CRESTVIEW — Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Zoological Park staffers invite the community to join the animals and them for the first "Easter Egg-stravagan ZOO" April 12.
Families can expect a day of Easter Egg hunts, arts and crafts, planting flowers and the opportunity meet the Easter Bunny.
The activities are included in regular admission fees. Staffers also will offer the opportunity to take photos with the Easter Bunny for $5.
"This is something new and different," park volunteer Deborah Edwards said. "We have never had a benefit event at the zoo since we took it over."
The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge took over the former Sasquatch Zoo's operations in 2012 when former owner and operator Debbie Mattox retired.
Refuge staffers regularly organize Christmas and Halloween- themed events in Fort Walton Beach.
With this event, Edwards also wants to show some of the zoo's renovations since re-opening in June 2012.
In addition to opening the gift shop, the zoo now has a climate-controlled exhibit for a sloth and exhibits for foxes and ring-tailed lemurs.
Attendees also can expect special guest visits from a few of the refuge's animal ambassadors, Edwards said.
The ambassadors, which often include an otter, owl or skunk, regularly visit the zoo from their home at the refuge's rehabilitation facility on Okaloosa Island.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Easter Egg-StravaganZOO
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 12. Rain date is April 13.
WHERE:Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Zoological Park, 5262 Deer Spring Drive, just off U.S. Highway 90, Crestview
COST: $8 admission for adults, $5 for children ages 2 to 10 and free for children under age 2.
ONLINE: www.ecwrzoo.com/easter-egg-stravaganzoo
EmailNews Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitteror call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Zoo to host Easter activities April 12