The zoo is introducing a new generation of Wednesday concerts for members at the Plus level or above. Wednesday concerts are being expanded into Sunset at the Zoo events, a series of four summer evenings providing a festival atmosphere for friends and family, with live music from local artists, regional food, beer and wine, and programming for adults and kids focused on the animals that are particularly active at dusk.
Each night will feature live bird shows on the stage, storytelling, face-painting, crafts and games for kids, as well as self-guided night hikes, animal talks and a bat house building station. Get to know some of those animals that may be sleeping during your daytime visits!
Rundown for the July 11th Sunset at the Zoo concert:
5:00 to 6:30 pm – Boka Marimba in Pacific Shores Plaza
Boka Marimba is a ten-member dance band that plays exhilarating, positive-energy music from Zimbabwe and other areas of southeastern Africa. The music is in the Shona style: Melodic themes and variations layered in polyrhythmic, cyclic patterns. People, on hearing this music for the first time, have often described the feeling as one of coming home. Some have spoken of dancing for the first time in their lives, or for the first time ever out of the privacy of their living rooms. People of all ages respond with enthusiasm and delight.
The band’s instrumentation consists of seven marimbas (three sopranos, two tenors, a baritone, and a bass), gourd shakers called hosho, mbira (“thumb piano”), and drums. The songs are sung in the Shona language.
5:30 pm – Dragon Theatre frog stories by the sun bear habitat
Founded in 1994 by Jason Ropp, Dragon Theater Puppets has a strong following and a reputation for being the life of the party. With show themes catering to environmental, fantasy, animals, Sci-Fi, cultural, holiday and historical genres, Dragon Theater offers something for everyone. Their unique shows keep people talking for years to come.
6 pm – Wild Life Live! on the main stage
This summer’s show, Wild About Oregon, is a free-flight bird show that focuses on Pacific Northwest species. Experience birds such as eagles, red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures soaring directly overhead.
6:30 – 8 pm – Laura Veirs on the main stage
Tumble Bee, the first children’s record from the prolific Laura Veirs (whose last release, July Flame, was dubbed “a perfect Sunday afternoon record” by The Oxford American and “sweet and irresistible” by Rolling Stone) inspires listeners to lean in close and hit replay. She put out her own self-titled album, Laura Veirs, in 1999 and has since made seven highly acclaimed records with producer/husband Tucker Martine. Veirs lives in Portland with her husband and young son.
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Sunset at the Zoo is held every other Wednesday evening in July and August. Everyone is invited to join in the fun of Sunset at the Zoo. However, as a special thank you to Oregon Zoo members, Sunset events are free for zoo members at the Plus level and above. If you are a member at the Plus level or higher, show your membership card at the gate to receive complimentary tickets for yourself and all named members on the membership account. Non-members, or members at the basic level, receive entry with regular gate admission fees.
We are excited to be giving away a family four pack of tickets to this fun concert event! Enter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
