San Diego Zoo Safari Park Autumn Festival 2026 Guide

The San Diego Safari Park Autumn festival will offer a day full of seasonal music, special entertainment, and interactive activities your kids will love.

Let's have a look at all the offerings set for this season!

Safari Park Trainers Walking Around Animals at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Special Entertainment

The festivities will kick-off with a nice mix of interactive entertainment and education, all in the spirit of the season.

Safari Parker

You'll want to join Safari Parker on the Condor Trail, the park's explorer and adventurer, who will share fun facts about burrowing owls that are really quite interesting.

He'll present and educate every hour, on the hour from 1:00pm until 4:00pm for 30 minutes.

Not-So-Scary Scarecrows

Be on the lookout for this entertaining pair of scarecrows that will be juggling and bouncing about in the Nairobi Village from 2:45 until 5:45pm.

A-maz-ing Autumn Adventure

The Nairobi Village will also be the setting for the walk-through maze for kids featuring twists and turns as well as clues to help them identify Southwest wildlife. There's always space for a little learning of course!

The maze will be open from 9:00am until 7:00pm with the Not-so-Scary Scarecrows ready to meet them as they enter.

Musical Entertainment

In addition to the animals and entertainment, the 2026 Autumn Festival will also feature special music designed to fill the autumn air with the sounds of the season.

Ash Meadows

The Ash Meadows duo featuring an acoustic guitar and mandolin will perform 30-minute sets every hour from 1:15pm until 4:15pm at the Nairobi Walk.

Autumn Festival Jamboree

The Autumn Festival Jamboree is a fan favorite and a show I can totally recommend, especially for young families! Set on the hour from 2:00pm until 5:00pm, the performances will take place at the Nairobi Village.

You can expect country dancing, boot tappin', and some good ol' fashioned family-friendly fun!

The Barn Owls

The very talented country bluegrass trio known as 'The Barn Owls' will entertain the crowds at the Nairobi Village for 30-minute sets at 2:30pm, 3:30pm, 4:30pm, and 5:45pm.

Safari Park Radio

I personally love that the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has their own radio station that they'll use to offer upbeat, modern country music from 9:00am until 7:00pm during the event.

They'll also offer up interactive trivia games about conservation efforts and what it takes to protect, save and care for local wildlife.

Evening Entertainment

As the sun goes down and the day comes to a close, the park will offer some really special, exciting evening entertainment.

Reflections

Each Autumn Festival evening will conclude with a fan favorite known as 'Reflections'. Taking place in the Lagoon Loop, the musical, colorfully lit journey will celebrate the people, wildlife, and planet we all call home.

Beyond the usual Safari Park food and drinks, the park will also be offering some very special, limited time only seasonal treats.

Safari Coffee Outpost at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Quinch Your Thirst

I personally love the Safari Coffee Outpost year-round as their selection of coffee and pastries are just flat delicious!

During the Autumn Festival, they will be offering some seasonal specialties including the Pumpkin Spice Latte, Brown Sugar Cinnamon Latte, and the Spiced Chai Cappuccino.

For me, it's the Pumpkin Spiced Latte but I might also go for the Spiced Chai Cappuccino. It's a really tough decision as they all will undoubtably be very tasty!

Festival Foods

After you secure your favorite seasonal drink, you'll want to head over to Okavango Outpost in the Safari Base Camp to try their Roasted Fall Harvest Salad.

The Mombasa Cooker will also offer a selection of limited-time offerings include the Roasted Fall Harvest Salad, Oktoberfest Bratwurst, and Brown Butter Blondie. In addition, they'll have cocktail options for the adults with the highlights being the Stone Fruit Margarita and the Caramel Apple Mule!