Little Ponderosa Zoo sets its Fall Festival for Saturday, Oct. 7
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These feathered frinds are the unofficial greeters to visitors at the entrance to the Little Ponderosa Zoo in Dutch Valley, and will be on hand for the zoo’s Fall Festival on Oct. 7. - G Chambers Williams III
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Gunther the Tiger will be one of the stars of the show during the annual Fall Fesitval. - G Chambers Williams III
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This baby alpaca is among the newest animals avilable for viewing at the Little Ponderosa Zoo & Native Wildlife Rescue in Dutch Valley. Born in July, he is shown here with his mother. - G Chambers Williams III
It’s almost Fall Festival time again at Anderson County’s Little Ponderosa Zoo and Native Wildlife Rescue in Dutch Valley.
The festival is an important fund-raising event every fall for the Little Ponderosa, helping the zoo to buy the necessary feed and supplies to keep its animals warm and happy over the coming winter.
Besides the many animals on display both inside and outside the zoo’s buildings, there will be vendor booths set up throughout the property, and several food options to keep visitors fed, including a Kona Ice truck.
“We will have live music, vendors, face painting, games, pony rides, inflatables, great food, buckets of food to feed the animals, and a gift shop,” zoo officials said.
A bounce house and inflatable slide will be set up to keep kids entertained, and pony rides will be available for children, as well.
But of course, the zoo’s animals will be the real stars of the show, including plenty of baby goats, many of whom will be roaming the grounds and making friends with the visitors; and Baby Cash, a curious, friendly young camel that the zoo acquired last year as a rescue.
There is a new marmoset monkey exhibit that visitors can see for the first time. It was built by zoo directors Cade and Corbin Cox.
Little Ponderosa’s Cookshack will also be open, offering food and ice cream treats.
School buses will be on hand to ferry visitors to the zoo from remote parking areas, and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office will direct traffic and help keep visitors safe.
Tickets for the event may be preordered for $8 each, instead of the regular price of $15 for adults (18-65); and $10 for juniors or seniors (3-17, or 65-and-up). Call 865-457-5536 and order tickets over the phone.
Vendor spots are still available for $50 a spot. And anyone wanting to compete in the annual chili cookoff can do so for an entry fee of $25.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Little Ponderosa is at 629 Granite Road, in the Dutch Valley community of northwestern Anderson County between Clinton and Rocky Top.
Regular operating days and hours are Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday from noon-5 p.m.
The Little Ponderosa Zoo and Native Wildlife Rescue is certified by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency as an official rescue agency for a variety of animals, including ntive deer, raccoons, skunks, and many more.
Besides admissions fees, the Little Ponderosa is supported by donations.
