Kids Get Free Admission to the Zoo and Safari Park in October, Presented by Mission Fed Just one week before the San Diego Zoo begins its annual Kids Free month, Mayor Kevin Faulconer and members of the San Diego Tourism Authority were at the Zoo today (Sept. 25) to promote Kids Free throughout the city of San Diego. Crowds listened as Mayor Faulconer—along with Mick Musella, chief operating officer of San Diego Zoo Global; Joe Terzi, president and CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority; and Scott Hermes, chairman of the San Diego Tourism Authority—spoke about the amazing opportunity Kids Free provides for families everywhere, with free kids’ admission to popular attractions throughout October. In typical Zoo fashion, visitors were also treated to a unique animal experience: the musical stylings of Montana, a New Guinea singing dog, who appeared during a presentation by animal care staff. Next weekend, the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park will kick off Kids Free festivities. The month-long event, presented by Mission Federal Credit Union, allows children 11 years old and younger to get free admission to both the Zoo and the Safari Park. In addition, every weekend will feature special interactive activities and experiences to help kids connect with wildlife in fun and exciting ways. On Saturdays and Sundays at the Zoo, kids and their families will be able to watch as more than two dozen different animals receive special enrichment items, giving kids an opportunity to marvel at their intelligence, strength and beauty—while discovering one of the ways Zoo staff help the animals thrive. During weekends at the Safari Park, a lucky child will be chosen to help out during each Frequent Flyers bird show and Cheetah Run demonstration. Kids will also get the opportunity to have up-close encounters with animals, and let their creativity go “wild” while experimenting with nature craft materials. The San Diego Zoo has celebrated Kids Free in October for 30 years, and this is the eighth year the program has been offered at the Safari Park. The Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the Safari Park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day in October. All children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a paid adult during their visit to the Zoo and the Safari Park. For more information on Kids Free presented by Mission Fed, show times and activity schedules, visit sandiegozoo.org/kidsfree and sdzsafaripark.org/kidsfree. Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the goal of San Diego Zoo Global. As a leader in conservation, the work of San Diego Zoo Global includes on-site wildlife conservation efforts (representing both plants and animals) at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, as well as international field programs on six continents. The work of these entities is inspiring children through the San Diego Zoo Kids network, reaching out through the Internet and in children’s hospitals nationwide. The work of San Diego Zoo Global is made possible by the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy and is supported in part by the Foundation of San Diego Zoo Global. Photo taken on September 25, 2015 by Tammy Spratt, San Diego Zoo CONTACT: SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL PUBLIC RELATIONS, 619-685-3291