Painting with Kangaroos at Wine & Design in Matthews, NC
I have been to a lot of paint-and-sip nights. I have painted wine glasses, beach scenes, and at least two sunsets I am not proud of. But I had never painted a kangaroo while an actual kangaroo sniffed my shoe.
- Pre-outlined canvases and step-by-step instruction; take a photo of the instructor's canvas to reference smaller detail steps.
- Kangaroos roam freely during the event; guests take turns holding baby roos, from Happy Hopper Event Co.'s USDA-licensed farm.
- Attentive assistants circulate to help technique, swap supplies, and refresh paint so you can focus on creating and enjoying the experience.
- Expect wildly different results, trust the process, wear clothes you don't mind painting, and follow Wine & Design for future events.
That changed at Wine & Design in Matthews, NC.
Wine & Design teamed up with Happy Hopper Event Co. to host a Paint and Play experience that was exactly what it sounds like and also nothing like what you are picturing. Two full-grown kangaroos roamed free around the room while guests painted. Not behind a fence. Not on a leash. Just hopping around, ducking under tables, and investigating whatever caught their attention, which, at various points, included my sleeve, my neighbor's purse, and the paint palette of the woman two seats down.
Susie and her sister proudly display their ‘roo paintings. The painting was easy fun even for those without professional training!How the Evening Actually Works
When you walk in, everything is already set up. Canvas, paint, brushes — your spot is ready. Check in at the front, find your assigned seat, and settle in. There is a brief introduction before the roos are let loose, which gives you just enough time to look around the room and realize everyone else is equally unprepared for what is about to happen.
The canvas comes pre-outlined in Sharpie, so you are not starting from scratch. The instructor walks you through the painting step by step, color by color. There is a finished example to reference, and the instructor circulates with his own painted canvas to show you exactly where to add each detail.
Here is the tip I wished I had going in: take a photo of his canvas on your phone every time he holds it up. You will want to keep referring back to it as the painting progresses and the steps get smaller and more specific. Trying to remember where that last accent stroke went while also watching a kangaroo hop past your table is a recipe for a very abstract painting.
At one point the instructor told us to put hot pink on the kangaroo body. Nobody in the room believed him. He said “trust the process.” He was right. By the end, the pink had disappeared into layers of shading and the whole thing actually looked like a kangaroo. The assistants were attentive throughout — ready to help with technique, swap out supplies, or refresh your paint without you having to ask twice.
The Kangaroos Are the Main Event
At some point during the evening, tables were called up one at a time to sit on the couch and hold the baby kangaroos. Not pet them through a fence. S
it down, hold them in your lap, and spend a few minutes with them while everyone else at the table watched and took photos.
Happy Hopper Event Co. is a USDA licensed facility. The owner runs a farm where her kangaroos actually live, and she brings them to events specifically to socialize them. These are not stressed animals doing a job. They were relaxed, curious, and genuinely comfortable moving through a room full of strangers. You can tell the difference.
Happy Hopper books kangaroo events for birthday parties, office events, festivals, and family photos. They are worth looking up even if you are planning something that has nothing to do with a paint night.
Contact Happy Hopper Event Co.:
Phone: 252-422-0510
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @happyhoppereventco
Facebook: Happy Hopper Event Co.
What Made It Work
Part of what made this event genuinely fun was watching everyone else's paintings take shape. Same outline, same instructions, same colors — completely different results on every canvas in the room. Some were meticulous. Some were impressionistic. One was whatever you call it when someone commits hard to the hot pink and does not fully trust the process. No t
wo were alike, and by the end of the night, everyone was comparing and laughing about it.
Wine & Design is already planning more events with the kangaroos, and there is a goat event in the works too. If you want to get on their radar before tickets go, follow their social channels so you are not scrambling for a spot after it sells out.
Contact Wine & Design Matthews:
Website: wineanddesign.com
Phone: 704-246-7294
Facebook: Wine and Design (Matthews, NC)
Wear something you do not mind getting paint on. The canvases dry quickly, but the experience stays with you longer than you expect.
