Time for spirited fun at Zoo BOOze & Bites

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2019

TACOMA, Wash. – Looking for a howling good time this Halloween? How about a party with red wolves?

Zoo BOOze & Bites returns Friday Oct. 18 from 6-9 p.m. for a pre-Halloween party like no other. Tastings and bites from local breweries and chefs, a DJ, silent auction, fabulous raffle prize and costumes, all in the amazing setting of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium right by the new red wolf pups.

Born in May, the pups aren’t just adorable – they represent hope for this critically endangered, iconic American species, brought back from the brink of extinction with the help of Point Defiance Zoo. Zoo BOOze & Bites kicks off Wolf Awareness Weekend, a two-day public daytime celebration of wolf species.

Proceeds from the silent auction will go to support cameras for the Zoo’s red wolf habitat, helping to tell the story of these beautiful animals that need our help to survive. Party-goers can also “adopt” a red wolf throughout the evening, a donation program that supports red wolf conservation and includes a cuddly red wolf plush.

“What makes Zoo BOOze & Bites special is that it is a wonderful party with generous community partners which supports the mission of the Zoo,” said Ruthann Howell, executive director of The Zoo Society. “What makes it unique is the setting – right in the middle of the Zoo! Our guests get to experience first-hand what they are supporting. It’s a party with a purpose.”

Tickets include 10 sips from local wine, beer and whiskey partners including 7 Seas Brewery, Heritage Distilling Co, Crater Lakes Spirits, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Vino Aquino, Pelican Brewing and Elysian Brewing Company, as well as unlimited signature bites from local restaurants including Old Spaghetti Factory and Moctezumas. Safe Driver tickets include unlimited soda and bites.

Just 400 raffle tickets will be available for purchase to win a seven-day Holland America cruise for two to Alaska, Canada & New England, Mexico or the Caribbean at just $25 or $50 for three.

Zoo BOOze & Bites will fill Zoo grounds with spirited fun from the central plaza and grassy knoll down to the red wolf picnic pavilion and inside the one-of-a-kind Pacific Seas Aquarium, home to green sea turtles, hammerhead sharks and eagle rays. Costumes are encouraged, and DJ Levi Harshman will spin tunes all night long.

General tickets are $75, Safe Driver $45 and Early Bird $60 (before August 1).

All ticket proceeds go to support animal care, conservation and education at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit https://www.pdza.org/event/zoo-booze-and-bites.

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Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, the Northwest’s only combined zoo and aquarium, practices and promotes responsible stewardship of the world’s resources. A member of the Metro Parks Tacoma family, the zoo creates a legacy of sustainability for future generations through education, conservation, research and recreational opportunities; it also embodies Metro Parks’ mission of creating healthy opportunities to play, learn and grow. The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA). The Zoo Society, a 501(c)(3) organization, is an instrumental partner in the conservation, animal-welfare and education initiatives.

Media Contact

Whitney DalBalcon, 253-404-3637; 253-278-6343 or whitney.dalbalcon@pdza.org