While other local institutions may offer more frequent night time drinking opportunities, your chance to get drunk and dance with some big cats at the Zoo only comes once a year. Tonight: Noc'tails returns with cocktails, penguins, food trucks, big cats and a silent disco for the 21+ crowd.

Starting tonight at 7 p.m. (or 6 p.m. if you opt for the Open Bar VIP ticket), the Lion House and the area around Penguin Island will be open for drinking and dancing. We're particularly excited to check in on these little guys who have been squawking up penguin island all summer, but we're told there will be plenty of animal encounters to be had nearby.

So as to not wake up any sleeping tiger cubs, music will be provided via Silent Disco by noted Bay Area mashup artist DJ Earworm, DJ ALIA and DJ David Paul.

Unlike those penguins, who rely on a zookeeper to keep them fed, party animals will be able to feed themselves from one of several food trucks including: Boneyard, Cheese Gone Wild, Frozen Kuhsterd and more.

7 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Head to the South entrance at 1 Zoo Road near Herbst Road.
Tickets are $25 or $75 for the open bar/free dinner VIP tickets.
More info and tickets here