LA Zoo's Family Jam Evening to Feature Disney's PETE'S DRAGON Photo Op & More

FAMILY JAM AT THE L.A. ZOO, an after-hours opportunity for families to let their sense of adventure run wild, is set for Saturday, July 9, 2016, 6 to 9 pm, at the Zoo, with the theme "Dinos, Dragons & Dancing." Spotlighting Disney's upcoming theatrical release Pete's Dragon, the event includes a one-of-a-kind opportunity to follow clues in search of gifts, a family photo-op, and the chance to see the Zoo's very own resident Komodo and bearded dragons. Live music, karaoke, a DJ Dance Party, crafts and games are part of the fun, along with a Paint Party providing the opportunity to commemorate the Family Jam experience with a canvas to take home. There are also up-close encounters with some of the Zoo's smaller residents, keeper talks and viewing of some popular animal exhibits. Headlining the entertainment is Close Encounters, a live karaoke band, and dinner or snacks are available for purchase from popular food trucks. Visitors start the evening with "oohs and ahhs" as they come face-to-face with the life-size, lifelike prehistoric creatures of Dinosaurs: Unextinct at the L.A. Zoo. They'll leave the event, which is sponsored by 99 Cents Only Stores, Disney's Pete's Dragon, and Solar Optimum, with souvenirs (available while supplies last), smiles and memories to last a lifetime.

Among the food trucks at Family Jam are Kona Ice Truck, Lobsta Truck, Rice Balls of Fire, The Lobos Truck, the Grilled Cheese Truck, Paradise Ice Cream and Austyn's.

The landmark Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, drawing 1.75 million visitors each year, is home to a diverse collection of 1,100 animals representing 250 different species, many of which are rare or endangered. Its lush grounds on 113 acres feature the LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles); Elephants of Asia; Campo Gorilla Reserve; Rainforest of the Americas, an extraordinary collection of endangered and exotic mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians living in spaces that exemplify their natural habitat in the rainforest biosphere; Tom Mankiewicz Conservation Carousel; Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains, home to one of the largest troops of chimpanzees in the United States; Red Ape Rain Forest, where visitors can walk among orangutans; the Winnick Family Children's Zoo; one of the largest flocks of flamingos in any zoo in the world; a botanical collection comprising over 800 different plant species with approximately 7,000 individual plants; and much more. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), whose members meet rigorous professional standards for animal welfare, the Zoo has achieved renown as an international leader in the preservation of endangered species and a conservation center for the care and study of wildlife. The private, non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), which has supported the Zoo in partnership with the City of Los Angeles for more than five decades and provides funding for and operates seven essential Zoo departments, has 60,000 member households representing more than 240,000 adults and children. As evidence of the Zoo's popularity, GLAZA attracts one of the largest membership bases of any cultural organization in Los Angeles.

A reimagining of Disney's cherished family film, Pete's Dragon is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon. Pete's Dragon stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Oakes Fegley, Wes Bentley, Karl Urban, Oona Laurence, Isiah Whitlock, Jr. and Oscar winner Robert Redford. The film, which is directed by David Lowery, is written by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a screenplay by Malcolm Marmorstein and produced by Jim Whitaker with Barrie M. Osborne serving as executive producer. Disney's Pete's Dragon opens in U.S. theaters on August 12, 2016.

Programing subject to change.

The Los Angeles Zoo is located at 5333 Zoo Drive in Los Angeles' Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways.

For Family Jam tickets, which are $25 per adult and $20 per child, or $22 and $17 for GLAZA members, visit www.lazoo.org/familyjam. For additional information, call (323) 644-6001. Ticket prices include admittance into the Dinosaurs: Unextinct At The L.A. Zoo exhibit. Food and beverages are not included in the ticket price.

Photo Credit: Jamie Pham

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