Life with Down syndrome: Dream Night At The Zoo Drive Thru

 

On May 2nd, our entire family headed to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium for Dream Night at the Zoo. We have been attending this awesome event for years with our sweet Liam, and it's one of our favorite ways to meet up with our Down syndrome community! They didn't have it last year due to the shutdown, but this year, they had a drive thru.

Although we definitely prefer the in-person event, we still had a great time! They made it so special for all of the amazing kids, and there were so many animals to see. Our kids had so much fun, and their only complaint was that it didn't last longer!

Coen had only been to the zoo once before he turned a year old, and he slept through it, and then the world shut down. We went to the Christmas Lights Drive Thru at the zoo, but he didn't really see any animals. This time he was mesmerized by all of the animals! It was his first real zoo experience that he was awake for, and we can't wait to take him back to see everything. As for Liam? He was grinning the ENTIRE time!

Dream Night at the Zoo is a special event for children with a chronic illness or a disability. It's simply a way for them to spend a magical evening at the zoo with their family. Different zoos around the nation hold these events, and we are lucky enough to live near Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, so we try to attend every year!

The in person event is incredible! Although completely understandable, we were bummed that we couldn't go last year. We were thrilled when they found a way to make it safely happen this year. We were able to explore the zoo without getting out of our SUV!

The Dream Night at the Zoo Drive Thru was a unique experience. The kids got free souvenirs and free food and drinks, and we bought them a giant bag of popcorn to share. There were animals with handlers, animals in exhibits, entertainment, and favorite characters. Liam and Coen were so excited, and the three older kids had fun, too. It was a great night, and we even got free tickets to return in person!

We do hope that next year's event is in person, but this was a memorable experience for all of us! Dream Night at the Zoo is an event that we all love, and we think of it as a way to celebrate life with Down syndrome. I hope it's a tradition we keep for many years to come!