The Billy Graham Library’s Live Nativity Unleashed: Zak the Yak

By   •   December 14, 2015

Zak is pretty mellow. Sometimes he lets people gel his locks.

Each year, the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, hosts Christmas at the Library to celebrate the birth of Christ. Festivities include a live nativity. This is part 3 of a four-part series featuring the unique personalities of the nativity animals.

The animals come from Sam’s Path Petting Zoo in northeast Georgia, a mobile zoo run by Jeff and Jodi Gray.

Even die-hard Christmas at the Library attendees probably won’t remember Zak the Yak, but he has been here before. About six years ago, Zak was a precious goat-sized fluffball. Today the 350-pounder is mellow—he’ll even allow someone to gel the locks on his head—as long as nobody brushes his hind quarters. He’s been known to voice his displeasure, though, by using his horns on his handlers.

Fun fact? Zak will have a claim to fame. Earlier this year, he participated in a television shoot with Shaquille O’Neal. Yep, you heard it right. Zak the Yak and Shaq.

Christmas at the Library is open through Dec. 23, Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.

See the animals up close. Plan your visit to Christmas at the Library.

Meet Milo the camel from part 1 of the nativity series, Roc the kangaroo from part 2 and Lucy the donkey from part 4.