Families received a sneak peek of seasonal entertainment at the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park.
By Andreína Longoria.
San Diego, Ca.- Laughing children and dancing adults joined in the fun at Ronald McDonald House Charities in San Diego, as families participated in the celebration to kick off the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s “Kids Free” program, which has held for the 38th consecutive years.
Entertainers at San Diego Zoo’s HalGLOWeen event and San Diego Safari Park’s Fall Festival event thrilled and enchanted more than 100 children and their families with dazzling performances and unique activities. Audience members were also treated to special appearances by characters Dr. Zoolittle and Safari Parker, and participated in a special storytime with author Georgeanne Irvine, who read “Teaching Tornero,” from the “Hope & Inspiration” series. This is the sixth book from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance imprint.
“One of our organization’s missions is to connect youth with nature and inspire a passion for wildlife everywhere,” said Shawn Dixon, chief operating officer of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego has been a long-time partner of the Zoo and Safari Park, and there is no better place to kick off 38 years of Kids Free than with them.”
For more than eight years, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and Ronald McDonald House Charities have collaborated to bring San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers television programming to young people. The 24-hour closed-circuit television channel brings children and their families at Ronald McDonald House Charities in San Diego (and more than 360 other Ronald McDonald Houses and children’s hospitals around the world) interesting and powerful stories about life wildlife and edutainment.
”At Ronald McDonald House of San Diego, our mission is to provide a sense of normalcy to families, even when they face unimaginable health challenges,” said Chuck Day, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego. “Extraordinary partners like San Diego “Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance helps us bring joy and enrichment to families who are grateful for these moments of carefree fun.”
The extraordinary preview event highlighted the annual “Kids Free” month, which offers children ages 11 and under free admission to the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park throughout the month of October. At both parks, children can enjoy a wide range of activities and entertainment, as well as immersive wildlife experiences.
At the San Diego Zoo, HalGLOWeen has become a “must see” annual event, offering visitors a multitude of Halloween-themed activities, including live music and performances, culinary delights and interactive fun. At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, visitors can enjoy the Fall Festival with music and special fall-themed holiday foods.
HalGLOWeen activities and fun are scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October, only at the Zoo, San Diego Zoo. Fall Festival events are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays, starting October 7, only at the Safari Park.
