A variety of craft beer, fine local cuisine, first rate entertainment and some wild animals will all be a part of the 8 th annual Good Zoo Brew, slated for 7-10 p.m., Saturday, June 24 at Oglebay’s Good Zoo.
The Good Zoo Brew, presented by the zoo in partnership with OVConnect, is one of the largest craft brew festivals in West Virginia and serves as one of the main annual fundraising events for the Good Zoo. Sponsored by McKinley Carter Wealth Services, guests will be able to enjoy eight, 4-ounce samples of more than 80 different finely crafted beers and food from local vendors such as Oglebay Food and Beverage, Ye Olde Alpha, Cilantro Latin Grill and Kirke’s Homemade Ice Cream to name a few. Attendees will also be able to stroll through the zoo to experience the animals while enjoying live music from Marsh Wheeling String Band and Hit Play Duo – Jon Banco and Ezra John Hamilton.
“We are proud to once again serve as the title sponsor for the Zoo Brew event. As a lifelong resident of Wheeling, I consider Oglebay Park to be one of its finest treasures. Oglebay, and particularly the Good Zoo, are things that make Wheeling special and inviting to those who live, work and vacation in our area,” said David H. McKinley, president/managing director of McKinley Carter Wealth Services. “At McKinley Carter, we are all about helping our clients achieve their financial goals and what they consider to be ‘a good life.’ But equally as important to us is having the opportunity to contribute to ‘a good life’ for our local communities. For us, it’s an honor to invest our resources into the Good Zoo’s exceptional programming so that generations may enjoy.”
Tickets can be purchased online at www.oglebay.com/landing/zoo-brew.html or by calling the zoo office at (304) 243-4100. Ticket prices, if purchased in advance, are as follows:
$30, designated driver ticket; $45, Good Zoo Friends, OVConnect Members and Oglebay Institute Members; $50, non-members; The cost of tickets purchased at the door the evening of the event, if available, are $60.
A limited number of VIP tickets will also be offered and purchasing those in advance is highly encouraged as only 200 will be sold. VIP guests will be able to enter the event at 6 p.m. for exclusive brew and food tastings. Those people will also have the opportunity to meet some of the animal ambassadors up close along with a rare, behind the scenes tour of the zoo animal hospital.
Please note that admission to this event will be capped at 700 guests. Attendees are asked to bring a photo ID and their entry tickets as admission will be limited to those 21 or older. Tailgating will not be permitted in the Oglebay parking lots prior to the event. The Good Zoo Brew will be held rain or shine!
The Oglebay Good Zoo is the only institution in West Virginia that is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Good Zoo provides conservation education programming to over 13,000 students annually and participates in AZA breeding programs for over 20 rare or endangered species. The Good Zoo also collaborates with the West Virginia Division of Wildlife to conduct conservation research associated with the rare Eastern Hellbender Salamander and to rehabilitate nearly 50 ill or injured wild eagles, hawks and owls in the Upper Ohio River Valley annually.
