San Diego, California - Today, marks the first day of Kids Free month presented by Mission Fed, at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. During this annual event, children 11 years old and younger receive free admission to both facilities—throughout the entire month of October—and enjoy special weekend activities for the whole family, including animal experiences, special entertainment and keeper talks.
At the Zoo, kids can marvel at animals enjoying special enriching “Beast Treats” experiences, join in a crafty coloring contest and meet the zany Dr. Zoolittle and the amazing Zoo Characters. Energetic and enthusiastic Zoo Corps teens will present Discovery Stations stocked with artifacts, props, biofacts and cool things to do; and our animal ambassadors are ready to educate and amaze guests.
HalGLOWeen—the Zoo’s glowing Halloween-theme event—will be bigger and better than ever this year. Starting Oct. 11—on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening until Halloween—the Zoo will glow under black light, with fun activities for all ages. HalGLOWeen entertainment will include a Bubble Dance Party with the energetic Funky Monkeys, a cupcake walk, Boolahoops glowing hula hoop fun, Halloween organ music from Dusty Keys and the acrobatic action of the Spooky Revue. There will also be special animal experiences, a walk down the Python Path, and opportunities to meet our very own Boo Crew. Kids may wear costumes for this event, following costume policy guidelines posted in the FAQ Seasonal Events section of the Zoo’s website, at zoo.sandiegozoo.org/help-center#seasonal-events.
Just 30 minutes north of the Zoo, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park will provide more activities and special experiences during Kids Free that will help kids connect with wildlife in exciting and fun ways. Each weekend, children and their families can enjoy amazing entertainment—including magic, mariachis, dancers, stilt walkers, and an interactive puppet theater. Kids will also get the chance to come face-to-face with some fascinating animal ambassadors and enjoy a variety of keeper talks that will give everyone a new way of looking at wildlife. This year, the Safari Park will extend free admission for kids through the first three days in November, to celebrate Día de los Muertos—a fun-filled multi-day event celebrating Mexico’s traditional Day of the Dead.
Mission Fed—a longtime sponsor of Kids Free month—has donated $5,000 to the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy to further the organization’s mission to end extinction and continue vital conservation initiatives both locally and across the globe. The donation also solidifies Mission Fed’s belief in educating and empowering people to protect and improve the natural and human environment we all share.
During Kids Free, the Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day—except during HalGLOWeen festivities, when the Zoo will stay open until 9 p.m. The Safari Park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and until 6 p.m. on weekends. All children younger than 15 must be accompanied by a paid adult during their visit to the Zoo or the Safari Park. For more information about Kids Free presented by Mission Fed, show times and activity schedules, visit sandiegozoo.org/kidsfree and sdzsafaripark.org/kidsfree.
ABOUT MISSION FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Mission Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit organization providing a wide variety of financial services to meet the needs of its customers. With over $3.5 billion in assets, 31 local branches and more than 235,000 customers, Mission Fed is the largest locally based credit union exclusively serving San Diego County. Mission Fed enhances the lives of its customers through financial education and financial services. In addition, Mission Fed contributes to hundreds of educational and nonprofit organizations. At Mission Fed, your success is our bottom line. All San Diegans are welcome. Insured by NCUA; an Equal Housing Lender. To learn more, visit MissionFed.com.
ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO
The San Diego Zoo is globally recognized and a San Diego icon, hosting more than 4 million guests each year. At the San Diego Zoo, visitors can watch penguins and sharks swim, observe the behavior of century-old Galápagos tortoises, enjoy the beauty of exotic orchids, marvel at koalas, explore walk-through aviaries filled with the songs and colors of rare birds, and appreciate the power of leopards and jaguars. The San Diego Zoo is also accredited by the American Association of Museums as a Botanical Garden. As visitors discover the rare and endangered species at the San Diego Zoo, they are directly contributing, through admission and on-grounds sales, to the efforts of San Diego Zoo Global, an international nonprofit conservation organization that works to fight extinction through recovery efforts for plants and animals worldwide. To learn more, visit sandiegozoo.org.
ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK
At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, more than 1 million guests each year see animals in herds of mixed species, in expansive habitats. Safari tours offer savanna views of African and Asian animals, trails take visitors on treks to experience Australian and North American habitats—plus, there are opportunities for up-close encounters and unique behind-the-scenes perspectives. Known for its leadership in rhino conservation, the Safari Park is home to the Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center, which is devoted to groundbreaking work to bring back the northern white rhino. As visitors discover the rare and endangered species at the Safari Park, they are directly contributing, through admission and on-grounds sales, to the efforts of San Diego Zoo Global, an international nonprofit conservation organization that works to fight extinction through recovery efforts for plants and animals worldwide. To learn more, visit sdzsafaripark.org.
