VERO BEACH — McKee Botanical Garden’s second annual Jungle Day event will feature a variety of family friendly activities and free admission for children ages 12 and under.
Jungle Day will take place on Jan. 19 from 12-4 p.m. Visitors will get to experience a glimpse of McKee’s early days as the Jungle Gardens with attractions reminiscent of that time period.
Among them will be wildlife demonstrations featuring native snakes and reptiles, a petting zoo, and performances by Showbirdz Parrot Shows at 12:30 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.
There also will be a collection of historic photos from the days of McKee Jungle Gardens on display.
A number of additional activities for children will take place throughout the duration of the event including games, crafts, face painting, and a scavenger hunt. Children also can take a ride on the Safari Train where they will spy silhouettes of wild animals lurking amidst the garden’s lush foliage.
Members of the Indian River Woodcarvers Club will be on site showing off their woodcarving skills, and local artist Bibble will be crafting his unique creations from woven palm fronds. Key of Life will perform live music inspired by the sounds of nature throughout the event.
“McKee has changed a lot since its Jungle Gardens days, however, the Garden’s commitment to remaining a valuable community resource for the education and enjoyment of all has not changed. Jungle Day is an opportunity for children and their families to learn more about nature and the history of McKee while having fun in the process,” stated Executive Director Christine Hobart.
In addition to enjoying all of the Jungle Day attractions, visitors also will be able to view the Seward Johnson Sculpture Exhibition, a collection of life-size bronze sculptures capturing life and art by American artist Seward Johnson. The sculptures are currently on exhibit at McKee through April 27.
For the second year, Jungle Day will be sponsored by Quail Valley Charities. Quail Valley Charities is dedicated to supporting educational programs for children throughout Indian River County.
To date, more than $2.8 million has been raised for local nonprofits in support of this mission. Additional sponsors for the event include YP Advertising Solutions, 93.7 the Breeze, and 97.1 Ocean FM.
Jungle Day is free for McKee members and all children ages 12 and under; general admission rates apply for adults and seniors.
