• Photoillustration by Jacqueline Langeland

Party animals, gather your flock. Brew @ the Zoo is here again on Saturday, May 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Sequoia Park Zoo. The popular beer-walk fundraiser returns with tastings from 20 local and regional breweries, music, food, flamingos and fun ($75 VIP, $40, $35 zoo members, $15 designated drivers).

Have a brewski or several with the cavies, bald eagles, red pandas and other critters that can't count, pour one out for Bill the Chimp and finally seize your chance to climb through the otter tube. (Sure, it's adorable when kids do it but I'm "hogging the tunnel" and "need to leave immediately.") Stop for a snapshot in the SmileZ photo booth before you get anything in your teeth, then graze on Cinco de Mayo offerings from the Zoo Café, hotdogs from Bulldoggies of Humboldt and sweet/salty goodness from Hooked Kettle Corn.

Just as Pitbull has his residency in Las Vegas, The Compost Mountain Boys will be playing in the barnyard petting zoo. Do we need to remind you not to taunt or pet the musicians? Feeding is probably fine but hands on your side of the fence. DJ Gabe Pressure and the Fuego Crew will form a dance habitat on the lawn where you can dance like nobody's watching. Even though those judgy flamingos are totally watching.