Join us on Saturday, July 18th, for Tundra’s Summer Cooldown!
Tundra’s Summer Cooldown is your after-hours excuse to eat a lot of really good ice cream. 🍦
Join us at the Lake Superior Zoo for a one-of-a-kind tasting event featuring 30+ flavors from seven incredible creameries across the Upper Midwest—including the Twin Cities, Grand Rapids, St. Cloud, and Wisconsin. It’s a rare chance to sample this much small-batch goodness without leaving Duluth.
Your ticket gets you a tasting cup and unlimited one-ounce scoops, so you can wander, sample, and discover your new favorite flavor at your own pace. Plus, with the Zoo open after hours, you’ll enjoy a more relaxed vibe—and maybe catch some animals exploring special enrichments along the way.
Want more of something you love? Many vendors will have pints, treats, and extras available for purchase, along with additional food and drinks throughout the night.
Before you go, don’t forget to vote for your favorite creamery—because bragging rights (and a featured spot at the Zoo next year) are on the line.
Great ice cream, cool animals, and a perfect Duluth summer night—what’s not to love?
Plein Air Duluth Comes to Lake Superior Zoo on July 18th!
Also happening during Tundra’s Summer Cooldown: artists from the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota will be sprinkled throughout the zoo grounds, creating paintings “en plein air” of the sights, scenes, animals, and habitats of the Lake Superior Zoo. This practice of creating artwork outdoors, on location, challenges painters to observe and capture constantly changing light, color, atmosphere, and movement.
Watch as oil painters, watercolorists, pastel artists, and other creatives transform blank surfaces into beautiful works of art over the course of several hours, right before your eyes.
Free Art Demos offered 9:30am to 1:00pm
Visitors are encouraged to stroll the grounds, observe the artistic process, ask questions, and discover how artists interpret the same scenes in remarkably different ways. These artists are in Duluth as part of Plein Air Duluth, a weekend-long painting event that brings artists from across Minnesota to explore and celebrate the region through paint.
The event culminates in a public exhibition and reception featuring artwork created during the weekend at the Great Lakes Atelier of Fine Art, 810 W. 3rd Street, on Sunday, July 19, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.
How much are tickets, and where can I buy them?
- Zoo Member Tickets are $20 for Adults and $10 for Children
- Advanced Guest Tickets are $30 for Adults and $15 for Children
- Day-of Guest Tickets are $40 for Adults and $15 for Children
- Tickets can be purchased at the Zoo’s Admissions Office or online here
What are the event hours?
2:00pm to 7:00pm
What Animal Enrichments can we see?
3:00pm: Kunekune Pigs – Watermelon Sorbet
4:00pm: Lemurs – Fruit popsicles
5:00pm: Brown Bears – Watermelon Slushies
6:00pm: Snapping Turtle – Fishsicle
Will there be food options available?
Yes! In addition to the Safari Cafe, there will be food trucks available as well!
How do I become an event sponsor?
Sponsorships play a vital role in making this event possible for Twin Ports families. In return, sponsors receive benefits such as event signage, social media recognition, and complimentary event tickets.
Member Tickets:
Member Adult | $20
Member Child | $10
Guest Tickets:
Guest Adult | $30
Guest Child | $15
Day-Of Guest Tickets:
Guest Adult | $40
Guest Child | $25
2 & Under: FREE
**TICKETS WILL NOT BE MAILED OUT**
Bring your email confirmation with you, and you’ll be all set!
Hours:
2:00pm to 7:00pm
Become a Sponsor!