Friends of the National Zoo is Hosting ZooFari Tonight at the Smithsonian's National Zoo

The National Zoo will close early today in preparation for ZooFari (6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.). The lower half of the Zoo, from the Small Mammal House down, will close at noon. The outdoor giant panda exhibit will close at 2 p.m., and the entire Zoo will close at 4 p.m. Last admittance to the Zoo is at 3 p.m. Drivers may experience some traffic congestion along Connecticut Ave., NW between 5:45 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Media should enter the Zoo from the Harvard St. gate entrance and will be directed to lawn parking near the bottom entrance of the Zoo. Media who have pre-registered should check in at the lower Zoo entrance.

Guests are invited on a culinary safari to sample gourmet fare from more than 100 of the D.C. area's finest restaurants, and sip wine from 15 vintners. Tickets will be sold on-site for $150 for FONZ members and $200 for non-members. Top Chef finalists, Mike Isabella and Spike Mendelsohn, and Todd Gray of Equinox and Watershed, will host a Zoo-themed cake decorating contest. Guests can also bid on exclusive items such as behind-the-scenes tours of the Zoo at the ZooFari silent auction from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.