LA Zoo's Roaring Nights Goes Country with Live Bands, Line Dancing Lessons and More 7/21

Shake up the summer when the L.A. Zoo's Roaring Nights music series goes country with a boot-scootin' party for ages 18 and older featuring a rare after-hours visit to animal habitats, including an expanded route open from 6 to 8 pm, pop-up zookeeper talks and close-up animal experiences on Friday, July 21, 2017, from 6 to 10 pm.

Guests at the evening are encouraged to dress for the country theme as they enjoy live music, DJ Johnny Hawkes, line dancing lessons, L.A.'s favorite food trucks, full-service bars, a Game Lawn, and more. Country Thunder kicks out hits from the likes of Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, and many more, while Gold Rush Country delivers favorite country tunes with driving rhythm and seamless harmonies. D.J. Johnny Hawkes spins fun, eclectic sets with country hits and more and line dancing instructor Cathy K. gives high-energy, interactive lessons between sets. One additional Roaring Nights follows on Friday, September 15, 6 to 10 pm, with a 1980-90s "Battle of the Decades."

Food trucks include Baby's Badass Burgers, Pico House, Peaches Smokehouse, The Greasy Wiener, The Grilled Cheese Truck, Ragin Cajun, Lobsta Truck, Mandoline Grill, The Pudding Truck and Joe's Pizza Truck. The Game Lawn is stocked with horseshoes, cornhole and a "Texas-size" (read: giant) version of Jenga. Full bars are available for guests 21 and older.

COUNTRY THUNDER, led by front-man/singer/songwriter Trey Hirsh, plays high-energy cover tunes from country's greatest artists, old and new, with Hirsh on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Dave Maciel on lead guitar and vocals, Dan Matsuura on bass guitar and vocals and Gregg Ginsburg on drums and vocals. GOLD RUSH COUNTRY has appeared in concert with Grammy Award-winners Little Big Town and Kacey Musgraves, Kixx Brooks (Brooks & Dunn), Eddie Money and many more. The band regularly headlines at LA County Fair and Lake Arrowhead Summer Concert Series and has performed at Harrah's Reno, Toby Keith's and Las Vegas' Gilley's, Monte Carlo, Harrah's and The Riviera.

Roaring Nights is part of the Zoo's year-long 50th Anniversary "ZooLAbration." Like all Zoo nighttime events, Roaring Nights supports the L.A. Zoo and its global conservation efforts. More information about the Zoo's 50th Anniversary is available at www.ZooLAbrate50.org.

Roaring Nights is just one component of a yearlong "ZooLAbration" that began on November 28, 2016, which is the 50th anniversary of the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens' opening at its current location. Throughout the 50th anniversary year, the Zoo is spotlighting not only its key role as a world-class destination and an important community asset but also its critical successes in conservation, quality of life and premier care for animals. Having recently completed a $172 million master plan which significantly improved the Zoo facility, the Zoo marks its 50th anniversary as it embarks upon developing a new Master Plan, which will serve as a road map for the future.

The landmark Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, drawing nearly 1.8 million visitors each year, is home to a diverse collection of 1,100 animals representing 250 different species, many of which are rare or endangered, as well as 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. Its responsibility toward wildlife conservation not only encompasses safeguarding the animals in its care but also actively participating in the preservation of some of the world's most critically endangered species and their habitats. Its many conservation successes include having led the charge in saving California condors from extinction and restoring populations of these critically endangered animals to their native habitats.

The Zoo's lush grounds on 113 acres feature Rainforest of the Americas, an extraordinary collection of endangered and exotic mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians living in spaces that exemplify their natural habitat in the rainforest biosphere; Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains, home to one of the largest troops of chimpanzees in the United States; Red Ape Rain Forest, where visitors can walk among orangutans; the LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles); Elephants of Asia; Campo Gorilla Reserve; and one of the largest flocks of flamingos in any zoo in the world. Among other highlights are an extraordinary, hands-on Hippo Encounter and face-to-face Giraffe Feedings; the Winnick Family Children's Zoo and Muriel's Ranch animal contact area; the Tom Mankiewicz Conservation Carousel; a variety of daily opportunities to learn more about animals, including close-up visits, special feedings and intriguing talks; and much more. 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 60,000 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.

Ticket prices are $20 (ages 18 and older only), and $17 for Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association members.

The Los Angeles Zoo is located at 5333 Zoo Drive in Los Angeles' Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways. Free parking is available. For additional information, contact call (323) 644-6001; tickets are available at http://www.lazoo.org/roaringnights.

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