Special Events

Zoo Brew fundraiser lets adults roam minus kids

The annual Alzheimer’s Arkansas Walk includes a free early morning stroll through the Little Rock Zoo.
The annual Alzheimer’s Arkansas Walk includes a free early morning stroll through the Little Rock Zoo.

What do the animals at the Little Rock Zoo do after hours -- or before hours?

Patrons will have a chance to find out with two fundraising events this weekend. One is family friendly and the other is definitely not.

Zoo Brew

6-9 p.m. today

Tickets: $25

(501) 661-7208 or littlerockzoo.com

Alzheimer’s Arkansas Walk

7 a.m. Saturday

Registration free

(501) 224-0024 or alzark.org

Animal lovers who find it hard to really enjoy communing with the animals when there's an army of rug rats running around will be able to roam through the zoo without the under-21 crowd at the annual Zoo Brew, 6-9 p.m. today.

"Our tag line is 'Lions and Tigers and Beers,'" says event chairman Jennifer Cox.

Upon entering, visitors will get a souvenir cup, which they take with them as they wind their way through the zoo, tasting craft beers from all over the world.

As Cox says, "We call it a suds-sipping safari."

There will also be a number of food trucks, including the Pie Hole and Southern Gourmasian, selling munchies. Kevin Kerby and Jeff Coleman and the Feeders will provide musical entertainment.

It's similar to another zoo fundraiser, Wild Wines of the World, but Cox says this beer-centric version tends to draw a younger, more casual crowd.

The money raised goes directly back to the zoo and, according to Cox, it's one of its biggest and less costly fundraisers.

Of course, since it's a beer-centric party, young ones aren't invited.

However, the whole family can get in on some off-hours zoo fun at 7 a.m. Saturday for the 22nd annual Alzheimer's Arkansas Walk. The Little Rock walk is the fourth of five the organization is holding across the state this year; the final one will be Oct. 4 in downtown Hot Springs.

It may be billed as a walk, but the focus is not on the exercise.

"Our walk is more symbolic," explains Alzheimer's Arkansas Development Director Barbara Jensen. "It's more of a fellowship. You walk as much as you want or as little as you want."

They try to make it a full-family affair and this year they're making even more of an effort to reach out to children.

"We're trying to get as many kids in as we can," Jensen says. "We feel that the kids are the next generation that will be taking care of us when we have Alzheimer's, so they need to know what it's all about. We're trying to educate them."

But they're also trying to give them a good time. The expanded children's area will have face painting and several mascots, including the Purple Cow, the Chik-fil-A cow, the State Farm bear and the Alzheimer's Arkansas caregiver mascot, Ellie the elephant. If the carousel (which has a broken part) can be fixed in time, it will be open for free rides. If it's not up and running, children can take rides on the train instead.

This year's activities will include a zoo-wide scavenger hunt with rewards and a chance to win prizes for those who finish.

Assisted living facilities are baking brownies and muffins for the occasion and Starbucks and Chik-fil-A will provide coffee for the grown-ups.

Admission to this event is all free so, Jensen notes, it's a great opportunity to walk through the zoo at no charge. Registration is required, though, and a $25 donation includes a T-shirt.

There is some incentive to register in advance: two free door-prize tickets. Those who register the day of only get one.

Whether one registers in advance or at the gate, though, Alzheimer's Arkansas just wants people to come and enjoy a morning of games and fellowship, Jensen says. "They don't even have to know what Alzheimer's is. If they just want to come out and see the zoo and have a good time, please come!"

Weekend on 09/25/2014

Upcoming Events