Local Big Cat & Bear Sanctuary Invites Public to Celebrate with Festive Fall Events

Alpine CA— Lions Tigers & Bears, San Diego’s only accredited big cat and bear sanctuary, is bringing back two of its favorite family-friendly fall events – Spooky Campover and Pumpkin Bash. Plus, the sanctuary is participating in Kids Free October with the San Diego Tourism Authority, which offers one free child admission with a purchased “Member-For-A-Day” adult pass.
Spooky Campover is the one chance a year guests can pitch their tents near the enclosures of rescued lions, tigers, leopards, mountain lions and other exotic animals, while also enjoying a campfire, pumpkin carving, trivia, festive games and a costume contest. The following morning, carved pumpkins are stuffed with treats for the rescued animals and provided as enrichment during the Pumpkin Bash.
Lions Tigers & Bears visitors will encounter more than 65 rescued animals including lions, tigers, grizzly bears, bobcats, mountain lions, leopards and more. The sanctuary is situated on 93 acres just outside of Alpine, where all animals have been rescued and given forever homes in wide open habitats.
All proceeds from tickets benefit the rescued animals lifetime care, providing food, enrichment, habitat maintenance, veterinary care and more. The events will happen rain or shine. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit lionstigersandbears.org/our-events

• Spooky Campover – Friday, Oct. 29, at 3 p.m. to Saturday, Oct. 31 at 10 a.m.
  Camp out in the countryside and sleep under the stars with the animals. This spooky overnight event includes campfire songs, pumpkin carving, and a Halloween costume contest. Enjoy the fun of the animal trivia challenge, make s’mores by the campfire, and sip hot cocoa. All families must bring their own camping gear, food and beverage, a pumpkin to carve, and a costume. Member: $50 for adults and $35 for kids, Non-member: $80 for adults and $55 for kids
• Pumpkin Bash – Saturday, Oct. 30, at 10 a.m.
  Come dressed in costume and watch the rescued big cats and bears devour their pumpkin treats during the Pumpkin Bash. Pumpkins are stuffed with delicious goodies and the rescued animals enjoy their fall-themed enrichment toys and treats. Come watch as they play with their pumpkins and gobble up the goods. All families are encouraged to come dressed in a costume. Member: $30 for adults and $15 for kids, Non-member: $60 for adults and $35 for kids \
• Kids Free October – October 1-31
  During the month of October, families can embark on a two-hour guided educational visit of the sanctuary as part of San Diego Tourism Authority’s Kids Free October. With the purchase of one adult “Member-For-A-Day” pass for an October educational visit, visitors will be given a free child pass. This excludes special events, including the Spooky Campover and Pumpkin Bash. For more information, visitlionstigersandbears.org/our-events/special-visit-days.

“These fall-themed events are some of our most popular visits of the year,” said Lions Tigers & Bears Founder and Director Bobbi Brink. “Due to COVID-19 last year, the Spooky Campover sadly had to be postponed. We are excited to be welcoming guests back to stay overnight while we continue to raise funds to care for the animals.”
About Lions Tigers & Bears
Lions Tigers & Bears is a federally and state licensed 501(c)3 nonprofit rescue facility dedicated to providing a safe haven to abused and abandoned exotic animals while inspiring an educational forum to end the exotic animal trade. Lions Tigers & Bears is a NO CONTACT, NO KILL, NO BREED and NO SELL facility that allows the animals in its care the opportunity to live out their lives with dignity in a caring and safe environment. Lions Tigers & Bears is one of the few sanctuaries in the United States with the highest level of accreditation from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and the American Sanctuary Association.
The exotic animal rescue nonprofit, led by Brink, has coordinated rescues for more than 600 big cats, bears, wolves and other exotic animals across the U.S. in need of permanent refuge and lifetime homes at reputable sanctuaries, including Lions Tigers & Bears. Guests can book visits, become a member, host events or stay the night at White Oak Wild Nights, the onsite, private two-bedroom luxurious retreat. For more information, visit lionstigersandbears.org.