Fursuits ARE Allowed??

That's a change. For the last decade it's been no mascot costumes as they didn't want them to appear to be sanctioned by the Zoo proper.

Interesting development. Can I ask who you talked with at the zoo?

I didn't get the operator's name over the phone, but just to double-check I also emailed their Public Relations Manager, Tracy Gray. This was her reply:

Hello,

I just wanted to thank you first of all for inquiring about our policy regarding costumes at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. We only permit costumes during our ZooBoo Halloween event which this year is scheduled for October 23 and 24, October 30 and 31, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. So if you are planning on attending the weekend of October 23 and 24, costumes are permitted. I hope this helps you!

Tracy

*sadface* Nobody wants to come? =(

ohhh I would like to go.

Please clarify with Tracy if closed face costumes are allowed, or whether all costumes have to be open faced for security and safety reasons? Best to get that ironed out before hand and save yourself any embarrassment the day of the event.

Unfortunately, I'll be unable to attend as I'm already committed to run my dog at a dog agility trial that weekend.

Have fun!

Swift

It is 2 months away still. I not can plan a week ahead.
Did you post it here only?

I emailed Tracy back and asked about closed-face costumes. She said they are allowed but that they are ONLY to be worn during the ZooBoo hours (11am to 4pm). So we're still good. =)

No, I also posted this on my furry Facebook account and FurAffinity.

i should be able to go

not making any promises, but I might be able to go

Good enough and thanks for verifying that.

I've x-posted this event to the Pittsfurgher's and the BulterPAFurs LJ Communities and directed folks to contact you here or through your FA account if they're interested in attending.

Only thing I didn't have was a time to meet at the gates of the zoo.

Logistically, there won't be a place to change inside the zoo AND securely keep the footlocker it travels in. So folks will have to change into costume in/at their cars and pop their heads in the zoo if it becomes too uncomfortable. I'm not sure it can be helped.

As I mentioned before, this is the first time in years they've allowed this. Please be on your best behavior and be good stewards of the fandom so we'll be allowed back again.

Also...feel free to make and print out some flyers for this and hand them out at the Western PA Furry Weekend if you're going to be there to help promote this event.

I would love to go! I am attending CCAC and I can get tickets for $8 which I can distribute to anyone who wants one!

Well, darn.

I just received a bit of unfortunate news in my inbox today, from Tracy. She informed me that the only costumes NOT allowed during the ZooBoo... are mascots. Which makes absolutely NO sense to me, whatsoever (I can understand them not wanting fursuits during other days of the year... but not even on Halloween!?). I wrote her back and asked if "animal" costumes were permitted, and she said yes, as long as they weren't mascots. *facepalm* Sigh...

I really apologize for the confusion and for getting some peoples' hopes up. I assumed that when she said costumes, she meant ALL costumes. Thankfully she contacted me to tell me what WASN'T allowed...

Of course we can still go to the zoo on Oct. 24st. This really isn't going to upset our plans, but I'm a little annoyed that the zoo doesn't 1. post this information on their website, and 2. Clarify exactly what they mean by "costumes".

<_<

If people REALLY wanted to go out in suit, perhaps we could just go walking around downtown instead. I would be perfectly cool with that, as well. =) Depends on what everyone else wants to do.

I would ask to further clarify. If "animal" costumes are okay, and "mascots" are not, that leads me to believe she refers to copyrighted characters as mascots, such as those of sports teams or a giant coke bottle. something that could be seen as an unsanctioned advertisement for something the zoo doesn't endorse.

I went ahead and sent her an email asking to clarify what the zoo classifies as 'mascots'. She should respond within the hour... I'll let you guys know what the verdict is.

Yep... Good 'ol Tracy did the same thing to me when I inquired about this years ago. She even asked to see a picture of my costume at the time and it was considered a "Mascot" costume.

Sorry folks, seems the Zoo policy is still the same.

"Mascot characters may be misinterpreted as sanctioned zoo entertainers or employees. As such if an incident should occur, the Zoo would be liable."

In other words...our "costumes" are too good.

I just think it's funny that they couldn't allow us to wander around the Zoo for a few hours DURING THEIR HALLOWEEN EVENT. Who in their right mind would assume that a giant blue home-made fox costume is an official Zoo mascot, WHILE the ZooBoo is going on? I mean, come on now...

Just got an email back from Tracy (I also included a picture of the types of costumes we would be wearing).

"Your photo is what we **DON'T** permit. It is not the advertising or the copyright laws, it is simply that masks like the ones in the photo freak out the animals and we don’t permit that all. Kids can wear costumes during ZooBoo only."

Sigh... Oh well. But hey, I've thought of a great back-up plan for something we could do the week before! Granted, it's going to be on October 2nd, during the WPAFW... But it's an alternative for furs like me who aren't able to attend and would still like something fun to do that weekend.

Fursuiting at the Mars Applefest ---> http://www.pa-furry.org/node/1431/fursuiting-mars-applefest

If I may inquire...what's preventing you from attending the WPAFW?

A couple of things, really. I've got a ton of commissions to work on so I don't want to devote an entire weekend to fun and games, and I'm a bit tight on money right now. I'd rather not shell out a bunch of cash for both WPAFW and Furfright in the same month. Maybe next year though.. =\

Fursuiting in Mars... assuming I don't chicken out I'll be there.

'kay, that's cool. Please keep us in mind for next year and I hope we can catch up at one of the local fur meets down here in Pittsburgh. Our Games n'At meets are fursuit friendly and there's an event "Witch in the Wall" late in October that we'll need fursuiters and handlers for.

Thanks for answering my query.

Are they going to have an apple pie baking contest there? I might go just to enter...

They certainly are.  They have one every year =)

Tis ok Zelda, If You dont Decide To enter that You can bake me an apple Pie .... >_> Kidding....kinda... I wont Deny an Apple pie... But ya...kidding... i Mean uh..im just gona shut up now *sneaks back to his den in a not so sneaky way*

Well Drage, will you give me a blue ribbon for it??

gets to work on hand making a blue ribbon