KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— Come and celebrate planet Earth with Knoxville Zoo while learning about conservation! Join Knoxville Zoo on Sunday, April 27 from 1-4 p.m. as we celebrate Party for the Planet – a nationwide celebration hosted by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos and aquariums.

Representatives from environmentally conscious organizations will share their knowledge and views with interactive displays and family activities. Some of the participating organizations involved in Party for the Planet include Hellbender Press, River Ridge Environmental Education, Discover Life in America, Knoxville Recycling Coalition, KUB Green Power Switch, Faces Gone Wild Face Painting, Knoxville Zoo Green Team and the Market Square Farmers Market.

This year, in celebration of Party for the Planet, Knoxville Zoo has invited local high schools to participate in a unique recycling project. The high school participants are providing colorfully painted recycling barrels that will be used throughout the zoo year-round. Guests will vote for their favorite barrel and crown a winner of the recycling barrel contest.

Guests will also have the opportunity to experience animal enrichment, view displays by local and national environmental organizations, make recycled art to take home, play games and even share cake (while it lasts) as we sing "Happy Birthday!" to planet Earth.  Join Knoxville Zoo and accredited zoos and aquariums across the country as we, "Party for the Planet."

For more information on the nationwide celebration of "Party for the Planet," please visit www.azapartyfortheplanet.org

Knoxville Zoo is located off exit 392 from Interstate 40 and is open every day except Christmas Day. The zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is committed to the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. Currently, the zoo is open weekdays from 9:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and on weekends from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.  Admission and ticket sales stop one-hour before the zoo closes. Next-day admission is free after 3 p.m. For more information, please call 865.637.5331 ext. 300 or visit www.knoxville-zoo.org.