L.A. ZOO LIGHTS 2015

PRESENTS TWO “VIP EXPERIENCES,” INCLUDING EXCLUSIVE HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR FOR AGES 21-AND-UP ON DECEMBER 10, AND FAMILY NEW YEAR’S EVE FOR ALL AGES ON DECEMBER 31

L.A. ZOO LIGHTS, which heralds a new standard for nighttime holiday magic at the Los Angeles Zoo from Friday, November 27, 2015, through Sunday, January 3, 2016, presents two “VIP Experiences” during its run, an exclusive HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR for the 21-and-up crowd on December 10, and a FAMILY NEW YEAR’S EVE for all ages.  An instant hit when it debuted last year, attracting more than 170,000 people, L.A. Zoo Lights has been nominated in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards as a contender for “Best Zoo Lights 2015.”

HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR on Saturday, December 10 features “skip-the-line” express entry to L.A. Zoo Lights with a private lounge from 6:30 to 8:30 pm boasting hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and hot and cold specialty cocktails.  Tickets for HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR are $75 per person.

FAMILY NEW YEAR’S EVE on Thursday, December 31, 6 pm, provides an opportunity to celebrate the coming of 2016 in style with “skip-the-line” express entry to L.A. Zoo Lights, dinner buffet, soft drinks, complimentary champagne for adults, sparkling apple cider for kids, dessert, a ride on the Zoo’s hand-crafted conservation carousel, crafts for youngsters, DJ dance party, cash bar and live broadcast of New York’s Times Square ball drop at 9 pm, after which guests are welcome to experience L.A. Zoo Lights until closing.  FAMILY NEW YEAR’S EVE tickets are $65 for adults and $40 for children, or $60 (adults) and $35 (children) for GLAZA members.

Tickets for both “VIP Experiences” have limited availability, so early purchase is strongly suggested.  Visit LAZoolights.org for details and to purchase tickets.

With awe-inspiring features providing a brand-new spin on holiday lights in Griffith Park, L.A. ZOO LIGHTS sets the Zoo’s enchanting environment aglow with breathtaking displays unlike anything seen in L.A. before, among them thousands upon thousands of LED lights, flurries of illuminated snowflakes, stunning 3-D animated projections, a musical light-and-water show and glittering light tunnels.  A fanciful menagerie of animal characters brought to “life” include mischievous animated monkeys scampering through the grounds, a gigantic glowing snake coiled on a roof, a hillside with snowboarding iguanas, 3-D animated elephants wearing colorful holiday sweaters, an origami-type rhino lit from within and so much more.  L.A. ZOO LIGHTS is open every night, except Christmas Eve (December 24) and Christmas Day (December 25), from 6 to 10 pm Mondays through Thursdays, and 6 to 11 pm Fridays through Sundays and December 21 through 23.

L.A. ZOO LIGHTS is sure to top the “holiday tradition” destination list once more, with a trove of new lights and displays for an even brighter atmosphere of wonder and delight.  Captivating guests for an ideal family outing, meet-up with friends or date night, L.A. ZOO LIGHTS’ self-guided 60- to 90-minute walking tour through select areas of the Zoo – while most L.A. Zoo animal residents are asleep — offers a unique visitor experience that features the only opportunity in Los Angeles to see real reindeer; visits with Santa Claus on select dates; and steaming hot chocolate, irresistible churros and other holiday treats and goodies for sale.

The landmark Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, drawing 1.6 million visitors each year, is home to a diverse collection of 1,100 animals representing 250 different species, many of which are rare or endangered.  Its lush grounds on 113 acres feature the LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles); Elephants of Asia; Campo Gorilla Reserve; Rainforest of the Americas, an extraordinary collection of endangered and exotic mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians living in spaces that exemplify their natural habitat in the rainforest biosphere; Tom Mankiewicz Conservation Carousel; an Indian Rhino Encounter direct-contact opportunity; Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains, home to one of the largest troops of chimpanzees in the United States; Red Ape Rain Forest, where visitors can walk among orangutans; the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo; one of the largest flocks of flamingos in any zoo in the world; a botanical collection comprising over 800 different plant species with approximately 7,000 individual plants; and much more.

I am excited to announce that a Giveaway has been added! We have teamed up for a Family 4 Pack Giveaway! One winner will win 4 tickets and they are good for any hour on any night L.A. Zoo Lights is open! To enter leave a comment below telling us your favorite L.A. Zoo animal! Deadline to enter is December 14th, 2015 at noon PST. One winner will randomly be selected via Random.org.

The Los Angeles Zoo is located in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways.  5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA  90027.  Free parking is available.  For additional information, contact (323) 644-4200 or visit LAZoolights.org.

Credit: The Los Angeles Zoo. Photo Credit: Jamie Pham.