Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

December 28, 2012 - Jacksonville, Fl -

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announced its ninth annual Noon Year’s Eve celebration will be held on Monday, December 31, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Zoo’s Great Lawn, Trout River Gardens and Play Park – and this year promises to be the best New Year’s party ever for Northeast Florida families! Jax4kids.com brings live entertainment to the stage featuring national recording artists, Kyshae and Scott Leigh and “The Positive Influence Tour”. The “Fun with Mad Science” show will amaze guests with its riveting science demonstrations, as well as magic shows by Mark Alan, back this year by popular demand. There will be a bounce house, face-painting, games, and a visit by Jazoo, the Zoo’s friendly lion mascot (in his party attire).  This year, there will be a toddler area with puppet shows by Capt. Character, face painting, toddler-friendly music and more. The first 500 children will receive a free goody bag. After a countdown to 12 noon, guests will lift their apple juice cups and sing Auld Lang Syne to ring in the New Year. All who come can enter a prize drawing for a trip for four to the Cataloochee Ski Area in beautiful Maggie Valley, North Carolina, tickets for four to see Mary Poppins at the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts and more.  It’s all free with the price of admission to Jacksonville Zoo. For more information, go to http://www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

For nearly a century, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experiences in a caring environment. Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens now has more than 2,000 rare and exotic animals and 1,000 plants. It has won national acclaim for its South American Range of the Jaguar exhibit and has the largest botanical garden in Northeast Florida. The Jacksonville Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  It is open year-round, seven days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except Christmas day, and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  For more information on the Zoo, log on to http://www.jacksonvillezoo.org.