Asheboro, NC - The North Carolina Zoo will hold its second April weekend celebration, Saturday, April 20, and Sunday, April 21, when it celebrates Earth Day. Visitors can learn about the zoo's conservation efforts and green practices and can take part in educational family fun and entertainment throughout the park.

Saturday's fun gets underway at 10 a.m. with activities throughout the park until 4 p.m., including: drum-making crafts and circles with "Music Explorium" (10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Africa Plaza); "Bowling for Rhinos" (10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Watani Grasslands); musical performances by "The Healing Force" (12 p.m. & 2 p.m., Sun., Africa Plaza); and educational smart carts and other activities (10 a.m. - 3 p.m., throughout the park).

Also on Saturday, guest environmental exhibitors will be located throughout the park from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and will include: N.C. Big Sweep; N.C. Division of Forest Resources; The Windstar Foundation; Randolph Co. Water Quality Task Force; N.C. Green Power; DART; Asheboro High School Zoo School; PART; Triad Air Awareness; and N.C. DEAO.

Additionally, there will be a tree-seedling giveaway Sunday from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. at the North America exit. On both Saturday and Sunday, visitors are encouraged to bring a can or plastic bottle for recycling to either of the zoo's two entrance plazas and swap it for a reusable cup, courtesy of Sodexo Catering Service.

All the weekend fun takes place during regular zoo hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and is included in the regular zoo admission of $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (62+) and $8 for children (ages 2-12). All weekend activities are subject to change due to inclement weather.

Coca-Cola is the signature sponsor for all zoo special events this year.

The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, John E. Skvarla,III, Secretary; Pat McCrory, Governor.

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