Little Rock Zoo celebrates Adelina’s first birthday on Saturday

Little-Rock-zoo-logo-4-c-with-tagadelinafosseyOn August 19, 2012, Adelina was born at the Little Rock Zoo.  To celebrate her first birthday (a couple of days early), the Little Rock Zoo is throwing a Birthday Party for Adelina.

Zoo staff and docents have been preparing gifts for Adelina as well as her family.  She was born last year to Sekani (mom) and Fossey (dad).  A western lowland gorilla, she has quickly become Arkansas’ most popular primate — complete with her own Facebook page.

The birthday party will begin at 10am at the Little Rock Zoo.

This weekend will be a great time to get in one final visit to the Zoo before the start of the school year.

adelinapartyThe Little Rock Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, visit http://www.aza.org.adelina

LR Zoo Offers Saturday Breakfast with Anteaters

Little-Rock-zoo-logo-4-c-with-tagYou can breakfast with anteaters this Saturday at the Little Rock Zoo – but you don’t have to eat ants.

This Saturday, July 27, from 8am to 9:30am, the Little Rock Zoo will features a breakfast buffet in Cafe Africa.  In addition, a keeper will discuss anteaters.

The event will start at 8am sharp. Seating is limited and advance reservations are required.  The cost is $12.95 for a member child, $16.95 for a member adult, $16.95 for a non-member child and $21.95 for a non-member adult.  The cost includes admission to the Zoo for the entire day.

For more information or to make reservations, please call 501.661.7218.  Reservations require a Visa, Discover or Master Card.

 

LR Zoo Cheetah Chase on Saturday

cheetah-chase-logoJoin all the big cats for the best race in town! The Cheetah Chase 5K starts at the Little Rock Zoo and takes runners through the Hillcrest neighborhood and ends back at the front entrance of the Zoo. The 1K Family Fun Run starts and ends inside the Zoo.

All participants gets FREE Zoo admission all day on the day of the race, a free Penguin Pointe bag, and get a free race t-shirt. Participants are also encouraged to wear fun, family-friendly attire that is animal themed. Prizes will be given for best “big cat” costume and best animal costume.

Click here to register now!

Registration Fees (sorry no refunds):

Late Registration

5/31/2013  –   Race Day
5K & 1K Registration:  $35 per person/$65 per family of four (includes up to two adults and two children under the age of 12 or one adult and three children under the age of 12). Children under the age of one in strollers are admitted free.

Late registration will begin at 10 am on Friday, May 31, 2013 and continue through race day. Please see section below for specific locations and times.

Registration Note:

Participants Receive:

  • One free Zoo admission on June 1, 2013 (race number required)
  • Official Cheetah Chase race shirt (pre shrunk cotton t shirt)
  • Discounted Zoo admission for non-participants on June 1, 2013 for $5 (must be accompanied by race participant with race number)
  • Penguin Pointe bag
  • Post Race refreshments

Packet Pick Up & Late Registration:

Friday, May 31st
Rock City Running
Colony West Shopping Plaza
10300 N Rodney Parham, Suite D3
Little Rock, Arkansas 72227
10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Saturday, June 1st
Little Rock Zoo Entrance
#1 Zoo Drive Little Rock, AR 72205
Race packets will not be mailed
7:00 a.m.

Race Day Schedule:  7:00  a.m.  Packet Pick-Up and Late Registration Begin; 8:30 am  Official 5K/1K Start; 9:00 am Awards given to the top 10 male and female finishers as they finish.

Awards:

  • Top Ten Fastest Men
  • Top Ten Fastest Women
  • Best Big Cat Costume
  • Best Animal Costume

Zoo Hosts Stars of “Wimpy Kid” Films today for Autograph Signing Event

diarwimpyThe Little Rock Zoo is excited to announce that it will host a special meet-n-greet and autograph signing with the stars of the hit films, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” along with the producer of the film series, Brad Simpson, a native of Little Rock, on Saturday, May 18, at 2:00 p.m.

Zachary Gordon and Robert Capron will be joined by Simpson to sign autographs and meet fans at the Zoo as part of the Little Rock Film Festival held May 15-19.  Gordon plays Greg Heffley, protagonist of the films and of the popular “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book series that the films are based on.  Robert Capron plays the role of Rowley Jefferson, Heffley’s best friend.

The “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book series is the all-time best-selling juvenile/young-adult series in the U.S. and remains popular with children and adults alike.

There is no additional charge for the “Wimpy Kids” meet-n-greet but regular Zoo admission prices do apply.  Little Rock Film Festival pass holders will receive free Zoo admission for this event and will receive front-of-the-line access.  To purchase LRFF passes or for more information log-on to www.LittleRockFilmFestival.org.   Adult admission to the Zoo is $10 and admission for children ages 1-12 is $8.  Children under the age of one are admitted free.  Zoo members are always admitted free.  Log-on towww.LittleRockZoo.com/wimpy for more information or call (501) 666-2406.

