Great Bear Wilderness opening day activities

Brookfield Zoo will open its newest exhibit, Great Bear Wilderness, on Saturday, May 8, with a number of special activities relating to Native Americans and their cultural ties to the North American animals now living in the exhibit.

The celebration officially begins at 10:15 a.m. in the zoo's West Mall, as members of the American Indian Center of Chicago present a Native American blessing.

Guests can hear Native American flute music beginning at 11:35 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. Storytelling about bears and their families begins at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.

See Native American dancing and learn about traditional attire at noon, 1 and 2 p.m.

Look for costumed characters of polar bears, grizzly bears, Mexican gray wolves, bald eagles and ravens, all animals featured in Great Bear Wilderness.