Sunday | July 5, 2026 | 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Please mark your calendars now! The Stralsund Zoo invites you to the 56th Zoo Festival, the 16th Festival of Generations, and the 2nd ZOOlympics. There’s plenty to experience: - the exciting ZOOlympics for children ages 4 to 16 - a varied stage program - horseback riding and lots of hands-on activities - creative and informational booths - regional delicacies and much more. Whether with family, friends, or grandparents—enjoy a summer day full of fun, encounters with animals, and shared experiences.
Imagine jumping against a kangaroo. Or sprinting against a leopard. Or pecking faster than a chicken. Sound crazy? At Stralsund Zoo on July 5, 2026, this will be a reality—at least for all young athletes between the ages of 4 and 16.
That’s because the 56th Zoo Festival, which is also the 16th Festival of Generations, is celebrating a very special double premiere this year: The ZOOlympics is entering its second round—and its debut last year was so thrilling that Zoo Director Dr. Langner raved: “The ZOOlympics impressively demonstrated how vibrant a zoo becomes when the local community, clubs, and the zoo work together to shape the event.” Stralsund owes the sheer scale of this festival to the Senior Citizens’ Advisory Council of the Hanseatic City of Stralsund: It is organizing the festival this year in collaboration with the zoo and has brought together an impressive network of local partners for the occasion.
From 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the ZOOlympians can take on challenges at seven stations. Also participating are the Stralsund Handball Club and the Wildcats women’s volleyball team—they’re taking charge of two of the seven ZOOlympics stations themselves: The Wildcats are running “Jump Like a Kangaroo,” and the handball players are running “Sprint Like a Leopard.” Who better to do it? The Stralsund Workshops round out the hands-on activities at the “Sting Like a Bee” station—and this time it’s even more exciting: For the first time, a Stralsund record will be set in every competition. Whoever breaks it wins an annual pass. The grand finale is the legendary championship game: Zoo staff versus the audience—who can fill the bucket with the most water in five minutes? Spoiler: The zoo team has experience. The challengers are hungry for revenge.
All around the festival grounds, the courtyard at the Ackerbürgerhaus, and the historic Mahnkesche Mill, numerous activity and information booths invite you to marvel and linger. On the stage at the Delikater, local music and dance groups will perform, while the Delikater’s catering team and the Zoofreunde’s Naschstuuv will provide refreshments.
Program Overview:
Host Frank Flade
11:00 a.m. Start of the 2nd Zoo Olympics
1:00 p.m. Dance group from the Heimatverein Lieper Winkel e.V.
1:30 p.m. Accordion orchestra of the Fröhlich Music School
2:00 p.m. Opening of the event with a welcome address
2:30 p.m. Animal show
3:15 p.m. “De Prohner Hafengäng” shanty choir
3:45 p.m. “Kunterbunt” dance group from SV Medizin
Stralsund
4:15 p.m. Prohner Schalmeien
5:00 p.m. ZOOLympiade Final Competition with
awards ceremony
The organizer reserves the right to make changes to the program
A summer day that brings everyone together—the only question is: Will you join in?
