Taronga Zoo hosted its first Eid Festival over the weekend along with community partner Crescent Wealth, celebrating the Islamic festival that marks the end of the Ramadan fasting period by bringing families together to share feasting and fun.

Taronga is celebrating its Centenary in 2016 and the Eid Festival is one of a range of events being held at the Zoo to acknowledge and give back to its diverse community supporters in NSW.

The Eid Festival at Taronga was a two day event featuring international food offerings, information stalls, entertainment and presentations of Taronga’s community conservation programs.

This followed other Centenary events, including celebrations for the Chinese New Year and the Songkran Festival earlier this year. Taronga also participated in the spectacular Vivid Sydney light show for the first time in June.

A formal opening of the Eid Festival at Taronga on Saturday included an indigenous ‘Welcome to Country’, an introduction by Crescent Wealth’s Managing Director, Talal Yassine OAM, VIP acknowledgements of the occasion and a performance by an Indonesian cultural dance group.

Just as Taronga promotes diversity in nature, it also supports cultural diversity in NSW.

The Zoo also made a special offer throughout the Centenary year for people to visit the Zoo on their own birthdays for $1.