LA Zoo and Botanical Gardens Roaring Nights '60s Summer Bash

A sea of go-go boots and tie-dye shirts, Beach Boy tunes and Beatles' classics. On Friday, June 23, the LA Zoo's '60s Summer Safari was plenty groovy and applauded those who dug through their closets to find the perfect bell-bottom jeans.

The LA Zoo is a beloved hotspot that natives and visitors come together to enjoy, but summertime at the zoo adds a new look into Los Angeles wildlife and nightlife. Featuring live bands, special animal interactions, food trucks galore, and an expanded zoo route, Roaring Nights at the LA Zoo is a definite go-to on any summer event list.

The LA Zoo is offering three themed events running from June to September and yes, themed dressing is highly recommended. The LA Zoo is known for hosting various holiday and special events, but Roaring Nights keeps in mind that there are plenty of adults looking for outdoor activities where they can enjoy Los Angeles' warm evening weather with a drink in hand.

Roaring Nights stations several full bars in various locations of the zoo which makes it easy to keep your favorite beverage at hand. They also offer an array of fantastic food truck options such as The Grilled Cheese Truck and Baby's Burgers.

If you're looking for entertainment outside of food and drinks, the zoo transforms into a festival of live music and DJ sets to add to your night. This KCRW hosted event brings in various artists that help exemplify the theme of the nights, such as Woodie and the Longboards for the zoo's '60s Summer Safari night. There are also a variety of lawn games and minion pop-ups promoting "Despicable 3."

Lastly, the LA Zoo does not forget that their biggest attraction is the animals themselves. Throughout the night there are special up-close animal encounters and different zoo keeper talks that give you a look into nighttime at the zoo.

Being that the nights are warm and Roaring Nights begins at 6 p.m., there are a number of animals who decide to come out for the festivities that are not normally as social during the daytime.

The themes this summer have a little bit of something for everyone. Roaring Nights kicked off on Friday, June 23 with '60s Summer Safari, which was an all-ages event. You can dust off your cowboy boots for Friday, July 21 for Country Night and plan the perfect themed outfit for Battle of the Decades, '80s vs '90s on Friday, Sept. 15. Both Country Night and Battle of the Decades are adults only. You must be 18 or older to purchase tickets for entry.

The LA Zoo's Roaring Nights '60s Summer Safari was held on Friday, June 23 at the LA Zoo, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027. For information and tickets to upcoming Zoo Nights, visit www.lazoo.org/roaringnights