In celebration of the Fourth of July holiday, Knoxville Zoo will honor service members with free admission during the Salute to Service Weekend on Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5.
Active service personnel eligible for free admission includes active duty military and National Guard, as well as police, fire, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics. Military service veterans will receive free admission as well. Free admission is for active personnel and military veterans only, and valid identification conveying their status as an active military or service member or military veteran will be required for entry.
"Salute to Service Weekend is the zoo's way of showing our military and service members, as well as our veterans, how much we appreciate them. We're glad to have the opportunity to do something that says thanks for all they do for our community," says Jim Vlna, executive director of Knoxville Zoo.
Although service members may have a day off to enjoy the zoo, little visitors can get right to work in Wee Play Zoo, the zoo's newest exhibit and a place where toddler through elementary-aged children can run their own zoo. Bloomin' Butterfly Gardens are back by popular demand this summer, allowing guests to explore a living garden filled with hundreds of butterflies. This will also be the first Fourth of July holiday for George, the baby chimpanzee born at the zoo last July. His precocious antics as he explores Chimp Ridge make him a favorite with zoo visitors.
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 (AZA) and is committed tothe highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. Currently, thezoo is open everyday from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Admission and ticket sales stop one-hour before thezoo closes. Next-day admission is free after 3:00 p.m. For more information, please call 865-637-5331ext. 300 or visit
www.knoxville-zoo.org