If you’re looking for a SoCal holiday tradition, LA Zoo Lights is stepping into place to be just that. The GLAZA (Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association) event is super family friendly for all ages and adds in a little touch of the excitement of being at the location at night, with sleeping animals nearby, and perhaps a stray lion’s growl or chimp’s chatter sounding at the edges of the event.
Running now through January 6, it’s time to join the roar and wonder of lights as the event enters its 4th year. The Los Angeles Zoo’s now-traditional, always dazzling holiday offering is a justifiably popular replacement for the DWP Holiday Light Festival, a drive-through attraction that once called Griffith Park home.
Now, speaking environmentally, it’s a far sounder walk-through attraction. There are no more vehicle emissions clouding the holiday air; it’s an event just explored with foot power. The attraction includes glowing low-energy profile LED animals, illuminated snowflakes, and a tunnel of colored lights (double in size from last year), among other attractions. We’ve gone every year, enjoying a transformation that is magically enchanting as a holiday event, and even offers that exciting glimpse of the animals. Live reindeer are viewed in an area where docents can discuss them knowledgeably; shed antlers are there for the stroking by awed small tykes. Meerkats often pop up from their dens, drawing viewers; and sometimes a swan or two sail by in what is the flamingo enclosure by day.
Maybe best of all, the lit-up LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles) house makes a fascinating stop and a good way to step out of a chilly night. There, too, docents will explain the habits of lizards and snakes and such, fascinating kids and adults alike. Outside LAIR’s door, a fountain water show awaits.
But back to those lights: palm trees become multi-colored and fanciful, a parade of Christmas trees vies for attention with figures of alligators and rhinos, and then there is our favorite, a disco ball forest with silvery mirrored balls, purple lights, and soaring birds. Elephant Circle is transformed this year and becomes a kaleidoscopic savanna where large-scale, glowing animals roam.
There’s a new Santa area, too; allowing for even more kids to tell Santa what they want for the holidays. And the carousel spins nightly.
For the big kids (those 21 and over), they do offer a Holiday Happy Hour on Dec 6 and Dec 13. Additional ticket required.
Overall, the Zoo display is a delightful and colorful crowd-pleaser, with a projected, animated rain forest canopy, and even an exhibit that features recycled water bottles recreated as illuminated frogs. Parents, don’t try it at home.
L.A. Zoo Lights and its walkable holiday fun runs seven nights a week through January 6th, from 6 to 10 p.m., closed Nov. 22, Dec. 24, and Dec. 25. Visit www.lazoolights.org.
This article is a part of the 2018 Dec / Jan issue of Whole Life Times.