"Mom! Look! Look! Look!" exclaimed a back row full of kids at their first glimpse of WildLights, the Woodland Park Zoo's new holiday light festival. "Everything is sparkling!"
And truly, everything was.
I turned around to see their faces aglow with wonder. Bright smiles reflected the brilliance of the lights they gazed upon. Their sense of amazement was infectious, and my husband and I laughed at our own excitement of seeing our Seattle zoo decorated for the holidays.
Zoo lights have been around for the viewing at neighboring zoos around the Puget Sound, if you didn't mind a trek, but this holiday season marks the Woodland Park Zoo's first ever venture into the world of night lights.
The zoo staff has been working 24/7 for several months to bring WildLights to life, and their enthusiasm was tangible. Over 375,000 energy-efficient LED lights lit the zoo's pathways and North Meadow, and their plan is to build its scale over the years to come. Running gazelles, yawning hippos and stomping elephants are just a few of the wild scenes you will see. What a fun beginning to an annual holiday tradition at Woodland Park Zoo.
Another perk for the kids, and a great added touch, was the illusion of snow-filled air (with tiny bubbles). Waiting in line to enter the festival at the West Entrance, my daughters delighted in trying to catch snowflakes on the tips of their gloves.
Once inside, the kids wondered at how their usual haunts during the day had turned luminous and mysterious. They ventured forward awed by the beautiful color of the wild scenes that lined the walkway toward "Snowmazium."
It was a cold evening and our walk through the lights led us to a favorite warm-up destination: Zoomazium. It had been transformed into a winter wonderland full of soft, fuzzy snowballs – perfect for a late night snowball fight. Young and old could not resist gathering up an armful and slinging a few. I found myself under siege from several directions until I was able to gather up my own arsenal to unload. This was fun, and best of all, no wet clothes, cold kids or messes to clean up.
I eventually retreated to enjoy the fun from afar. Finding a quiet corner, I watched the newborn lion cubs frolic on the big screen, while snowballs flew overhead; a truly entertaining sight.
The promise of snacks allowed us to lure the kids away to finish our tour of the lights and, of course, catch a special ride on the carousel. The zoo is offering all sorts of special holiday treats and beverages, well worth the couple of dollars you will spend for something sweet and yummy to warm cold hands.
As the kids ran ahead to explore light caves in the forest, we could see live music being played in the zoo's dining area. They are offering live music and caroling throughout the festival, a schedule of which can be found on the zoo's website. As well, the reptiles and amphibians are on display, offering another respite from chilly evenings.
Our visit through WildLights was a success. We were able to tour the lights, play in Snowmazium and take several turns around the zoo's beautiful, historic carousel and still get sleepy children into bed by 9 p.m.
This year's WildLights encompasses the west end of the zoo, and is perfect for an evening outing with kids of all ages. Plus your visit helps support our Woodland Park Zoo's many important missions and special projects.
IF YOU GO
Where: Woodland Park Zoo, West Entrance Lot at Phinney Avenue North and North 55th Street in Seattle.
When: Now through Jan. 1, 5:30-8:30 p.m. nightly. WildLights will be closed December 24 and 25.
Cost: $8.50 for adults, $6.50 for children ages 3 to 12, free for toddlers ages 2 and younger. From Dec. 14 to Jan. 1, admission increases to $9.50 for adults. This is an after-hours ticketed event so regular zoo membership privileges do not apply. Night-of-event tickets will be for sale at the zoo's West Entrance only, if not sold out.
Contact: 206-548-2500; www.zoo.org/wildlights.
Isabel Sanden is a Seattle-area French instructor, incorporating music and language skills for preschool-age children, and a mother of three adventurous children ages 3,6 and 8.
