CONTACT: Kyle Shepherd
Direct: 502-238-5331  |  Media Only: 502-744-5639
kyle.shepherd@louisvilleky.gov

LG&E and KU sponsor events throughout April;
$8.25 admission to the Zoo’s Earth Day celebration on April 29

The Louisville Zoo is throwing its annual bash for the Earth — Party for the Planet: A Month-Long Celebration of the Earth, powered by Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company. The month of April will feature special activities including zoo keeper presentations, a regional art contest for students, $8.25 admission on April 29 and conservation-minded events every weekend.

“While celebrating the Earth is the focus of the event, one of the most wonderful things about it is the awareness it instills in our community and its children,” said LG&E and KU Director of Corporate Responsibility and Community Affairs Angie Evans. “Teaching them from a young age to respect our planet and habits that help to preserve it is a good reminder for us all.”

Visit louisvillezoo.org/earth for full details about the entire month.

April Party for the Planet Activities

Multi-Day Events

Saturdays, April 7, 14, 21 and 28, 7:30- 11:30 a.m.
ZooPoopyDoo Compost and Mulch Sale

Get your garden ready for spring with our unique, high-quality ZooPoopyDoo compost and hardwood bark mulch. Compost is $40 per scoop. Mulch is $19.50 per scoop. Each scoop is 17.8 cubic feet. These products are now available for pre-purchase online at louisvillezoo.org/zoopoopydoo.

Monday, April 9, 16, 23, & 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fun Day Mondays

Guests can enjoy $5.25 general admission courtesy of LG&E and KU. There will be special zoo keeper talks and LG&E and KU’s Mini City display plus appearances by Louie the Lightning Bug from Noon to 2 p.m.

Date Specific Events

 Saturday, March 24, 11 a.m.
Earth Month Kick-Off Press Conference and Trashformation Awards Ceremony

Mayor Fischer will announce winners for the Trashformation art contest. Back by popular demand, the Zoo is partnering with the Louisville Orchestra’s MakingMUSIC Landfill Orchestra program sponsored by Fifth Third Bank encouraging students to create a playable musical instrument from recycled materials. Students submitting a musical instrument will be invited to participate in a jam session with their instruments led by Louisville Orchestra music director Teddy Abrams at the awards presentation. Appearances by Louie the Lightning Bug from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Additional support by QRS Recycling, who is generously providing gift certificates for art supplies to the winners.

 Sunday, April 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ZooCycle with Eco-Cell

Help wild gorillas and clean your clutter for spring by donating an old cell phone to recycle. The Zoo works with Eco-Cell to recycle cell phones, smart phones and accessories, iPods, iPads, tablets and mp3 players to help the environment and support conservation. Guests can recycle their items in the special containers on the Zoo’s main plaza. Donating unused electronics allows precious materials like coltan to get recycled and prevents mining in critical gorilla habitats

Saturday, April 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Arctic Awareness Day with Snowy Princess Sisters Meet and Greet

Visit Glacier Run to learn about polar bears — plus meet and greet a pair of snowy princess sisters to celebrate Arctic Awareness Day.

Sunday, April 8, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
National Zoo Lovers Day with Animal Educators

It’s National Zoo Lovers Day! Visit the Louisville Zoo and show support for zoos and the important work they do all year long. Animal educators will be on grounds with animal artifacts and other fun animal activities to share.

Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Primate Awareness Day with Curious George Meet and Greet

Visit Gorilla Forest and the Islands to learn more about our western lowland gorillas, orangutans, and siamangs. Find out how you can help their relatives in the remnant and vanishing wild. Meet storybook character Curious George between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunday, April 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ZooCycle Sunday with QRS Recycling and Animal Educators

Visit with QRS Recycling to learn about recycling in our city and at the Louisville Zoo. Hear about the amazing technology turning trash into recycled treasures. Animal educators will be on grounds with animal artifacts and other fun animal activities to share. QRS Recycling is proud to partner with the Louisville Zoo and Louisville Metro Waste Management District for the wet-dry recycling initiative program at the Zoo. This innovative program maximizes the recovery of recyclable materials by composting all food waste while dry materials go to QRS Recycling to be sorted and recycled.

Saturday, April 21, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Backyard Action Hero Day and Early Childhood Education Day

Learn how to become a conservation hero. A Backyard Action Hero (BAH) is a kid or adult who is really into wildlife and habitats and is ready to take action to protect them. Pick up the Louisville Zoo’s most recent copy of the Backyard Action Hero Guidebook — Saving Species: Nature In Need. Learn about the animals who need our help, what makes animals become endangered, and what you can do to help animals in need. Small actions can make a big difference in the effort to help wildlife!

Sunday, April 22, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ZooCycle Sunday with WaterStep Shoe Recycling and TreesLouisville Giveaway

Join Zoo partners WaterStep and recycle a pair of gently used shoes. WaterStep collects on average 30,000 pounds of shoes each month, so that’s 30,000 pounds of waste that is kept from going into landfills. TreesLouisville will also be here giving away approximately 100 trees on a first-come, first-served basis to help promote a rebuilding of Louisville’s tree canopy. LG&E and KU will provide a “Right Tree, Right Place” brochure with each seedling for the first 100.

Saturday, April 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Save the Frog Day with Frog Princess Meet and Greet

Hop over to the HerpAquarium to learn about amphibians and what we can do to help them. A special Frog Princess guest will leap over for a meet and greet.

Sunday, April 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (enjoy the Zoo until 6 p.m.)
Earth Day Celebration/ LG&E Discount Day
$8.25 admission all day, free parking
Eco-Partner displays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Celebrate Earth Day with special keeper talks, more than 20 community eco-partner displays (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) and $8.25 Zoo admission and free parking all day courtesy of Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company. Visit LG&E and KU’s Mini City display and see Louie the Lightning Bug mascot. Come join the fun and learn what you can do to help save our planet! Avoid the line and purchase discount tickets online at louisvillezoo.org

Earth Month Go Green ZooCycle

Special thanks to River Metals Recycling and Greenway Shredding & Recycling for partnering with the Louisville Zoo during our “Earth Month Go Green ZooCycle” initiative. Visit these businesses all during the month of April and receive a discount on admission for your next visit to the Zoo!

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The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

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Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies, are regulated utilities that serve nearly 1.3 million customers and have consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. LG&E serves 324,000 natural gas and 407,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 549,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia. More information is available at www.lge-ku.com and www.pplweb.com.

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