GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The John Ball Zoo will kick off its Summer Nights Series on Thursday, featuring a a variety of entertainment such as live music, a stilt walker and animal activities.
The zip line and ropes course will be open and there will be camel rides.
Tickets cost $21.95 for adults. Zoo members get a 20-percent discount. The price for children and seniors to attend is $16.95.
The event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Summer Nights Series will also be held on July 31 and August 28.
The zoo provided more details in a news release:
In addition to June 19, Summer Nights will be held July 31 and Aug. 28, all from 6-9 p.m. and feature a variety of entertainment including West Michigan-based band Project 90, experiences open late including the zip line, ropes course and camel rides. Tickets for children and seniors are $16.95 and $21.95 for adults, with Zoo members enjoying a 20% discount.
“John Ball Zoo’s Summer Nights series celebrates our fantastic Michigan summers as well as the more than 2,000 amazing animals we care for,” said Mariah Malone, events coordinator at John Ball Zoo. “We’re excited to open our doors after hours during these warmer months for families and visitors so they can enjoy delicious dinner options, great entertainment and fun activities and see what our many animal residents do when night falls. Summer Nights is another way we can engage our community and connect them with the conservation and educational work we do in a fun and family-friendly way.”
The Summer Nights series contributes to the Zoo’s conservation mission by providing engaging and educational experiences to visitors, generating funds to support conservation efforts and shining a spotlight on the importance of wildlife conservation.
Visitors to Summer Nights will enjoy live entertainment from the following:
- Project 90, a high energy West Michigan ‘90s rock band, will perform on June 19 and bring back memories of “pogs and boy bands, furbies and ‘Friends’,” the long-running TV sitcom.
- On July 31, Detroit Music Award winner Roots Vibration will showcase its repertoire of reggae, Afrobeats and other musical stylings of the Caribbean.
- Grand Rapids-based jam-rock supergroup Spuddies closes out the Summer Nights series on Aug. 28 with its blend of improvisation and experimentation.
- Embodied Arts will enthrall visitors on all three Summer Nights events with a variety of jaw-dropping performances
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About John Ball Zoo
John Ball Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 1891 and located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Guided by the five core values of Conservation, Education, Community, Celebration and Compassion, John Ball Zoo accomplishes the mission to inspire our community to be actively engaged in the conservation of wildlife and wild places. As a conservation organization, John Ball Zoo works to protect wildlife and wild places, starting right here in our Great Lakes region. John Ball Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, demonstrating that we hold ourselves to the highest standards in animal care and welfare.