In May, Exotic Zoo in Telford Town Park hosted Night Time at the Zoo - a family-friendly after-hours experience with live music, food and drinks, where visitors partied alongside the zoo’s nocturnal animals.  

Live acts included Rockachella, Palamino Duo, Jack Evans, Kornastone Duo, and Shannon Graham.

Scott Adams, managing director at Exotic Zoo, said, “It was brilliant to see lots of visitors rocking out after hours at the zoo. We had some brilliant feedback and hope to hold the event again next year.”

It is set to be a busy summer for the Shropshire zoo, which was recently shortlisted for three Shropshire Chamber business awards. They are finalists for Business Champion – Business in the Community, Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Achievement, and Excellence in Tourism and Leisure.

Preparations have now begun for the inaugural Telford Fossil Festival on June 6th and 7th. The zoo has secured acclaimed palaeontologist, author, and TV presenter Dr Dean Lomax and world-renowned natural history artist Bob Nicholls for the event, who will give a talk on The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs, and hold a Q&A and book signing on June 6th.

The festival is being held in partnership with the onsite Telford Natural History Museum, run by full-time palaeontologist Tom Moncrieffe. At the event, Tom will showcase the new public fossil preparation laboratory, which will offer visitors a range of hands-on experiences, as well as the unveiling of some new exciting exhibits being opened by Dr Dean Lomax at the event. 

“Fossil lovers and curious minds, book your tickets now to the first ever Telford Fossil Festival,” said Scott Adams. “We’ll have a Jurassic Park Jeep parked up at the zoo, there will be fossil and paleoart vendors, and hands-on workshops and activities for all ages. Tickets include two-day zoo entry, so you can spend the whole weekend exploring the zoo, museum, stalls, and activities, discovering how much we have to offer here in the heart of Telford.”

Telford Fossil Festival is taking place on June 6th and 7th. Tickets are £12 for adults, £10 for children aged 2 – 15, and under 2s go free. Book tickets now at www.exoticzoo.co.uk/pages/fossil-festival