As summer exits, the Montgomery Zoo's new main entrance will make a grand appearance during Zoobilation on Sept. 17.
"It will all be at our new front gate area," Steven C. Pierce, the zoo's program services manager. "As you walk in, it will start in that area and move over into the main events area."
For a little over a year, zoo guests have been using a temporary entrance by the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum as the new $4.2 million main entrance, admissions, and gift shop complex have been under construction at 2301 Coliseum Parkway.
The Montgomery Zoo's regular guests are still welcome on the morning of Sept. 17, beginning at 9:30 a.m., but will have only half a day. Instead of it's usual 3:30 p.m. closing time, the zoo and Mann Wildlife Learning Museum will close at noon, so that preparations for Zoobilation can proceed.
During Zoobilation, guests will get to sample offerings from many of the area's finest eateries and beverage vendors.
"We'll have an assortment of different restaurants, different bars," Pierce said. "The auction is always a fun part of it because it's a digital auction. You just do everything through your phone."
Live music will be performed by Montgomery rock, funk and rhythm band The Dirty Burglars. The band is becoming a downtown regular at places like Red Bluff Bar at the Silos.
"It's a neat time to hang out with your friends and family, and have a night out at the zoo," Pierce said. "It's also a good time for people to mix and mingle with local leaders, because we do have a lot of city people who are here at this event."
Because alcohol is being served, Zoobilation is for guests age 21 and up.
Tickets to Zoobilation are $65 and can be purchased at montgomeryzoo.com, or in-person on the night of the event.
"We're doing e-tickets this year, so you can just download them on your phone, and don't have to worry about having to actually bring a ticket with you," Pierce said.
The more people you plan to bring, the lower the group ticket price is: 10-29 are $60 per ticket, and 30 or more are $55 per ticket.
Zoobilation is a major, annual fundraising event for the Montgomery Zoo, and is hosted by the Montgomery Area Zoological Society.
In the past, in combination with other efforts, Zoobilation efforts have led to the addition of the African elephant habitat, American Alligator exhibit and boardwalk, North American River Otter exhibit, Waters of the World Aquatic Center, and more.
Proceeds benefit the zoo's special projects fund, and will be put toward a new reptile exhibit and facility at the zoo, Pierce said. Displays will be divided into biomes, and will feature reptiles native to rainforests, woodlands, deserts and mountains. It will feature signature animals including the critically endangered Indian Gharial, King Cobra, Komodo Dragon, and Galapagos Tortoise.
Direct donations for the reptile exhibit are also being accepted online.
For more information, call the zoo at 334-625-4905, or email [email protected].
Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at [email protected]. To support his work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: The new Montgomery Zoo entrance will be open for use at Zoobilation