St. Petersburg Times society columnist Amy Scherzer shares some festive photos from Lowry Park Zoo's Carnaval at Karamu, an over-the-top party that featured 20 dazzling dancers and attracted 300 zoo supporters on April 18. Live auction bids included $10,000 naming rights for four bush­babies, pumping proceeds to $180,000 for zoo programs.

Scherzer wrote: "It's not your grandmother's Karamu, exclaimed a guest getting an eyeful of the overflowing women in the crowd and joking that this year's theme should be called 'Endowment.'"

The dancers limboed under feathered stilt walkers and pulled guests up to the rhythms of Late Night Brass.

Sandy and David Spezza enjoyed the evening at the zoo's new Safari Lodge.

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