WHAT: Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo Centennial Birthday Party.

Woodland Park Zoo, a 92-acre zoological garden, celebrates its 100^th anniversary, making it the oldest zoo on the West Coast and among the oldest in the nation. To celebrate, the zoo will host an all-day birthday party featuring activities for all ages and interests, including live music, a ceremonial cake cutting and time capsule dedication, Pony Ring tours with hoof-trimming demonstration, face painting, historical reenactments, commemorative prizes and lots more.

WHO: The zoo invites the public to join in the festivities, which will be hosted by Woodland Park Zoo and community officials, including Seattle’s Mayor Paul Schell.

WHEN: Saturday, September 18, 1999, 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

WHERE:   Woodland Park Zoo
                5500 Phinney Avenue North
                Seattle, Washington 98103-5897

WHY: With 100 years of history in Seattle and more than one million visitors annually, Woodland Park Zoo has a lot to commemorate. What originated as a public park with a small menagerie of animals has become a modern center for wildlife exhibition, education, conservation and scientific research. In the mid-1970s, the zoo set an international standard by pioneering the concept of immersing animals in naturalistic exhibits, elevating the role of zoo animals from mere spectacles to ambassadors of their wild counterparts.

Woodland Park Zoo celebrates its Centennial summer with events and programs throughout the season, including the second season of the Butterflies & Blooms exhibit, an outdoor ZooTunes summer concert series, including a special concert with Dan Fogelberg, elephant baths and demonstrations, zookeeper talks, animal encounters and much more.

COST: All activities are free with regular zoo admission:

Adult (18-64) $8.50; Senior (65+) $7.75; Youth (6-17) and Disabled $6.00; Preschool

(3-5) $3.75; Toddler (0-2) Free. King County residents: Adult (18-64) $7.50; Senior (65+) $6.75; Youth (6-17) and Disabled $5.25; Preschool (3-5) $3.25; Toddler (0-2) Free. Parking $3.50.

Zoo opens at 9:30 a.m. daily, 365 days of the year. Closes at 6:00 p.m. from March 15 through October 14. Closes at 4:00 p.m. from October 15 through March 14.

INFO: For more information, call (206) 684-4800 or check the zoo's Web site at www.zoo.org.