Mill Mountain Zoo parties for the planet

In Roanoke, the Mill Mountain Zoo hosted quite the celebration for Mother Earth.

The zoo held its 5th annual Party for the Planet Day. There was plenty of sunshine for kids of all ages.

Earth day spreads a mission of conservation, and that aligns with the Zoo's goals.

"We also like to educate people about some of the animals that we have in our collection like the Asian Otters and Fishing Cats that are facing marshlands getting drained in Asia and things like that," Mill Mountain Zoo Education Manager Bambi Godkin said. "So it gives us an opportunity to share with the public about all those different concerns that we have for the environment."

Earth Day was actually April 22, but so was the Blue Ridge Marathon which blocks access to the zoo, so they did it this weekend instead.