The Santa Barbara Zoo invites the community to Fairytale Weekend (formerly Princess Weekend), on Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm (Santa Barbara Zoo Members can enjoy early admission at 9:00 am). Fairytale Weekend is fun for the whole community, featuring meet-and-greets with everyone’s favorite fairytale characters, photo opportunities, special crafts and activities, animal encounters and more, in addition to learning more about frog conservation efforts. Princesses, pirates, frog lovers and all costumed characters are welcome!
“Princess Weekend was never just limited to princesses,” said Cheyanne Brooks, Event Manager, “but in the spirit of inclusivity, we felt it necessary to let the community know that princes, pirates, and characters of all types are welcome to this celebration!”
Fairytale Weekend Activities
Fairytale Weekend features a “Kiss a Frog” booth, face painting, bounce house, activities, crafts and more, all with a fun fairytale theme. Guests can dance the day away to DJ Hecktik, get makeovers by the Santa Barbara City College Cosmetology Academy, enjoy Story Time with a princess, and real-live fairytale characters like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, among others, will be there to visit and take photos with. The Zoo’s popular live show, featuring DJ the T. Rex and his friends, is also fairytale-themed to celebrate this special day.
Live animal encounters and keeper talks will focus on several of the Zoo’s amphibians. Guests can also learn about and join FrogWatch USA, in which “citizen scientists” are trained to identify and count frogs and toads in local wetlands, creeks, or other habitats. During the breeding season, from February to August, these volunteers listen for the croaks, peeps, trills, and other calls of common species and report their findings, which go into a national database. The commitment is just three minutes twice a week. (www.sbzoo.org/frogwatch-usa/)
About Frog & Amphibian Conservation
Worldwide, estimates are that at least one-third of known amphibian species are threatened with extinction, a rate higher than that of birds or mammals. While the major culprits historically have been habitat loss and destruction, the main challenge today is the rapidly dispersing infectious fungal disease chytridiomycosis, which is causing population and species extinctions at an alarming rate.
AZA accredited zoos and aquariums are committed to ensuring the survival of all amphibian species and are already an active force in amphibian conservation. For more information, visit www.aza.org/amphibian-conservation/.
About The Santa Barbara Zoo
The Santa Barbara Zoo is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM; general admission is $19.95 for adults, $11.95 for children 2-12, and free for children under 2. Parking is $11. The Santa Barbara Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). AZA zoos are dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great visitor experience, and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and is the public’s link to helping animals in their native habitats. Visit www.sbzoo.org.
