ASHEBORO, N.C.-The North Carolina Zoo will hold the second of four October special events-part of ZooFEST 2009-- Saturday, Oct. 10, featuring African art, dance, music and mystery in a celebration of African culture and heritage.

The Healing Force will perform music and storytelling in the Africa entrance plaza (Akiba Market) at 10 a.m. and noon.

There will be African dance at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and storytelling by Fred Motley at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.-all at the Africa entrance plaza.

Family entertainment will continue at the zoo in upcoming Saturdays throughout the month. On Saturday, Oct. 17, Howl-O-Ween will kick off a celebration of Wolf Awareness with educational activities throughout the park, wolf-howling contests and opportunities for visitors to meet keepers.

On both Saturday, Oct.24, & Sunday, Oct. 25, the zoo will come alive with its annual Boo at the Zoo, featuring two magical days of family entertainment and Halloween fun with games, treats, costume parades and contests each day.
Additionally, the zoo's African violet show will continue throughout October at the Africa Pavilion.

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 $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (62+) and $6 for children (ages 2-12).

ZooFEST is made possible, in part, through sponsorship by Pepsi and Lowes Foods.

The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment & Natural Resources, Dee Freeman, Secretary; Beverly Eaves Perdue, Governor.

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