BankPlus presents Safari Sunset at Jackson Zoo May 25
March 27th, 2019
Jackson MS – The staff of the Jackson Zoo is pleased to announce the addition of Safari Sunsets to their summer event calendar in 2019. Each of these family-friendly evenings will highlight several of the zoo’s popular animals and activities for all ages, as well as several craft beers for the guests over 21 years of age. Currently scheduled are the last Saturday evenings of May, June, July, and August between 4 and 7 p.m., at 2918 West Capitol Street in Jackson.
The first Safari Sunset is scheduled for Saturday, May 25th, and is presented by BankPlus. Jackson Zoo Keepers will be doing special enrichment activities with Buster and Emma, the White Handed Gibbons; Artemis, Story, Fawn, and Montana, the American Cougar sisters; and other popular animals like Nicolai, the Amur Leopard, and KD Knox, the Reticulated Giraffe. Admission is set at $13 for ages 12 years and up; $10 for ages 2 to 12 years, Zoo Members $3, and included in each ticket will be animal encounters with the Jackson Zoo Discovery Animals, inflatables, games, and activities for the children, use of the Splash Pad, a ride on the Livingston Train (weather permitting), and a ride on the Endangered Species Carousel. Pepsi products will be available while supplies last, courtesy of Brown Bottling.
Popular craft beer retailer LD’s Beer Run will be selecting a few craft and domestic brews for adults to sample during the evening, and a beer bracelet will be available for $7 to guests ages 21 years and up. Visitors who wish to dine in can purchase meals from Back Yard Burgers at the Elephant House Café, and other fun treats from Twisted Pretzel, Dippin Dots, and Brick Street Pops at the Cool Cats Concession stand. A portion of the proceeds from those sales will stay at the zoo.
The addition of the safaris was partly due to the postponement of Jackson Zoo Brew, Mississippi’s longest running craft beer festival, originally scheduled for April 5th. “The postponement was unfortunate but unavoidable,” said EJ Rivers, Jackson Zoo Media and Events. “Jackson Zoo Brew now has a reputation as a really unique craft brew experience. Due to many circumstances beyond our control, and knowing the craft brew community as we do, we felt we could not meet previous expectations in such a short planning window. The Jackson Zoo and the Jackson community deserve better.”
The silver lining is the opportunity to bring a new event into the line-up. “The Safari Sunset is a type of event that we’ve wanted to do for some time,” said Jackson Zoo’s Interim Director, David L. Wetzel. “Many people have requested later zoo hours for families, and others have shown interest in attending more than one craft beer festival. These Safaris allow us to do both, and will be a great addition to the summer activities in the coming years.”
Wetzel says he understands the disappointment of many Zoo Brew fans. “We tried very hard to find a way to overcome the obstacles, but in the end, the integrity of the event will be best served as part of our centennial celebration. We are really looking forward to working with the community to make Jackson Zoo Brew 2020 the best one ever.”
