FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (March 13, 2009)

Dallas Roars! Times Four

DALLAS – The fourth year of Dallas Roars! celebrates spring at the Dallas Zoo with four weekends of fun. This exciting community event brings everyone into the park on April 18 and 19, April 25 and 26, May 2 and 3, and May 9 and 10 to see new exhibits, enjoy family entertainment, and visit their favorite animals. Dallas Roars!, presented by Kimberly-Clark Corporation, takes place on Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.

The Dallas Roars! festival kicks off with the grand opening of Ghosts from the Bayou, a swamp habitat in the Pierre A. Fontaine Bird & Reptile Building, which features albino and standard American alligators as well as other creatures from the swamp. Thanks to Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s generous sponsorship, the Dallas Zoo is bringing back Butterflies, a seasonal walk-through exhibit of native Texas species. In addition, visitors can take a trip to the 4-D Adventure Theater to see two new motion films – “Planet Earth: Pole-to-Pole” and “Wild Earth Africa.” Special celebrations include a Party for the Planet, a Cinco de Mayo celebration, and activities for Mother’s Day.

“Dallas Roars is a great time to get outdoors and see the animals when they are especially active,” said Gregg Hudson, executive director of the Dallas Zoo and The Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park. “Come meet big, bad Boudreaux in the new swamp habitat. Due to the popularity of the Butterflies exhibit last spring, we’re bringing it back. We’ll highlight special days like Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day. The Dallas Zoo also is holding a Party for the Planet, which is especially close to our hearts and to our mission of conservation. Visitors will have fun opportunities to learn how to utilize our resources wisely and help save the wild places and the wildlife that lives on our planet.”

April 18 and 19
Grand Opening of Ghosts from the Swamp

  • Bayou Queen and Witch Doctor appearances
  • Education animal presentations in the ZooNorth Breezeway – noon to 4 p.m.
  • Keeper Encounters
  • Art Show and Auction: Students for the Urban Savanna. Students from The Academy of Irving, Irving High School, and Lorenzo DeZavala Middle School will auction their creations inspired by the new African savanna at the Dallas Zoo. Proceeds will benefit the Zoo.– Saturday only
  • Puppet Show – Saturday: noon, 2, 2:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30 p.m.
  • Dallas Powerhouse of Dance – Saturday: 1 to 1:30 p.m.
  • Radio Disney – Sunday: 2 to 4 p.m.
  • Mural craft
  • Bounce houses
  • Carnival games with prizes
  • Community organizations including Dallas Police Dept., Dallas Fire Rescue, DART, Dallas Public Library, Green Mountain Energy, and more
  • Marketplace featuring face painting, airbrush tattoos, photo buttons, and airbrush art (fees apply)

April 25 and 26
Party for the Planet

  • Conservation action booths hosted by Dallas Zoo Conservation Education and Science Dept. and local conservation partners
  • Professor Pflugelhorn's Ecology and Me, a magical ecology show, teaches the three “Rs” - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. This program features magic, music, games, puppets, comedy and audience participation while teaching the audience that going green will help the environment and everything in it.
  • Father Earth and Living Vine appearances
  • Bayou Queen appearance
  • Keeper Encounters
  • Mural craft
  • Bounce houses
  • Carnival games with prizes.
  • Community organizations including Dallas Police Dept., Dallas Fire Rescue, Dallas Public Library, and more
  • Marketplace featuring face painting, airbrush tattoos, photo buttons, and airbrush art (fees apply)

May 2 and 3
Butterflies Reopening, Cinco de Mayo

  • Education animal presentations in the ZooNorth Breezeway – noon to 4 p.m.
  • Senorita Stilt Walker and Bayou Queen appearances
  • Variety of Hispanic performing artists including musicians and dance troupes from local high schools
  • KLNO/Univision Radio – Sunday: noon to 2 p.m.
  • Keeper Encounters
  • Paper flower craft
  • Mural craft
  • Bounce houses
  • Carnival games with prizes
  • Community organizations including Stranger Danger, 1st Class Kids, Dallas Police Dept., Dallas Fire Rescue, DART, Dallas Public Library, and more
  • Marketplace featuring face painting, airbrush tattoos, photo buttons, and airbrush art (fees apply)

May 9 to 10
Mother’s Day Weekend

  • Butterfly releases – Saturday: 1, 2, 3, and 4 p.m.; Sunday: 2, 3, and 4 p.m.
  • Special Mother’s Day brunch – Saturday only, reservations required
  • Butterfly Stilt Walker and Bayou Queen appearances
  • Education animal presentations in the ZooNorth Breezeway – noon to 4 p.m.
  • Special appearance by Radio Disney – Sunday: 2 to 4 p.m.
  • Keeper Encounters
  • Butterfly mural craft
  • Bounce houses
  • Carnival games with prizes
  • Community organizations including Dallas Police Dept., Dallas Fire Rescue, DART, Dallas Public Library, Green Mountain Energy, Dallas Water Utilities: CeaseTheGrease, and more
  • Marketplace featuring face painting, airbrush tattoos, photo buttons, and airbrush art (fees apply)