Saturday, Nov. 11, all visitors to Knoxville Zoo will receive free admission and parking during its annual Free Day event.
The zoo is giving free admission to all of its visitors in hopes that, as the season of giving approaches, Free Day visitors will give back to the community by bringing items to donate for several organizations. The zoo is partnering with several non-profits who are in need of many items at this time of year.
Visitors can bring nonperishable food, new toys, clothing and hygiene items for the Mission of Hope; Purina brand dry kitten, puppy, cat or dog food for the Humane Society of the Tennessee Valley or blankets and sturdy toys for dogs and cats to benefit the Young-Williams Animal Center. Visitors may also bring old cell phones for the zoo's recycling efforts. Donations are requested for admission to the zoo.Knoxville Zoo will be open from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and will stop admitting visitors at 3:30 p.m. There is no charge for parking, and all children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult while visiting the zoo.
The zoo also requests that groups have at least one adult chaperone for every seven children.This year Free Day visitors will be able to view four lion cubs that are now on exhibit. The cubs, born this summer, were hand-raised by zoo staff and are now living in a former tiger exhibit. Also new to the zoo this year, are the zoo's Barn Loft and Night Club exhibits, both have been popular additions in The Clayton Family Kids Cove, and Naked mole-rats in the Pilot Traveling Exhibit Center.The zoo will also conduct a sidewalk sale at the Wild and Wonderful gift shop from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. or until all items are gone. Guests will have "first choice" on some great zoo products that have been marked down.Knoxville Zoo is located off exit 392 from Interstate 40 and is open every day except Christmas Day.
The zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is committed to the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. Currently, the zoo is open weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on weekends from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Beginning Oct. 16, the zoo is open every day from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission and ticket sales stop one hour before the zoo closes. Next-day admission is free after 3 p.m. For more information, please call 865.637.5331 ext. 300.