Halloween Happenings at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo

10/10/2008

BRIDGEPORT, Conn.—October 10, 2008—Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is celebrating the spooky season with activities for goblins of all ages:

1st Annual Scarecrow Competition: Grab some overalls, stuff a shirt, find a hat and you could be the winner of Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo's 1st Annual Scarecrow competition! Gather your family, friends, co-workers or community group to create an original scarecrow design. All entries will be showcased on Zoo grounds from October 25 - November 2. Scarecrows will be judged at "Boo at the Zoo" on Sunday, October 26. Come pick your favorite scarecrow and join the fun Fall activities, including hayrides, music, and a hay maze. Winners will be announced at 3:00 P.M. that day in the Peacock Pavilion in the Zoo's Picnic Grove. Cost to enter: $150, which includes a scarecrow "dress package" featuring a 5½' by 4' PVC frame to hold your scarecrow, a Styrofoam pumpkin head to be carved, signage detailing the corporation, community group or family name, plus four (4) complimentary family passes.

Scarecrow Competition Rules and Criteria: The Zoo will provide the frame, you supply clothing, paint, decorations, makeup, creativity, etc. Scarecrows will be displayed outside so they must be weather tolerant. Keep this in mind while creating! Scarecrows must be dropped off at the Zoo no later than 3:00 P.M. on October 24th. Scarecrows may be picked up from November 3 - 7, however, any unclaimed scarecrows will become the property of the Zoo. Themes of scarecrows should be child friendly - but other than that - anything goes! To pay by credit card, please call Jeannine Luisi at 203-332-4243. To pay by check, please print and fill out the registration form from the Zoo's Web site: http://www.beardsleyzoo.org and mailed with payment to: Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, ATTN: Jeannine Luisi, 1875 Noble Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610.

Harvest Hay Rides: Ongoing every weekend in October and November as well as school holidays from 12:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. Rides begin at the W.O.L.F. Cabin and are $2.00 each.

Haunted Farmyard: Ongoing through November 2. Our Haunted Farmyard is guaranteed to delight and fright all those who pass through!!! Free with admission to the Zoo.

Win free tickets to the Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Sneak Preview!: Come to Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo between Friday, October 17 and Sunday, October 26 to win free tickets to DreamWorks' newest film, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Drawing will take place at "Boo at the Zoo."

Zoo Tots: Tuesday, October 14 at 10:30 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. This month's Zoo Tots program is called "Not So Scary" and will focus on animals associated with Halloween. Cost is $10 for Zoo members plus one child and $15 for non-members plus one child. To make a reservation, please call (203) 394-6563.

Evening Lecture Series: Wednesday, October 15 from 7:00 - 9:00 P.M. at the Hanson Exploration Station - Zoo Director Gregg Dancho will provide an entertaining and informative update about what's new at the Zoo, including animal comings and goings, conservation efforts, and much more. Followed by a question and answer session. Dancho started with the Zoo in 1978 and will share his insights on not only how the Zoo has evolved over the last 30 years but also what the future holds for Connecticut's only Zoo. Admission is free with donations gratefully accepted. Series is sponsored by the Aquarion Water Company. For more information, call (203) 330-6046.

Ghost Hunter Lorraine Warren to Bewitch Audiences with Talk about the Supernatural: Friday, October 17 at 8:00 P.M. in the Carousel Building. For over 45 years, Lorraine Warren has painstakingly investigated the realm of the supernatural throughout America, Europe, and Australia. Lorraine and her late husband's investigative research on over 3,500 cases of psychic phenomena has convinced them beyond a shadow of a doubt of the existence of ghosts, demons, witches, satanists, vampires, and werewolves. Doors open at 7:00 P.M. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased in advance or at the door. For tickets, call Jeannine Luisi at (203) 332-4243.

Wolf Awareness Day: Sunday, October 19 from Noon - 3:00 P.M. Come to the W.O.L.F. Cabin and learn everything you ever wanted to know about these mysterious beasts. There will be craft activities for the little ones, too. Free with admission to the Zoo.

Scarecrows on Parade: October 25 - November 2. Come check out our scarecrow competition and vote for your favorites! Free with admission to the Zoo.

Boo at the Zoo: Sunday, October 26 from Noon - 3:00 P.M. This spooktacular afternoon includes music, harvest hay rides, face painters, our Scarecrow competition, and Haunted Farmyard, which is guaranteed to delight and fright all those who pass through!!! If you're under 12, in costume and are accompanied by a paying adult, you get in to the Zoo for FREE! "Boo at the Zoo" is free with admission to the Zoo.



Tiny Adventurers Program: Wednesday, October 29 at 10:30 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. "Our Halloween Farm" - At the Tiny Adventurers program, children learn about an animal or area of the Zoo by visiting a Zoo keeper and having a special presentation including a Zoo craft and a chance to meet one of our education animals up close and personal. Program lasts 45 minutes to an hour. This program is for children 3 to 5 years old and one caregiver. $10 for Zoo members (one adult and one child) and $15 for non-members (one adult an one child) Please call (203) 394-6563 for reservations.

# # #

About Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo:
Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo features 300 animals representing primarily North and South American species. Visitors won't want to miss our Amur (Siberian) tiger, Andean condor, Ocelot, Red wolf, Andean (spectacled) bear, Maned wolf, and Golden lion tamarin. Other highlights include our South American rainforest with free-flight aviary, the prairie dog exhibit with "pop-up" viewing areas, the New England Farmyard with goats, cows, pigs, sheep and other barnyard critters, plus the hoofstock trail featuring bison, pronghorn, deer and more. Visitors can grab a bite at the Peacock Café, eat in the Picnic Grove, and enjoy a ride on our colorful carousel. For more information, visit http://www.beardsleyzoo.org.