Barnyard in a Backyard

Logistics

- Events run Wednesday-Sunday, typically between 9am and 5pm, though the team may be flexible depending on the day - Staff arrive 20-30 minutes early to set up; starting the zoo 15-30 minutes after the party starts is recommended to allow for late arrivals - The party opens with a brief introduction (a few rules, meeting the animals, and a birthday child intro, no more than 10 minutes), followed by hands-on time at 3-4 stations: a station where groups of 4 kids rotate through holding animals, a station to sit and pet animals, and a station for petting and watching the exotic ducks; large-animal packages add a station to pet and watch the large animals - A one hour petting zoo accommodates up to 20-25 kids, a 1.5 hour zoo up to 35 kids, and a two hour zoo 35-45 kids; for more than 45-50 kids the festival packages are recommended - Space minimum: 12ft x 20ft, though the team can usually accommodate a variety of areas (living room, garage, covered patio, or a tent in your yard) - A parking place for a full-sized van towing a horse trailer is needed as close as possible to the setup location

Rules

- A shaded space and a backup option (such as a tent, garage, basement, or gym) are needed in case of extreme temperatures or inclement weather; a heated or air-conditioned space is needed if temperatures are below 55 degrees or above 80 degrees - Minimum event length is one hour; if more than 20-25 guests will interact with the animals at once, at least 1.5 hours is recommended for birthdays, and larger groups booked for less time may not be accommodated - You may provide greens or veggies for the animals, but staff decide whether it is a safe environment for the kids to feed the animals - Animals cannot be substituted within the packages, and a large animal cannot be added to a small-animal package; only an extra seasonal friend or baby piglet can be requested as an add-on (not guaranteed)