Both San Jose’s Happy Hollow Park & Zoo and its mascot, Danny the Dragon, turn 62 this year — which would qualify Danny for Social Security benefits. But since dragons don’t pay into the system, Danny got the next best thing Thursday morning: A giant AARP lifetime membership.
Don’t worry, neither Danny nor the train ride of the same name will be retiring anytime soon. Sophie Horiuchi-Forrester, AARP’s regional director, delivered the membership card to kick off National Older Americans Month and launch Happy Hollow’s Senior Safari events.
On the fourth Thursday of the month between May and October, visitors age 50 and up can enjoy Happy Hollow for an hour before it opens to the general public — before it’s overrun with kids, in other words. This is the ninth year the park has offered the free excursion, and hundreds of people showed up Thursday morning, ready to walk around, meet the zoo animals, chat with zookeepers and enjoy other activities like hula hooping.
Seniors gather at the entrance of Happy Hollow Park and Zoo on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in San Jose, Calif. The park held their first Senior Safari event of the season allowing visitors 50 and older into the park an hour early, with games, music, and docent led tours. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Seniors gather at to watch peccaries roam through an enclosure at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in San Jose, Calif. The park held their first Senior Safari event of the season allowing visitors 50 and older into the park an hour early, with games, music, and docent led tours. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Guests take part in a Senior Safari event at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in San Jose, Calif. The park held their first Senior Safari of the season allowing visitors 50 and older into the park an hour early, with games, music, and docent led tours. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Visitors use hula hoops during a Senior Safari event at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in San Jose, Calif. The park held their first Senior Safari of the season allowing visitors 50 and older into the park an hour early, with games, music, and docent led tours. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
Sophie Horiuchi-Forrester, left, of the American Association of Retired Persons and Happy Hollow Foundation member Lissa Kreisler, right, present an AARP card to park mascot Danny the Dragon on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in San Jose, Calif. The event celebrated the 62 anniversary of the park and took place on the first Senior Safari day of the season. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
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Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, San Jose City Councilmembers Bien Doan and Pam Foley, and Parks Director Jon
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
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