act fast if you want to attend! Until July 15, 2026, take advantage of early bird pricing and save on admission.
Need a place to stay?
Get 10% off your stay during Lions, Tigers & Beer by calling to book and mentioning “Animal Park rate” at the following partner locations:
- Acorn Suites – 919.568.9005
- Burke Manor Inn – 336.449.6266
Don’t worry about the weather.
Our staff will be monitoring the weather carefully in the days before the event. If the forecast predicts unsafe conditions, like a thunderstorm or hurricane, we will move to the make-up date, September 18, 2026. We will make every effort to contact you personally at least 24 hours before the event to alert you if postponement is necessary, and a notice will be posted on our social media channels.
Any questions?
Please check our FAQ or give us a call at 336-421-0883.
†Plus taxes and booking fees.
Event Schedule
- 5 pm – 5:15 pm Arrive and check in
- 5 pm – 8:45 pm Explore the offerings of our silent auction and raffle
- 5:30 pm or 6 pm Choose your start time for a premium Twilight Tour of the Animal Park
- 7 pm Begin sampling the delicious creations from our culinary partners and craft beverage providers, and enjoy live music by Kevin Holdson
- 8:50 pm Listen up for the winners of our silent auction and raffle
- 9 pm Join us for a final “oof” as the event ends
If you’ve reserved your spot (or are about to) for Lions, Tigers & Beer, consider adding an extra “course” to your evening with an all-new offering:
an up-close Animal Ambassador Experience with one or more of our small-but-unbelievably-amazing residents!
As part of a small group of 5 guests, you can meet* one of the following Animal Ambassadors at the Park:
- Slomo Sloth
- Meet Slomo Sloth! Since he’s not going anywhere fast, he’ll happily pose while you snap the ultimate selfie (slothie?). Slomo prefers to hang out on his exhibit, not on humans.
- Werst Sulcata Tortoise
- Meet Werst, a Sulcata Tortoise. You’ll be able to feed him some vegetables as a snack and learn more about this charming tortoise whose shell is full of personality.
- Tiya Fennec Fox
- Meet Tiya Fennec Fox! She is a powerhouse of energy and even more adorable up close.
- Slomo Sloth
*Experiences last approximately 10-15 minutes. Please note that the Animal Ambassador lineup is subject to change based on each animal’s comfort and engagement level. These guys almost always enjoy greeting guests, but occasionally they’re just having A DAY (we can relate)—and their wellbeing comes first.
This Year's Donors
Check out this year's participants for a sampling of what this unique event has to offer!
Africa: African Leopard
- Plate: Ramsey Sweets
- Beverage: Thirsty Thoroughbred Beverage
India / Asia: Tiger
- Plate: The Nomad
- Beverage: Eno River Brewing
Africa: Lion
- Plate: Crafted Mebane
- Beverage: Dingo Dog Brewing Co.
Central and South America:
Linnaeus’s Two-Toed Sloth
- Plate: Bodega
- Beverage: Ocean South Wine
North America: Gray Wolf
- Plate: Angus Barn
- Beverage: Angus Barn
Important Information
Know Before You Go
Learn more about your upcoming visit to the Animal Park at the Conservators Center.
Accessibility, Safety, and Pets
The Animal Park is not wheelchair accessible; however, accessibility accommodations are available for visitors with mobility issues. Please note that we are not able to allow unauthorized vehicles, including scooters or motorized wheelchairs, in the Park. Find more information about disability accommodations and access in the Tour FAQ on our Plan Your Visit page.
If you are planning to visit the Animal Park, please take a moment to review your confirmation email and text to complete our online tour waiver. Waivers will also be available in the gift shop for visitors to complete during check-in.
For safety reasons, the Animal Park cannot allow visitors to bring pets on site. Any visitor who brings an animal to the Park will be asked to leave immediately. No animals may be left unattended in a vehicle.
Due to the uneven surfaces of our tour path, for children’s safety, we cannot allow them to ride in wagons in the Park, and we encourage child sling carriers over strollers. Strollers are allowed, with children secured inside, but at the parent’s sole discretion.