The Little Rock Film Festival is hosting a red carpet screening of the film “Diary of a Wimpy Kid:  Rodrick Rules” at The Rep in downtown Little Rock at 10:00 a.m. on the same day where both Gordon and Capron will give personal accounts of their experiences filming the “Wimpy Kids” films and will show never-before-seen behind-the-scenes personal pictures of the filming.  Gordon, Capron and Simpson will also be available to answer questions from audience members after the screening.  Seating for this special screening is very limited and tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.LittleRockFilmFestival.org or for a limited time at the door.  Tickets are $10 per person.

The Little Rock Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things.  With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.  For more information, visit http://www.aza.org.

LR Zoo presents 7th annual Wild Wines of the World tonight

Little-Rock-zoo-logo-4-c-with-tagA wild world of food and wine awaits guests at the 7th Annual Wild Wines of the World event at the Little Rock Zoo scheduled for this Saturday, May 11, at 7:00 p.m.

This year’s event, presented by Wright, Lindsey, and Jennings, will feature dozens of wines paired with food from nearly two dozen of central Arkansas’s best restaurants.  The unique wine and food stops are themed for particular wine countries and regions and also include other beverage stops for non-wine drinkers such as a margarita stop in Mexico and a beer stop in Germany.

The Reserve Wine Room experience in Café Africa will open an hour early at 6:00 p.m. and will feature eight high-quality wines hand-picked by wine sommelier and beverage sponsor of the event, Jonathan Looney, of O’Looney’s Wine and Liquor in Little Rock.  Those wines will be paired with delicious heavy hors d’oeuvres prepared by 1620 Savoy and Cache Restaurant.  This higher-end experience is available for only a $35 ticket upgrade but tickets are available in limited quantities.

As beverage sponsor of the event, Jonathan also selected each wine for the general event, as well, adding a touch of quality to this wine tasting event.

“Wild Wines of the World features quality wines at every stop.  O’Looney’s has taken great pride in donating quality wines to the Zoo and that means the Zoo now has one of the best wine events in central Arkansas.  These wines are high quality, interesting and unique wines that a wine expert has hand-picked to showcase a wide variety of regions,” said Susan Altrui, manager for the event.

Guests to the event will also receive a souvenir wine glass and plate and are greeted at the front entrance with strawberries and champagne.  Guests then make their way around the Zoo to 20 stops where they will sample food and beverages and will likely meet some interesting animal friends showcased by the Zoo’s docents.

Live musical entertainment this year will be provided by Big John Miller Band in the Civitan Pavilion and by Richie Johnson in the Reserve Room at Café Africa.  Radiant Spirals from Memphis, Tennessee will perform fire acts and juggling.

Tickets are $50 per person for general admission and $45 per person for Zoo members. Reserve Room tickets may be purchased for an additional $35. Tickets may be purchased online at www.LittleRockZoo.com/wildwines or by calling (501) 661-7208. No one under the age of 21 is admitted to the event and guests are reminded to wear comfortable shoes.  All proceeds benefit the Arkansas Zoological Foundation for the Little Rock Zoo.

The Little Rock Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things.  With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.  For more information, visit www.aza.org.

Woo at Zoo tonight

6_wooFrom the most violent mating battles, to the subtlest courting rituals; join the Little Rock Zoo for a revealing look into the intimate secrets of exotic animal mating!

Guests will also enjoy appetizers, unlimited beverages, a unique silent auction, and live music.

The event runs from 6pm to 9pm.  Tours of the Zoo start promptly at 6:15pm.

Tickets are $35 a person.

The mission of the Little Rock Zoo is to provide engaging experiences that inspire people to value and conserve our natural world.  With that in mind, the 700 plus animals at the Zoo are all important ambassadors for their animal friends in the wild.

LR Zoo Breaks into Spring

Little-Rock-zoo-logo-4-c-with-tagSpring starts tomorrow, but the Little Rock Zoo is ready for Spring Breakers all week.

In addition to the new Cheetah and Penguin exhibits, the Zoo is home to elephants, bears, rhinos, giraffes, lions, gorillas, chimpanzees, tigers, and a host of birds and mammals.  And of course no visit to the zoo is complete without a stop off in the reptile house.

In addition, each day there are animal feedings for the public to witness.
10:30am |  Vampire Bats
1:15pm |  Penguins
1:30pm |  Great Ape Scatter Feeds

Speaking of feeding, visitors can take care of their own needs by dining at Cafe Africa.  It is located across from the Civitan Pavilion in the heart of the Little Rock Zoo.  The Cafe features menu items such as hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hotdogs, fries, soda, ice cream, and other food items.

The Little Rock Zoo is the proud home of the Arkansas Carousel, a one-of-a-kind Over-the-Jumps antique carousel that is the only fully operational carousel of its kind in the world.

The Little Rock Zoo is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm, with the last admission is at 4:00pm
The front gates will close at 4:00 pm. Guests who have entered may remain in the park until 5:00pm.

Admission Price
  • Adults: $10.00
  • Seniors 60+: $8.00
  • Children 12 and Under: $8.00
  • Children Under 12 Months of age are admitted free!
  • Active Duty Military (with ID or Adult Dependent ID): $2 off regular admission