Overview
Come Early, Stay Late, Enjoy It All
Enjoy a full day of Zoo fun, then stay late for the music and atmosphere. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs. A limited number of tables will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Live music in Bicentennial Pavilion from 5:30–8:30pm
- Specialty menu available at the Pavilion Café
- Cash bar featuring cocktails and beer*
- Animals on exhibit until 7pm**
- Rides available until 7pm**
- Salsa dancing July 23. Dance instructors will be instructing from 6-6:30 and 7-7:30pm in front of the main stage.
*Must be 21 or older for bar access.
** Weather dependent.
Pavel & Direct Contact
Pavel & Direct Contact delivers high-energy, fiery performances in the spirit of today’s leading Latin Jazz innovators. Led by internationally renowned Dominican pianist and Chicago Music Awards nominee Pavel Polanco-Safadit, the band creates an unforgettable fusion of Latin Jazz, Salsa, and Latin-infused American pop.
With members who have performed across the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia, Pavel & Direct Contact brings together Indy Jazz Hall-of-Famers, acclaimed studio musicians, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra players, and internationally recognized artists. Collectively, they have shared the stage with icons such as Ray Charles, Peter Erskine, Kenny G, Dave Valentin, Max Weinberg, Patti LaBelle, Roscoe Mitchell, Gunther Schuller, The Who, The Moody Blues, Rod Stewart, Ben E. King, and Henry Mancini.
Their signature sound blends vibrant horns, irresistible Latin rhythms, and dynamic vocals in both Spanish and English. Since their debut The Other Side (2016), the group has released a string of celebrated albums on AireBorn Records: Rush Hour (2017), D’la Calle (2018), Americanisao (2019), and Día Bonito (2021), as well as the popular single “You” (2020) and the fan-favorite collection Essentials (2023).
In 2025, Grammy-winning Dominican singer-songwriter Pavel Núñez and renowned Latin jazz pianist and composer Pavel Polanco-Safadit joined forces to release their groundbreaking new album, “De Pavel a Pavel”. The collaboration, featuring Polanco-Safadit’s acclaimed band Pavel & Direct Contact, fuses genres and cultures to create a vibrant and engaging musical journey.
Upcoming Events at Indianapolis Zoo located in White River State Park
