Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens Celebrating Hippo Fritz's First Birthday With a Big Bash

Baby hippo Fritz Photo: Michelle Peters via The Cincinnati Zoo

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s littlest hippo is turning 1 year old, and a big celebration is planned for him.

Fritz, the son of Bibi and Tucker and half-brother to the famous Fiona, joined the bloat Aug. 3 last year. Bibi’s pregnancy that year came as a surprise to keepers, as they said she had been on birth control at the time.

In celebration of the surprise hippo’s first birthday, the zoo is throwing a party, and everyone’s invited. On Thursday, Aug. 3, you can visit the zoo to take part in the many fun activities planned, including special photo opportunities around the zoo, carving watermelons (one of the hippos’ favorite foods) and a book signing with Richard Cowdrey, who wrote and illustrated the children’s books, Fiona the Hippo, A Very Fiona Christmas and Fiona, It’s Bedtime. You’ll also get the chance to win a behind-the-scenes experience with the hippos.

And what’s a party without some delicious food? You’ll be able to try birthday cake from Busken Bakery and ice cream from Graeter’s at the picnic shelters starting at noon that day. Watermelon candy samplings from Freezin’ with Aubrie and special food and drink offerings like a Watermelon Dole Whip, the Fritz Sundae (vanilla ice cream with sprinkles and a watermelon gummy), the Fritz Spritz (watermelon Kool-Aid with cucumber-flavored vodka topped with Sprite, which can also be a mocktail) and more will also be available.

If you can’t make it, the zoo will be doing a Facebook Live from Hippo Cove starting at 2:30 p.m. If you’ll be at the zoo at that time, just note the keepers will be putting the hippos inside from 2-2:30 p.m. to put out more treats and decorations for the Live.

Fritz’s first birthday party runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3. You can buy tickets to the zoo on their website or at the gate.

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Avondale. More info: cincinnatizoo.org.

Subscribe to CityBeat newsletters.