A Celebration of Lights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Presented by American Electric Power

By Jennifer M. Wilson

Columbus, OH - Brighten your holidays with the magic of Wildlights, a celebration at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium presented by American Electric Power beginning November 20, 2009.

Wildlights has been a Central Ohio family tradition for 21 years and this year the Zoo, with the generous help from AEP, has converted all of its holiday lights to “greener” energy saving LED lights.

This year the Zoo will premier the Holiday Encounters Village presented by Bob Evans Farms Inc. Enjoy a celebration of pop-culture from holidays past featuring replica memorabilia from great movies like “A Christmas Story,” “Elf,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and more. Don’t miss “A Pop-Culture Christmas”, the animated holiday light show set to pop-carols. And, rounding out the Holiday Encounters Village is the jolly old elf himself, Santa and his reindeer.

Also new in 2009, the Magical Timbernacle Forest Chorus sponsored by Disney on Ice presents 100 Years of Magic. This “chorus” consists of 29 melodious animatronic arbors that come together to create a 12 foot tall holiday evergreen. Several trees will give a nod to their favorite Disney characters including Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto.

Back by popular demand, “Rhythms around the Watering Hole,” the original animated Zoo light show will return with a high-energy culmination of contemporary carols. This nine-minute show runs every half hour nightly beginning at 5 p.m.

The hit animal show of the summer is back with a holiday twist. Animals on Safari: Holidays at the Camp is a glimpse into the holiday season at Jack Hanna’s Base Camp.

Open to the public from November 20, 2009 to January. 2, 2010, Wildlights can be viewed every Sunday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and every Friday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wildlights is closed the evenings of November 26, December 24 and December 25.

The Wildlights festivities will feature the following special events;

Santa Paws, December 5, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; This enrichment activity keeps the animals in the holiday spirit by giving them specially wrapped treats using materials that are safe for each animal.
Jack Hanna’s Home for the Holidays, December 5, 2009; featuring Jack Hanna and his animal friends from Animals on Safari at 6:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.
Colo’s Birthday, December 22, 2009; Wish Colo, the first gorilla born in a Zoo and the oldest living gorilla at a Zoo, a happy birthday.
Zoo Year’s Eve, December 26, 2009 to January 2, 2010; Ring in the New Year every night with a special celebration.  

Visit www.columbuszoo.org to find out more about Wildlights and other special events.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is open 363 days a year (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas) 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. after Labor Day. General admission is $12 for adults, $7 for children ages 2 to 9 and seniors 60+. Children under 2 and Columbus Zoo members are free. The Zoo was named the #1 Zoo in America by USA Travel Guide and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA.) For more information and to purchase advance Zoo admission tickets, visit www.columbuszoo.org .

To view Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-20-Colombus_Zoo_and_Aquarium