Family Jam at LA Zoo - Evening of Music, Food Trucks, Family Fun Tonight

FAMILY JAM AT THE L.A. ZOO, a new evening event for families featuring live music, dancing, zookeeper visits, food trucks and other family fun, takes place tonight, July 12, 2014, 6 to 9 pm, at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Themed "An Evening in Brazil," the celebration is sponsored by the hit animated feature film RIO 2 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and provides a rare opportunity for after-hours viewing of popular animal exhibits including the new "Rainforest of the Americas" as well as authentic Brazilian flavors and sounds to transport guests into an evening of fun.

The party features samba music and dancing by Brazilian Samba Angels as well as music by Close Encounters, a live karaoke band that invites Zoo guests to perform favorite songs karaoke-style accompanied by the band.

RIO 2, releasing on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital HD on July 15, brings Brazilian fun and activities to the Zoo with crafts for kids, an interactive photo booth, special prizes, giveaways and more. Costume characters help families dance the night away while they have fun on a themed educational scavenger hunt with "clues" to visit select areas throughout the Zoo to discover fun facts about animals, with special RIO 2 prizes given to those who complete the scavenger hunt.

Keeper talks and animal encounters throughout the evening are also included. As guests stroll the grounds to visit exhibits of endangered, rare and exotic animals in the Zoo collection, they're offered a unique opportunity to see some of the Zoo's animals at night, as many animals are more active during later hours.

Popular local food trucks onsite throughout the evening are Ta Bom, featuring Brazilian cuisine; Vchos, specializing in Central American tapas; Dogtown Dogs, renowned for hot dogs and tater tots; The Pudding Truck, featuring homemade stove-top puddings; The Melt, with different kinds of grilled cheese sandwiches and accompaniments; Tornado Potato, featuring a wide variety of spiral-cut potatoes; and Patty Wagon Burgers, offering an assortment of sliders. Brazilian-inspired beverages, the Zoo's famous churros, and frozen Sweet Treats will be available for kids and adults.

Family Jam at the L.A. Zoo is presented by the landmark Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, which 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 133 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. More than 1.6 million people visit each year. The private, non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA) has supported the Zoo for more than five decades, providing funding for exhibits, conservation, capital projects, and outreach programs as well as building endowment funds and operating six essential Zoo departments. GLAZA has 65,000 member households representing more than 240,000 adults and children, the largest membership base of a cultural organization in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is located in Griffith Park, at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways, at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles 90027.

Tickets for Family Jam at the L.A. Zoo are $19 for adults and $14 for children (two and older) (under two enter for free); GLAZA member tickets are $16 for adults and $13 for children (two and older). Children under two years of age are free. To purchase tickets, visit www.lazoo.org/familyjam/. For additional information, call (323) 644-6042. www.lazoo.org

Photo Credit: Los Angeles Zoo

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