Wildlights boasts 3 million lights, Santa, camel rides, music and festive atmosphere - The Columbus Dispatch
The holiday season seems to kick into high gear earlier and earlier each year, but by necessity, the staff at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium gets an earlier start than most.
To prepare for the unveiling of the annual Wildlights attraction, zoo officials start setting up lights in early September — a process that remains ongoing even when "Boo at the Zoo" rolls around in October.
"We have a very small but mighty grounds maintenance team and facilities team that work pretty much day and night on putting up these lights from that point on," said Jeffrey D. Glorioso, the director of events and promotions at the zoo.
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This year's edition of Wildlights will kick off Nov. 19, and continue nightly from 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 2 (except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Masks are strongly recommended but not required for guests while indoors. (Wildlights will open for zoo members from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 18.)
As Glorioso sees it, zoo staff are just like any other family trying to tidy up for guests.
"It's like when you have company for the holidays," he said. "But we have 582 acres."
For those keeping track, about 3 million LED lights will be used to illuminate trees, bushes and other greenery on the zoo grounds.
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Wildlights has become a perennial holiday favorite in Greater Columbus. Zoo officials say that more than 7.5 million people have visited since the first edition in 1988, and more than 275,000 guests took in the sights during last year's pandemic-era edition.
Even regular zoo-goers will find that Wildlights gives them a different perspective: Because the zoo usually closes before dark during other times of the year, Wildlights offers a unique nighttime view of the zoo.
"When you take almost 3 million lights and you spread it out over many regions of the zoo, and you have the music going, it's an incredible experience," Glorioso said.
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Highlights of Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Beyond the overall ambience, highlights include the Sparkling Spruce, a 42-foot artificial tree boasting 13,900 animated lights that shine brightly in the Adventure Cove; a light display at Conservation Lake; and numerous light balls suspended above guests' heads at Shores Play Park.
Kid-friendly activities abound, including the bright, spinning splendor of the 1914 Mangels/Illions Grand Carousel ($2 per ride per person); a "S'mores Experience" at Conservation Lake, where visitors can make their own s'mores; and through Dec. 23, the presence of Santa Claus, who will be ready to accept wishes. Hot chocolate and other holiday treats will be available in abundance.
Portions of the zoo that house outdoor animals that will be nesting, including gorillas, will be closed, but other animals can be viewed during Wildlights.
"All of our indoor animal areas will be open, such as Manatee Coast, Discovery Reef, you'll be able to see the indoor pachyderm area," Glorioso said.
Camels will be on hand to offer rides ($7 per person).
The trick, of course, is to see everything.
Avoiding crowds and seeing it all
Glorioso says that if visitors make their way quickly through the attraction, they could get a sense of it in a few hours, but a longer look could take as long as three or four hours.
For those concerned about crowds, Glorioso suggests picking a chilly day or one just after a snowfall, when attendance might be down but the lights will be just as brilliant. (Dress appropriately, of course.)
"If it is 70 degrees in central Ohio, and you know it can happen, and it's a beautiful night, everyone else has that idea: 'Come to the zoo,'" he said. "If you do pick a colder night, or even during the weekday, it's probably the best time."
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What to know about Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo
Wildlights will take place Sundays through Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 10 p.m. Nov. 19 through Jan. 2 at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 Powell Road, Delaware County (closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).
Admission is included with regular zoo admission, which for Franklin County residents, costs $16.99, or $11.99 or senior citizens and those ages 3 to 9; for residents outside Franklin County, tickets cost $21.99, or $16.99 for senior citizens and those ages 3 to 9. Parking: $10. Pre-purchasing of tickets is highly recommended. For more information, visit www.columbuszoo.org.
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