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Winter at the Philadelphia Zoo

  • The Winter exhibit features a snow-covered slide for tubing.

    The Winter exhibit features a snow-covered slide for tubing. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

  • Molly Riordan, 5, makes a snowball.

    Molly Riordan, 5, makes a snowball. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

  • Talia Cooper throws a snowball at the target at the Winter exhibit.

    Talia Cooper throws a snowball at the target at the Winter exhibit. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

  • Janet Rhone throws a snowball at the target at the Winter exhibit.

    Janet Rhone throws a snowball at the target at the Winter exhibit. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

  • Visitors build an igloo at the Philadelphia Zoo Winter exhibit.

    Visitors build an igloo at the Philadelphia Zoo Winter exhibit. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

  • Gavin Riordan, 7, and Molly Riordan, 5, slide down the little kids snow hill at the Winter exhibit.

    Gavin Riordan, 7, and Molly Riordan, 5, slide down the little kids snow hill at the Winter exhibit. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

  • Jack Booth, 4, makes snowballs.

    Jack Booth, 4, makes snowballs. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

  • Coldilocks, a 36-year-old polar bear, naps in the shade at the Philadelphia Zoo.

    Coldilocks, a 36-year-old polar bear, naps in the shade at the Philadelphia Zoo. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

  • A snow leopard stalks its enclosure at the Philadelphia Zoo. There are fewer than 7,000 left in the wild.

    A snow leopard stalks its enclosure at the Philadelphia Zoo. There are fewer than 7,000 left in the wild. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

  • Abigail Colborn celebrates her first birthday with her dad, Bill, and a Siberian tiger.

    Abigail Colborn celebrates her first birthday with her dad, Bill, and a Siberian tiger. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

  • The adaptation wall compares human and animal experiences with the cold.

    The adaptation wall compares human and animal experiences with the cold. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

  • Ciani Brown is a greeter at Winter play exhibit at the Philadelphia Zoo.

    Ciani Brown is a greeter at Winter play exhibit at the Philadelphia Zoo. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

Want to experience the joy of a snowball fight without having to claim the parking spot you just spent two hours shoveling with a folding chair? The Philadelphia Zoo is exhibiting 100 tons of snow in addition to its regular roster of animal friends this summer.

A snow machine will be making real snow (no chemicals involved, just frozen water) throughout the season, and visitors will be able to build igloos, ride the slopes in a tube, and throw a snowball or two.

The goal of the exhibit is also to explain the differences between how animals and humans adapt to cold. An “adaptation wall” explains how polar bears, penguins, and snow leopards thrive in colder climates.

The zoo is home to Coldilocks, a 36 year-old female polar bear. Director of Education and Training Laura Houston explains that Coldilocks is able to adapt to Philadelphia’s temperate climate because she was born here, and has not developed the five layers of fat most wild polar bears develop.

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When it gets warm, she has a pool, shade and even fish-sicle treats. This year zookeepers used the snow machine to create a bed for Coldilocks to roll around on. Other snow-loving animals to check out in the zoo are the snow leopards and the Siberian tiger.

Winter runs through August 20th.

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