CLEVELAND, OH (February 22, 2008)-More than 30 exotic animals from around the world will be crawling, hissing, slithering and galloping into the Cleveland Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show March 18-22, 2009 at the I-X Center.

On loan from the Jungle Island Zoo in Sandusky, Ohio, some of these wild beasts will be found in the "Please-Touch" petting zoo while the more dangerous creatures will be featured in the frightening "Snakes On A Stage" show.

"SNAKES ON A STAGE"

Snake handling stick? Check. Snake bag? Check. First-aid kit? Check. With hissing snakes lurking under every rock, guests should watch their step and come prepared to witness the fearsome "Snakes on a Stage" show.

"Snakes On A Stage" is a deadly yet educational reptile show featuring a ssssss..ensational array of the world's creepiest crawlers. Experts from the Jungle Island Zoo will bring guests face to face with a collection of the world's most treacherous reptilian predators and slithering serpents.

During the interactive "Snakes on a Stage" show, only the brave children will be recruited to help Jungle Island Zoo round up a number of the slithering snakes. The unique reptile show will take place at 1:30pm , 4:00pm and 7:00pm March 12-14; 12:00pm , 3:30pm and 7:00pm on March 15 and 12:00pm and 4:00pm on March 16.

"PLEASE TOUCH" PETTING ZOO

Need something less fierce? The "Please Touch" display will allow visitors to get nose-to-nose with a camel, red kangaroo, Nilgai antelope, Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, African-Crested porcupine, African Pygmy goats, and many other fascinating animals from around the globe. The friendly exhibit is open daily during regular Show hours.

STRIKE IT RICH

In addition to the animals on display, kids of all ages can strike it rich at the indoor gold, gem and fossil mining sluice ! The mining sluice has coursing water troughs and screen-bottomed mining trays. "Miners" can purchase mining materials (which includes REAL GOLD , gems and fossils), pour it in a mining box, and submerge it in the sluice to wash away the sand and expose their "treasures." An identification display case will be on hand to make it easy to determine what they've unearthed.

General Information

AAA is the official Advance Ticket Source for the Cleveland Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show. Advance tickets are available for $8.50 at Northeast Ohio AAA locations ( www.aaa.com / tickets ). Need not be a member to purchase. Group rates are available by calling 216.529.1300 . Admission at the door is $10.50 for adults and $5.00 for children ages 6-12. Children age 5 and under are admitted free. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts that attend the event in full uniform are admitted FREE . $1 off admission discount coupons are available at Discount Drug Mart.  

The 71 st Annual Cleveland Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show is held at the International Expositions Center (I-X Center) located at 6200 Riverside Drive, just off of Route 237 near Hopkins International Airport in Cleveland, Ohio.

Dates/Hours

2008 DATES/HOURS:
Wednesday, March 12 12:00pm - 9:00pm
Thursday, March 13 12:00pm - 9:00pm
Friday, March 14 12:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday, March 15 10:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday, March 16 10:00am - 6:00pm

The 2008 Cleveland Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show, presented by Toyota Tundra and sponsored by Labatt Beer, WNCX 98.5FM and WTAM 1100, is produced by Cleveland-based Expositions, Inc. the Midwest 's largest show producer. Established in 1937, Expositions, Inc. has a 71-year history producing high-quality sport and travel shows.