For immediate release
Contact: Gina Stiles, 904-757-4463, ext. 210

Take a "Winter Break" at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens' Holiday Music Festival

December 26 through January 6

December 21, 2006 – Jacksonville, FL –   Visitors to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ new “Winter Break” Music Festival can ring in the New Year with sounds of music from around the world from December 26 through January 6.  Kids will enjoy giant slides, moon walks, animal encounters, face painting, and visits with Jazoo, the Zoo’s mascot, and his animal friends. Winter Break is sponsored by Sierra Mist.  An entertainment schedule is provided on the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ Web site at jacksonvillezoo.org.

On December 31, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will host Radio Disney AM 600’s 4th Annual Noon Year’s Eve sponsored by Main Dish Kitchen.  Jacksonville Radio Disney personality, “Spiky T”, along with Radio Disney on-air personality, “Ernie D”, will co-host the event.  The Beu Sisters, national recording artists, will headline the three-hour event.  The highlight of the event is an apple juice toast at 12:00 noon.  Noisemaker and hat giveaways will add to the excitement!  There will also be karate and gymnastic demonstrations and more.

Winter Break, including Radio Disney’s Noon Year’s Eve, is free with regular admission to the Zoo.

For over 90 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experience in a caring environment.  Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has grown to house more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals and over 1,500 unique plant species.  The Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  Located on Jacksonville’s north side two miles off I-95, the Zoo is open year-round, 7 days a week, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information on the Zoo, log on to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

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