BearFest
Schedule
Fri Jun 05 2026 at 10:00 am to 03:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
8225 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL, United States, Florida 32940 | Rockledge, FL
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Celebrate National Black Bear Day all weekend with interactive activity stations, hands-on enrichment making opportunities and more.Plus, enjoy local beer tasting and specialty bear-inspired treats!
Activities included with Zoo admission. Food and beverage available for purchase.
Bear Food Truck (12 – 3 PM): Visit our special “food truck” right outside the bear habitat to chat with our commissary team and learn what our black bears eat each day. 12 – 1 PM: help create enrichments for the bears’ 1 PM camping experience. 1 – 3 PM: make bear-shaped treats for other animals—then stick around and watch as your creations are delivered during enrichment feedings.
Bear vs. Campsite (1PM): Watch our black bears take on the ultimate camping challenge! Listen to a special Florida black bear keeper chat while you watch our bears interact with camping gear filled with enrichment items. If you’d like to help make these enrichment items, be sure to visit the Bear Food Truck between 12 – 1 PM!
Trashcan Races (10 AM – 3 PM): Think you can beat a bear-proof trash can? Put on those bear claws and give it your best shot! Races take place at 11 AM, 12 PM, 1PM and 2 PM. Sign up 15 minutes before each round and compete in one of the most unexpected (and hilarious) challenges of the weekend!
Teddy Bear Clinic (10 AM – 3 PM): Bring your stuffed animal in for a wildlife wellness check! Our Teddy Bear Clinic welcomes all plush patients—not just bears! Experience fun, hands-on veterinary care inspired by real procedures used with our black bears. Every patient leaves with a clean bill of health!
Beer Tasting: Sip, sample and discover your new favorite brew! Enjoy a special beer flight and opportunities to sample brews from local vendors. More details to come!
Bear-y Good Eats: Eat like a black bear all weekend long!
Enjoy specialty menu items inspired by our bears —from cold treats to dishes made with ingredients that match our black bears daily diet! Keep an eye out for sneak peeks as we roll out menu items leading up to the event!
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Where is it happening?
8225 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL, United States, Florida 32940, 8225 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32940-7924, United States, RockledgeEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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