SANFORD – The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens will celebrate the Black and African American communities on July 28 with music, food and education at their annual summer cultural event series, Sunset at the Zoo.
The celebration will include soulful reggae music by Shamanic Rootz lead singer Craig Thompson, food trucks, themed crafts, family activities and recognition of the achievements of Black professionals. The Black Health Commission, a 501c3 non-profit which focuses on health inequities in the Black community, will be at the event as a vendor.
“The Zoo is a place for the community, and we want it to feel welcoming to all communities and cultures,” said Richard E. Glover, Jr., the Zoo’s CEO. “We’re very excited to celebrate our Black and African American communities at our favorite summer event and look forward to celebrating with our patrons.”
Sunset at the Zoo takes place on the fourth Friday of every month from May to September. The Zoo will reopen at 5 p.m. and offers up fun until the sun goes down, including music, inflatable games and of course the chance to see some favorite animals after the heat of the day.
Sunset at the Zoo allows friends and families to enjoy some extra-hours fun at the Zoo, while celebrating and learning about a culture, complete with activities, food and educational opportunities. So far this year, the Zoo has celebrated Asian American & Pacific Islander heritage and LGBTQ+ Pride.
Other themes for this year’s Sunset events will include Native American & Alaska Native Heritage on August 25, and Hispanic Heritage on September 22. Each event will include special entertainment, food trucks, Zoo Keeper chats and more.
Admission for the event closes at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 per person when purchased online and $8 per person at the gate. The event is separate from day admission and is not included for Annual Passholders.
Families can also cash in on the $40 Family 4-Pack, which includes four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas, online only.
For more information, visit www.centralfloridazoo.org/sunset/.
