November 16, 2012
DENVER ZOO'S ZOO LIGHTS SHINES WITH EXPANDED LAYOUT & NEW WAYS TO ENJOY HOLIDAY TRADITION
22nd Annual Event Features New Layout, Cultural Celebrations & Yesterday's Zoo Train Ride
Guests of Denver Zoo's Zoo Lights, Presented By Your Neighborhood Toyota Stores, will experience the event in a whole new light this year. In addition to featuring a brand new layout, the 22nd annual celebration, running nightly November 30, 2012-January 2, 2013, from 5:30-9 p.m., will celebrate cultural traditions, introduce a special train ride and illuminate the zoo's newest exhibit, Toyota Elephant Passage, with lanterns.
Denver Zoo will be transformed to a wild winter wonderland as guests wander under the canopy of lights throughout themed regions at this year's Zoo Lights. Families can journey to the North Pole region to visit with Santa, enjoy tasty treats at Ms. Claus' Sweet Shop and take a spin on the carousel. In this region kids can also take Denver Zoo's historic train ride, revamped this year with a special theme. Kids can help spot animals from long ago at the Yesterday's Zoo Train Experience. During the ride they will hear the story of Yesterday's Zoo, a place where now extinct animals roam, while learning why it's important to help today's animals and seeing characters from the book.
Also new this year is the Festival of Lanterns illuminating Denver Zoo's new award-winning exhibit Toyota Elephant Passage. More than 200 Asian lanterns of various shapes, colors and sizes will shine above the exhibit's walkways with LED light, while guests can get warm and see elephants, fishing cats and small-clawed otters in the indoor buildings.
At the Sea of Lights, light sculpture displays of seahorses, whales and a gigantic octopus swim throughout this wintery wonderland as waves of holiday lights crash upon the shore.
Also new this year, the Celebration! Pavilion will celebrate cultural traditions from around the world through dance, music and storytelling every evening of the event. Entertainment will include African storytellers and mariachi bands.
The holiday tradition is made complete with 40 brilliantly-illuminated acres of lights, featuring more than 150 animated animal sculptures that swing through trees, jump across lawns, hide in bushes and appear in places where they're least expected. Numerous Denver Zoo animals also can be seen throughout the experience including polar bears, sea lions, arctic foxes, Komodo dragons, giraffes, hippos and rhinos. Penguins can also be seen at a nightly demonstration.
Festivities also will include live animal demonstrations, carolers, instrumental groups, ice carvers, delicious holiday treats at warming stations throughout the zoo and the ever-popular Zoo Year's Eve party.
Zoo Lights Special Events lineup:
- VISITS WITH SANTA - NOV. 30-DEC. 23
Naughty and nice children alike can bring their Christmas wish lists right to Santa’s mailbox at the North Pole and visit with the big guy himself!
- ICECARVERS - SUNDAYS-THURSDAYS 6-8 p.m.
See Santa’s helpers with power tools createa special ice-carving garden, filled with more animal sculptures than before.
- BUNK WITH THE BEASTS - NOV. 24, DEC. 19 & 31
Our regular Bunk with the Beasts program lights up with holiday cheer. Enjoy the wonders of Zoo Lights at our kids-only bunk on New Year’s Eve. Explore how wild animals adapt to winter habitats and then, sleep overnight at the zoo, just like our animal residents. Sign up at www.denverzoo.org/education/bunkwithBeasts.asp or contact Denver Zoo at bunkwiththebeasts@denverzoo.org or 720-337-1494.
- BIRTHDAY PARTIES - DEC. 9-JAN. 1
Schedule your birthday party at Zoo Lights! Parties include a birthday party room, a private, interactive animal show and Zoo Lights admission for each guest. Sign up at www.denverzoo.org/visitors/birthdayParty.asp or contact Denver Zoo at birthday@denverzoo.org or 303-376-6725.
- CELEBRATE KWANZAA - DEC. 26-30
Denver Zoo will celebrate this African cultural holiday with music, entertainment and activities.
On the brink of a New Year, children also can experience the fun of Zoo Year’s Eve, a wild New Year’s Eve party that begins at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 with entertainment, activities and crafts that leads up to an early 9 p.m. countdown to the New Year!
- MEMBERSHIP OFFER THROUGH DEC. 31
Anyone who purchases a new or gift Denver Zoo membership before Dec. 31 will receive two complimentary passes to Zoo Lights. To purchase a membership or for more information, call 720-337-1478, email memberservices@denverzoo.org or visit www.denverzoo.org and click on Membership. If your membership is not due for renewal, you can still take advantage of this offer. When you renew early, your membership will be extended one year from its current expiration date, when you renew at your current level.
Zoo Lights is the largest lighting event in the Rocky Mountain Region and the largest annual event hosted by Denver Zoo. It takes two contracted staff members of the Denver Zoo staff three months to set up the displays and almost the same amount of time and manpower to dismantle the 40 acres of lights.
This year, tickets can be purchased at www.denverzoo.org. Admission to Zoo Lights is $10 for adults (12-64), $6 for children (3-11), $8 for senior citizens (65+), children 2 and under are admitted free. Members get a $2 discount on all tickets. For more information on Zoo Lights, please call Denver Zoo at 720-337-1612 or visit www.denverzoo.org/zoolights.
Denver Zoo’s Zoo Lights is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors:
Zone Sponsors:
Your Neighborhood Toyota Stores
9News
Frontier Airlines
Pepsi
Media Sponsors:
KOSI 101
Alice 105.9
KEZW
The Mountain
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