Greetings!
Are you ready to be part of our Epicurean Escapade? Oakland Zoo is excited that Walk in the Wild is back and invites you to join us as a participating vendor for this fabulous fundraising event on Saturday, June 25, 2022.
Walk in the Wild is Oakland Zoo’s signature ticketed event where guests sample donated product from local top chefs and restaurants, microbreweries, and renowned wineries. With all this plus delectable desserts and dancing under the stars, it is no wonder that this event sells out every year. With this year being the Zoo's 100-year birthday, we are planning a party that will be the talk of the town. We hope you will contribute to the delicious magic of Walk in the Wild – it truly is an epicurean escapade!
As a participating vendor, you will showcase your donated cuisine or libations to 1,500 foodies excited about sampling your fare while raising money for Oakland Zoo – a leader in animal welfare, climate justice, and education. This year’s event will celebrate Oakland Zoo’s education programs for learners of all ages; like our ZooSchool Field Trips and educator resources, California Trail Climate Literacy Project, ZooCamp, Teen Wildlife Guides, Conservation Pathways Internships and Docent training.
As a gesture of appreciation for the community-based businesses supporting Walk in the Wild for almost 30 years, Oakland Zoo is investing $20,000 in community grants for our participating Walk in the Wild vendors this year. Distributed in eight grants of $2,500 each, the grants will support the restaurants, wineries, breweries, and bakeries that contribute to the rich cultural fabric of Oakland and the East Bay. Grantees will be drawn at random on May 15 from the list of vendors who have completed application forms for Walk in the Wild by that time, and funds will be distributed the day of Walk in the Wild, June 25. We at Oakland Zoo truly appreciate the support we receive from our local businesses and community members, and want to give some of that support back as we celebrate our centennial anniversary this year. Chosen grantees must have all required paperwork submitted and be actively sampling at the event to receive their check.
Walk in the Wild is a unique opportunity to meet new potential customers incentivized to seek you out as fellow supporters of the Zoo. In appreciation of your donation, your business will be recognized on our website as well as in event emails and the event program. You will feel great about supporting Oakland Zoo, where 883,000 visitors a year come to connect to wildlife and nature.
Learn more about the benefits and requirements of participating in Walk in the Wild as a vendor here. To fill out the online vendor participation form, click here.
Questions? Please feel free to reach out to our vendor coordinator, Sarah Kidder via email at skidder@oaklandzoo.org or phone: 510.336.4613.
Thank you for your support of Oakland Zoo. We look forward to your being a part of this special event.
