CALM ready to get party started for 41st Birthday Bash
Put on the party hat and get ready to celebrate with the California Living Museum for its 41st Birthday Bash on Saturday.
Along with discounted admission for children ages 3 to 12 ($4 with paying adult), CALM will offer a variety of activities and entertainment all day long.
Nature-related and civic organizations will be on hand to provide party guests with information and giveaways until 3 p.m.
Smokey Bear will be the featured guest for the day, and attendees can enjoy carnival games and activities.
The children's zoo will also be open for guests to meet Dorper lamb Echo, Babydoll sheep Charlie and Delta and other animals.
The Central California Children's Railroad will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wristbands to ride are $2 per person with unlimited rides.
Music will be provided by Mallory Event Services. Also throughout the day, guests can enjoy performances from the Whitley School band and line dancing with the Bakersfield Boot Boogie Babes.
Several of CALM's animals will receive birthday "cakes" and "presents" — including a trout cake for the bears — made especially with them at different times during the event.
Guests can purchase their own treats or lunch at Hunsaker Bros food service. They are also welcome to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on site.
There will also be a raffle for a basket offering a family membership to the zoo as well as other CALM goodies (total value $280). Tickets will be sold one for $1, six for $5 or 25 for $20 in the gift store. The drawing will be held at 3 p.m.
Visitors to the Education Center can view CALM's expansion plan. Set to roll out over the next 15 to 20 years, the ambitious proposal includes a 40-acre expansion westward, adjustments to the 14-acre legacy campus, and a wolf ridge, native California garden, meadow habitat and more.
Admission is $10, $7 for seniors (60 and older), $4 for children ages 3 to 12 (when accompanied by an adult), free for CALM members and U.S. military and veterans (both with military ID).
Funds raised go to benefit CALM's ongoing projects including reopening the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
The zoo shared on social media that the center's electrical system needs some upgrades in order to power incubators for babies and heating pads for orphaned animals. Donations are being accepted for the project, and a licensed electrician who would be willing to donate time and materials is being sought.
We respectfully ask the community for donations to directly benefit the work needed to increase the number of animals we can take in through our program. Alternatively, if you are a licensed electrician willing to donate time and materials. (Contact Elizabeth Graff, CALM's volunteer and community engagement facilitator, at elgraff@kern.org or 661-546-8950 for more details.)
CALM's Birthday Bash runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at CALM,10500 Alfred Harrell Highway (between Lake Ming and Hart Park).
Call 661-872-2256, visit calmzoo.org or CALM on Facebook (@CALM) or Instagram (@visitcalmzoo) for more information.
