Teddy Bear and Friends Day Returns to ZooAmerica on January 4, 2025

Calling all teddy bear lovers! For the first time in over five years, ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park in Hershey, Pa., is hosting Teddy Bear and Friends Day on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The family-friendly winter event features an array of bear-related activities for kids 12 and under. 

Teddy Bear Activities Included with Zoo Admission

ZooAmerica is open on Jan. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Teddy Bear Repair Clinic will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Woodlands Classroom for children to stop by with their teddy bear or another stuffed animal friend for a check-up by a real veterinarian or Zoo naturalist.  If the stuffed animal is diagnosed with a loose nose or slight tear, our teddy bear surgeon will be ready with stitches and Band-Aids to fix any boo boos.

Kids can also participate in story time, a scavenger hunt and a bear artifact station.

After stopping by the clinic, guests can explore the 11-acre zoo at their leisure. ZooAmerica is home to two American black bears in the Eastern Woodlands region. If not immediately visible in their habitat, the bears may be resting in their dens as they are naturally more sleepy in the winter. 

Additional Event Information to Bear In Mind

• Teddy Bear and Friends Day will take place rain or shine. 
• All Teddy Bear and Friends Day activities are included in regular admission, which is $16.50 plus taxes and fees for guests ages 9 to 61 and $14.50 plus taxes and fees for guests ages 3 to 8 and ages 62 and older. 
• This weekend kicks off Discovery Weekends, where kids 8 and under get in for free with the purchase of a regular or senior ticket on Saturday.
• Children 2 and younger (and stuffed animals) are free! 
• ZooAmerica Annual Pass Holders and 2025 Hersheypark Season Pass Holders also get in for free.

Make it a Bear-Filled Weekend with the Hershey Bears

The 13-time Calder Cup Championship Hershey Bears have a two-game home stand on Saturday, Jan. 4, and Sunday, Jan. 5, against the Providence Bruins. The game on Saturday at 7 p.m. is PSECU Knit Hat Night, where the first 4,000 fans will receive a knit hat, courtesy of PSECU.

The GIANT Teddy Bear Toss is set for Saturday, Jan. 5, at 3 p.m. This world-famous event sees fans throw teddy bears and other stuffed animals onto the ice following the team's first goal of the game. The Bears are the hockey world record holders for the teddy bear toss, collecting 74,599 stuffed animals for local charities during the 2024 event. 

Very limited tickets remain for Sunday's game. For those not attending the game but who are interested in following along, it will be broadcasted in partnership with FOX43 on Antenna TV, WPMT 43.2. The game may also be heard across the GIANT Bears Radio Network and viewed on AHLTV on FloHockey. 

A stuffed animal collection truck will be stationed outside of GIANT Center from 12-3 p.m. on game day. Non-ticketed guests are welcome to drop off stuffed animals, but please note that a parking fee will be required to enter the complex. 

Visit the Zoo This Winter

ZooAmerica is open daily this winter from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It's a sweet time of year to visit, as many of the animals in the outdoor habitats are often more active when the temperature drops. 

For other winter activities across the destination, check out our 2025 Guide to Winter Events in Hershey, Pa.