The Zoo’s News: Holiday Fun with the ‘Holiday Hoot’ at the Utica Zoo

Mike Beck, Director of Communications at the Utica Zoo, joins us for another segment of "The Zoo's News." This week we focus on their annual family-fun holiday event, 'Holiday Hoot.'

Save the date: Saturday, December 16th from 1pm to 3pm at the Utica Zoo. "Holiday Hoot" is back with fun activities for the whole family. Mike Beck explains he was searching through the Utica Zoo's archives and found that they've been holding an annual Christmas event since the 1960s. What a tradition, right?! And this year is the perfect time to start a new tradition with your family to get into the holiday spirit.

Beck mentions Santa Claus will also be attending "Holiday Hoot" and your children can get their pictures taken with him. You can pay to have the photos printed out, but you're also free to bring your own camera (or phone, of course) to take pictures, as well.

There will be free hot beverages during the event, so you can get even more into the holiday spirit with a nice cup full of hot chocolate... Or coffee, if that's what you prefer. Free cookies and candy canes will also be available, and there will be crafts and activities for the kids.

And it wouldn't be a true event at the Utica Zoo without the animals. Beck says some of their educational animals will be doing meet-and-greets during "Holiday Hoot."

The "Holiday Hoot" event is included with your admission to the zoo, so all you have to do is pay to get in and you're set to enjoy all the activities, crafts, and goodies. And since we're into the winter months, the Utica Zoo is on their winter pricing (until April 1st), so you can save a few bucks.

If you're already into the holiday spirit, you can bring presents for the animals at the zoo and for the zookeepers. The Utica Zoo has a "Wish List" of all the items that help them keep the zoo up and running, at: UticaZoo.org/Wishlist

We want to thank Mike Beck for joining us on another episode of "The Zoo's News." If you have any questions for the Utica Zoo, upcoming events, their animals, or just questions about animals in general, you can submit them at the link below. They may be featured on an upcoming segment of "The Zoo's News."

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