IT'S COOL AT THE LA ZOO Offers Fun for Families, 9/13-14

Summer heat may linger, but IT'S COOL AT THE L.A. ZOO on Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14, 2014, 10 am to 4 pm both days, during a weekend of engaging activities at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

Among the entertaining ways to "chill out" during these two September days are Cool Zones with misters and fans at locations throughout the Zoo, ice sculpture artists crafting animal masterpieces out of huge ice blocks, fire trucks and firefighters with demos and fire hose sprays, paper sun visors and paper fans that youngsters can customize with their favorite animal to keep shaded and cool all day, the popular Mobile Mural Lab for kids to paint on giant moveable canvases with Zoo residents as inspiration, and free samples of Chloe's Soft Serve Fruit Pops available all day while supplies last. From 11 am to 1 pm both days, the Radio Disney Street team will cool things down even more with games, sing-alongs and contests.

Animals get to be "cool" too with treats in the form of giant popsicles filled with their favorite foods. Lions are served "meatsicles," orangutans enjoy "fruitsicles," the black bear chomps on "fishsicles," and elephants get "trashsicles," which are giant blocks of frozen fruit and veggies prepared in special 33-gallon "trash" cans used only for this purpose.

It's Cool at the L.A. Zoo is presented by the landmark Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, which draws 1.6 million visitors each year and 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 a botanical collection comprising over 800 different plant species with approximately 7,000 individual plants. 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. Among its most popular habitats are the LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles), Elephants of Asia, Campo Gorilla Reserve and Rainforest of the Americas. 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 65,000 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. The Zoo's location in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways ideally positions it as a convenient destination enjoyed by locals and vacationers of all ages who can visit every day of the year except Christmas Day.

It's Cool at the L.A. Zoo activities are free with paid Zoo admission. Zoo admission is $19 for general admission (ages 13 to 61); $16 for seniors (ages 62+), and $14 for children (ages 2 to 12). No ticket is required for children under 2. Zoo admission for Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association members is free.

The Los Angeles Zoo is located in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways. 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027. Free parking is available every day, and Preferred Parking ($6) is offered most weekends and holidays. For additional information, contact (323) 644-6042 or visit www.lazoo.org.