Books are taking a walk on the wild side this October.
ECS4Kids is bringing families, stories and some familiar Jacksonville faces together for Wild Reading Safari, a morning of reading and family fun at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on Saturday, October 17.
From 10 a.m. to noon, families can enjoy stories read by local celebrity guests, meet beloved children’s book characters and take part in activities designed to get young children moving, learning and excited about reading.
Wild Reading Safari is free and open to the public. Zoo admission is not required to participate in event activities, which will take place outside the Zoo entrance gates. Readings will be held under the VyStar Skyscape near the main entrance.
Event Details
Wild Reading Safari
Saturday, October 17, 2026 – 10 a.m. to noon
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL
Meet Our Readers
The morning will be emceed by Jordan Wilkerson and will feature several special guests and readers:
- Congressman Aaron Bean
- Curtis Dvorak, Community Ambassador, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
- Tony Jenkins, Northeast Florida Market President, Florida Blue
- Aaron Beasley, Jacksonville Jaguars legend
- Tenikka Hughes, Action News Jax anchor and youth literacy advocate
Children will also get a chance to see some of their favorite book characters come to life, including Clifford, Curious George and others.
More Family Fun
The fun goes beyond storytime. The morning will begin with a family-friendly yoga session at 10:15 a.m., followed by readings and a music session at 11 a.m.
Families can also visit a free resource fair in the Zoo’s upstairs event space to connect with community organizations and learn about resources available to support children and families.
For ECS4Kids, events like Wild Reading Safari are about making early learning fun, accessible and part of everyday family experiences. Reading together helps children build language and literacy skills while creating opportunities for parents and caregivers to connect with their children.
We hope you’ll join us for a wild morning of stories, movement, music and family fun!
