ROYAL OAK, Mich., December 28, 2009 – Experience the magic of the Detroit Zoo in the wintertime on Wild Winter Weekends in January, February and March, 2010.  The annual series of family-friendly events feature children’s music, keeper talks, games and crafts.  All activities are free with regular Zoo admission.

Wild Winter Carnival - January 9 and 10, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wild Winter Carnival kicks off the series of weekend events with carnival games, face painting, ice carving demonstrations by Henry Ford Community College and live entertainment.

Wild Winter African Adventure - February 6 and 7, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Celebrate Black History Month with an African drum lesson and listen to stories told by Kenyan naturalist and Detroit Zoo Education Specialist David Gakure.  Enjoy live entertainment, arts and crafts, games and educational experiences.

Wild Winter Safari Social - March 6 and 7, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Escape the winter “blahs” with hot drinks and cool treats.  Ice cream and hot cocoa will be available for purchase at a discount.  Animal arts and crafts, face painting, animal enrichment activities, talks by the Zoo’s expert keepers and a winter safari scavenger hunt add to the fun. 

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 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through Labor Day and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the day after Labor Day through October.  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 (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day); admission is free.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 
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