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 30
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 includes special activities: zoo keeper presentations, a regional art contest for students, $8.25 admission on April 30 and conservation-minded events every weekend.
“This is truly an incredible event for those in our community and visitors from all locations who come to enjoy it,” said LG&E and KU Director of Corporate Responsibility and Community Affairs Angie Evans. “Not only does it offer fun for the whole family, but it puts focus of that fun around our magnificent planet and its wildlife and opens up a dialogue about how we can all play our part in protecting them.”
Earth Day Festival
During the April 30 Earth Day Festival, guests can enjoy $8.25 admission and free parking at the Zoo courtesy of LG&E and KU.
Returning for its fifth year is Trashformation: a Trash-to-Treasure Recyclable Art Contest for students ranging from preschool through grade 12. This contest is open to individual students, groups or classes. New this year, the Zoo is partnering with the Louisville Orchestra’s MakingMUSIC Landfill Orchestra program sponsored by Fifth Third Bank and has added a new category encouraging students to create a playable musical instrument from recycled materials. Winners of the contest divisions will be announced and displayed at the Earth Month Kick-Off on April 1. 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 press conference April 1 at 10:30 a.m.
Visit louisvillezoo.org/earth for full details about the entire month.
April Party for the Planet Activities
Saturdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, 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.
Saturday, April 1, 10:30 a.m.
Earth Month Kick-Off press conference and Trashformation Awards Ceremony
Mayor Fischer will announce winners for the Trashformation art contest and Louisville Orchestra music director Teddy Abrams will lead students who submitted entries in the musical instrument category in a jam session. Appearances by Louie the Lightning Bug from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ZooCycle featuring Eco-Cell
Help wild gorillas and clean your clutter for spring! Bring an old cell phone to recycle and receive a voucher for $2 off your next visit to the Zoo or $2 off a ride if you are a Zoo member.
Saturday, April 8, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
National Zoo Lovers Day featuring Clifford the Big Red Dog and NHC Health Fair
Visit the Louisville Zoo and show your support for Zoos and the great things they do every day of every year. Meet and Greet Clifford the Big Red Dog from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Norton Healthcare will provide screenings on the Zoo plaza from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 9, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
ZooCycle featuring the Louisville Water Company and WaterStep shoe drive
Learn about water quality and the technology behind using the earth as a source for creating safe drinking water. Guests donating a pair of shoes to WaterStep will receive a voucher for $2 off your next visit to the Zoo or $2 off a ride if you are a Zoo member. 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.
Monday, April 10, 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 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Eggstravaganza
Meet and greet the Easter Bunny, enjoy some EGGcellent games and watch as our Zoo animals take part in some EGGstraordinary fun. Be sure to bring your basket and join us for egg hunts for children 11 and under.
Sunday, April 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ZooCycle featuring Eco-Cell
Help wild gorillas and clean your clutter for spring! Bring an old cell phone to recycle and receive a voucher for $2 off your next visit to the Zoo or $2 off a ride if you are a Zoo member.
Monday, April 17, 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 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Backyard Action Hero Day
Learn how to become a Backyard Action Hero (BAH) —a kid or adult who is passionate about 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 presented by Toyota to learn about city ecosystems and what you can do to keep your local ecosystem balanced and healthy for the good of plants, animals and people. The day features stations with docents and biofacts where you can get an up-close look at the plants and wildlife native to our home. Learn what you can do at home to help protect our wildlife and what actions the Zoo is taking to become more sustainable.
Monday, April 24, 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 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Save the Frog Day featuring Froggy
Leap on over to the Zoo to learn more about amphibians and simple things you can do at home to help save frogs. Special guest Froggy from the Froggy book series will hop by for a meet and greet.
Sunday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (enjoy the Zoo until 6 p.m.)
$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
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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 322,000 natural gas and 403,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 546,000 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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