Holiday magic is springing up all over Los Angeles as we get closer to the winter holidays. That includes the LA Zoo Lights that have gone up at Griffith Park for 2019. Recently That’s It LA was able to visit their media night to see this year’s festivities.
Having never been to see the lights, the experience was a remarkable way to visit the LA Zoo after dark. While there aren’t many animals awake during the event itself, the Luminous Lair houses reptiles like snakes and spiders among the black-lit neon walkthrough. You can enjoy multi-color hanging decor but also learn about snakes and other reptiles. There’s even a really neat spider-web made of lights hanging above this area with a huge color-changing spider.
Right outside of the Luminous Lair is the Splashes of Light water show where beams of light and water dance in a fountain to holiday music. The cute light combinations created for the choreography on the water are a dazzling and delightful spectacle.
As you make your way through the trails, you’re led through various areas lit up in fun festive themes that also celebrate the animals that inhabit the zoo. The glittering butterflies perched on tree-tops and the dandelions in the Wonderland Walk-about were our favorites. It was as if you were in sparkly enchanted forest, smaller than these things you can ordinarily hold in your hands. We still tried to make wishes on the giant dandelions though!
Every light display is picture perfect! The Holiday Light Wall is a standing beaded curtain walkway that changes colors as you move through it. The glow radiates in the various areas without really disturbing the sleeping animals but you can totally hear them in the distance moving about which is a little spooky because you can’t see them but they can see you! The closest thing you get to animals out in the wild are the lantern flamingos and frogs in the Pretty in Pink Flamingo and the Rainforest Ribbits displays. There are also some sparkling animals made of lights throughout the Electric LA-phants space adorned with Christmas hats.
When you step inside the Twinkle Tunnel, you can see why it’s the event’s centerpiece. It’s such a resplendent nest of lights.You walk through silver, gold, and technicolor tunnel that emanates holiday cheer and joy. It’s wall to wall twinkling lights that makes for perfect memories to capture this season. At the end of the tunnel there’s a breathtaking light projection display on a train of elephants and screens that celebrate winter imagery and music. There’s so much holiday music, and it’s hard to avoid singing along. But let’s be real, if you’re here you love this time of year!
No matter which of the holidays you celebrate, the LA Zoo Lights shines for everyone’s festivities. And yes, there’s a Santa you can meet along with a fantastic display that pays tribute to the rich cultures of the city. The LA Zoo Lights will be open until January 5th 2020 at the LA Zoo!
