Contact: Gina Stiles § 904.757.4463, ext. 210 § cell: 655.3632 § stilesg@jacksonvillezoo.org
Mercede New § 904.757.4463, ext. 211 § newm@jacksonvillezoo.org

Send Summer Out with a Roar at Jazoo’s Birthday and Back to School Bash

$2 off Admission with Book Donated to Library
August 22 – 23, 2009

August 17, 2009 – Jacksonville, FL -  Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens invites kids and families to say goodbye to summer at “Jazoo’s Birthday and Back to School Bash”, sponsored by Pepsi, BJ’s Wholesale and Oscar Mayer’s Lunchable Tour.  The celebration takes place on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Zoo’s Play Park. There will be mini cupcakes, courtesy of BJ’s Wholesale, while supplies last, birthday games, music, prize drawing for a new backpack and school supplies, party favors and animal encounters.  And let’s not forget Jazoo and his special guests, Jacksonville Jaguar’s, Jaxson de Ville; Jacksonville Suns’ Southpaw; and other popular mascots from the Jacksonville area.  Radio Disney will be joining in on the birthday celebration on Saturday and a jammin’ DJ will play music on Sunday.  For more information and a schedule of activities go to www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

On the event days, guests who bring in one or more new or gently used children’s books can receive $2.00 off regular admission.  Books will be donated to the Jacksonville Public Library.  For more information, visit www.jacksonvillezoo.org.

Jazoo is the Zoo’s friendly, huggable lion mascot.  He has been a big part of the Zoo since 2005, which makes this Jazoo’s 4th birthday.  Children will have the opportunity to play games with and sing “Happy Birthday” to Jazoo during the event.  Kids can also sign up for a library card with the Jacksonville Public Library or get a lunchable sample from Oscar Mayer’s Lunchable Tour.

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.  From the beginning in 1914, with an animal collection that consisted of only one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has become one of the top zoos in the nation, now with more than 1,400 rare and exotic animals and over 1,000 unique plant species.  The Zoo is a non-profit organization and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  It is open year-round, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  The Zoo is open until 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays from March to Labor Day.  For more information, go to jacksonvillezoo.org.

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