Free zoo admission included with wine festival tickets
– The 20th annual Atascadero Lakeside Wine Festival will take place this Saturday, June 27 from 4-8 p.m. at the Atascadero Lake Park, located ay 9100 Morro Road in Atascadero. Along with award-winning wines, culinary offerings, local artists and live music, tickets include free admission to the Charles Paddock Zoo.
The zoo will open for V.I.P admission at 4 p.m. through 7:45 p.m. Explore the zoo freely, or take part in one of the tours beginning at 4:30 p.m. There will be four tours running every 45 minutes starting with a ‘Meet & Greet’ of the animals, followed by a visit with the red pandas, a visit with the Madagascar animals and a tiger enrichment program. There will be signs throughout the festival providing guests with tour times and information. A popular attraction this year is the flamingo exhibit where guests can view the latest addition to the zoo family: a baby flamingo.
Whether visiting the zoo or enjoying the Wine Festival, there will have an opportunity support the various zoo animals. The children at the Atascadero Children’s Center have created donation boxes themed to the zoo’s animals that will be showcased throughout the festival and at the entrance to the zoo. All donations will be used to directly enhance the quality of life of our zoo animals; to develop and maintain educational programs for the local youth and community, and to assist in the on-going maintenance and improvements of zoo grounds.
For more information about the festival, visit AtascaderoWineFestival.com or call (805) 466-2044. Tickets are $50 in advance, $55 at the gate.
Shuttle transportation will be available at three local hotels and the Sunken Gardens downtown, beginning at 3:30 p.m., with the last shuttle returning at 8:25 p.m.
