[Columbia, SC] - Experience the wild side of the Zoo on Saturday, October 3, at Riverbanks ZOOfari, the Zoo’s annual fundraising event. Beginning at 7pm, guests can take an evening stroll through the Zoo, catch a glimpse of some wild creatures, savor coastal cuisine and bid on one-of-a-kind silent and live auction items.

The event’s theme, A Toast to the Coast, will be tied into four areas of the park, with each dedicated to a different region. The Palmetto Plaza will represent the Low Country by channeling all things Carolina, including beach music performed by the Fabulous Kays. Things are bound to heat up at Safari Camp where guests will experience a Mexican flair one might find on the Baja peninsula. Add a little Cajun flavor and the laid back, island-style of the Florida Keys, and you will be right at home in the Gulf Coast of Riverbanks, also known as Carousel Plaza. Lastly, the scenic Pacific Northwest will be brought to life on the Zoo’s Saluda River Bridge.

Each area will feature delectable coastal cuisine and a signature specialty cocktail. To help support Riverbanks’ conservation-focused mission all seafood dishes will be created using only sustainable seafood options. Of course, seafood is not the only thing on the menu. The chef at Riverbanks has planned a mouth-watering menu for palates of all types.

The highlight of the event is always the live auction. Guests have the opportunity to bid on rare and unusual auction items that can’t be found anywhere else in town. Items on the auction block this year include a behind-the-scenes African safari at Riverbanks coupled with an African-themed dinner party overlooking the elephants, an after-hours birthday party for your child with an up-close and personal penguin encounter, a five-course dinner and wine tasting in the Botanical Garden and much, much more. If the fast-paced live auction isn’t your speed, there will be plenty of enticing options to place bids on at the silent auction, too.

Tickets for Riverbanks ZOOfari are on sale now and available at http://www.riverbanks.org/zoofari. Regular admission tickets are $85 and tickets for Riverbanks members are $75.

Riverbanks ZOOfari is a fundraiser hosted by Riverbanks Society, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports the needs of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. All proceeds from the event help care for the animals that call Riverbanks home. A portion of the ticket price is tax-deductible.