Chattanooga Zoo will host Comcast's 5th annual First Day Festival, a free event, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 28. In addition to its wild setting, the event will provide age-appropriate activities, including information and giveaways from a variety of social service agencies. Corporate sponsors will be on hand to provide health screenings, child safety tips and educational information for kids in grades K-5.
Approximately 2,500 kids will receive free items to take back to school with them. Their parents will receive information about ways to keep kids healthy and ready to learn.
"What makes this event so special year after year is that it truly engages the whole community including representatives of the education system, city and county employees, businesses, parents, teachers and, most importantly, children," said Valerie Gillespie, Comcast's vice president and general manager.
"Thanks to so many generous and civic-minded businesses throughout Hamilton County, Comcast has made First Day a signature community celebration for students."
"I can't think of a more logical and lovely venue to host children and their parents," said Chattanooga Zoo Director Darde Long. "The zoo community - staff and animals - are especially excited about all the new and returning visitors to our zoo."
The Chattanooga Zoo literally takes visitors around the world when they explore the various exhibits like The Gombe Forest that features chimpanzees, the Cougar Express that features mountain lions, the Himalayan Passage that features red pandas, the Bali-Mynah, as well as the zoo's newest inhabitants, the snow leopards and langurs.
"Those are just a few of the many exhibits and animals Comcast First Day folks will see during their journey through our wonderful zoo," Long added.