A day for kids and critters

Ask Montrose Shopping Park Assn. President John Drayman what's different about this Sunday's Kids 'n' Kritters Day on Honolulu Avenue and you might end up consulting a dictionary.

"How about 10,000 children and every imaginable kind of animal — everything from crocodiles to kinkajous," Drayman said of the event, which is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the 2200 block of Honolulu Avenue.

It's the fifth annual Kids 'n' Kritters Day, which falls on the same day as the Shopping Park's weekly Harvest and Thieves markets.

The day will include an exotic petting zoo at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

"It's a great formula for a successful end-of-summer event," Drayman said.

"You take a couple of nice farmers. You sprinkle in about 10,000 children and an assortment of animals, including crocodiles, kinkajous, meerkats, pygmy hedgehogs, pythons and tarantulas."

Families can also enjoy the magic of the Wizard Bruce: The 8 1/2 Wonder of the World at 10 and 11 a.m. and again at noon. Mother Goose and her wise-cracking puppets will be on hand, as will a garden variety of farm animals for petting.

For the first time, the Lion's Club Eye-mobile will also be at the event, with a certified ophthalmologist providing free glaucoma screenings.

For more information, call (818) 249-2499 or visit http://www.shopmontrose.com.

— Ryan Carter