ZooFest marks 10th anniversary with family events
WINDOW ROCK
The Navajo Nation Zoo was filled with many guests as the 10th Annual Navajo Nation ZooFest marked off the 40th anniversary of the zoo itself.
Navajo Times | Paul Natonabah
Makoda Wilson, 4, enjoys sliding at the playground during Zoofest activities at the Navajo Nation Zoo on Saturday, June 10.
Though it was a windy day, that didn’t stop people from coming out to the Navajo zoo Saturday afternoon to enjoy live music, family oriented festivities and the animals themselves.
The entrance was filled with booths from the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife, Navajo Police, Department of Highway Safety, and the Blue Bird Pinups organization.
The pinup models took photos with guests, mostly children anxious to catch a quick shot for their social media sites.
Miss Teen Navajo Aysha R. Catron-Tsosie was also present, taking pictures with families and children.
Entertainment by Rippy and the Sillyettes was the perfect background music to the entire event. With covers like the Semi-sonics “Closing Time,” Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay,” and Ben E. Kings “Stand By Me,” the group did their best to fill in. The main music entertainment, Kayenta poet Writtyn, was unable to attend due to an illness.
The place was filled with children, some doing arts and crafts, some catching magician Gene Gutierrez doing card tricks in the Reptile Enclosure surround by Gila Monsters, leopard lizards, invertebrates and amphibians.
Zoo Manager David Mikesic said this year was aimed to bring new things and be exciting and fun for the 40th anniversary of the Navajo Zoo.
The live performances have a significant role in the zoo events as the new stage allows more performances for presenters and entertainers.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow