Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

July 17, 2012 - Jacksonville, Fl -

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens announces there will be 50 tons of snow at the Zoo’s first ever “Winter in July” event on Saturday, July 21st! From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. guests can ride sleds down two slippery slopes on the Zoo’s Great Lawn, and small children will enjoy a 30 foot by 30 foot Cold Play Zone, along with visits from Jazoo, the Zoo’s loveable lion mascot, and his friend Pete the Polar Bear. A DJ will be spinning tunes and taking special requests from guests for their wintery favorites.  Throughout the day, everyone will enjoy seeing some of their favorite Zoo animals beat the heat with cold enrichment treats. Kids can enjoy making some themed crafts at the Play Park area (while they last) and then cool off in the Splash Ground.

Guests to the event can also enter a drawing for some great prizes, including the Grand Prize: a weekend for four at Cataloochee Ski Area located high in the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina! This prize pack, valued at $1,300, includes two night’s accommodations, ski lifts, lessons and rentals for four people for two days.  First prize is a gift certificate for four to one night of the Zoo’s first annual winter holiday event, ZOOLights, that will take place from December 14th through 31st from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. weekdays and 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. on weekends. Second prize is a bundle of goodies that are must haves for cold weather and four tickets to the Zoo. No purchase is necessary to enter or win the drawing. For more information on the drawing rules, go to http://www.jacksonvillezoo.org. Entries for the drawings can also be made on the Zoo’s website.

“We are all so excited about the Holiday Lights coming to the Zoo this December that we couldn’t wait any longer”, said Tony Vecchio, executive director of Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.  “We just had to start getting that holiday spirit going with this special event.”

About the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
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. Started 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. It has won national acclaim for its South American Range of the Jaguar exhibit and regional, state and local awards for its botanical gardens. The Jacksonville Zoo is a nonprofit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is open year-round, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 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.