ROYAL OAK, Mich., September 22, 2009 - The weather may still be summer-like, but the calendar says fall is here.  The Detroit Zoo is celebrating the change of seasons with the third annual Fall Festival Saturday and Sunday, October 3 and 4, 2009.

Supported by Carhartt, the two-day festival features live entertainment, children’s activities, hayrides and seasonal food.  All activities take place in the Main Picnic Grove from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine.  Entrance to the Fall Festival is free with regular Zoo admission.

Music fills the air as student and faculty bands from The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music entertain Zoo visitors.  A fun-filled children’s activity area includes arts and crafts, fall-themed games, a giant inflatable slide, straw maze, pumpkin painting and face painting.  Admission to the children’s activity area is $5 per child in addition to regular Zoo admission. 

Visitors can hop aboard a hayride for $2 per adult and $1 per child (ages 2-14) and enjoy the sights at the front of the Zoo.  Fall-inspired food such as polish sausage, bratwurst, apple strudel, caramel apples, beer and soft drinks are available for purchase. 

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  The Detroit Zoo is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through Labor Day (with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. day after Labor Day through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March.  Admission is $11 for adults 15 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 14; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  Admission is free.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 
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