The Los Angeles Zoo celebrates the holidays with even more light installations this year. For the first time ever, the L.A. Zoo Lights experience will include picturesque Elephant Circle, which will be transformed into a kaleidoscopic savanna where glowing, large-scale animals roam. Its popular Twinkle Tunnel will double in size and feature cascading swirls of light and a spectacular finale.

LA Zoo; photo by Kathy Leonardo

Returning this year are “L.A. ZOO LIGHTS VIP EXPERIENCES,” including two exclusive HOLIDAY HAPPY HOURS for the 21-and-over crowd, as well as a FAMILY NEW YEAR’S EVE for all ages. Exclusive HOLIDAY HAPPY HOURS include a German-themed “Bavaria Haus Holiday” happy hour on Thursday, December 6 and tropical-themed “Tiki Tidings” happy hour on Thursday, December 13. Both evenings feature express entry to L.A. Zoo Lights at 6 pm and access to a private lounge from 6:30 to 8:30 pm with gourmet hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and a themed signature cocktail, after which guests are welcome to experience L.A. ZooLights until closing at 10 pm.

On December 31, guests of the FAMILY NEW YEAR’S EVE can enjoy dinner, dessert, drinks, games, a DJ dance party, carousel ride, and live broadcast of New York’s Times Square ball drop.
Tickets for HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR are $75 per person (ages 21 and up), or $70 for GLAZA members. FAMILY NEW YEAR’S EVE tickets are $69 for adults (13+) and $45 for children (2-12), or $64 and $40 for GLAZA members. All L.A. Zoo Lights events and evenings take place on a “rain-or-shine” basis, with no rain checks issued.

Admission to the Los Angeles Zoo is $21 for general admission (ages 13 to 61), $18 for seniors (ages 62+), and $16 for children (ages 2 to 12). No ticket is required for children under 2. Admission for Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association members is free.

What: Zoo Lights Happy Hour
Where: Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, 5333 Zoo Drive, LA, 90027
When: Thursday, December 6, 2018; Thursday, December 13, 2018 and December 31, 2018 – see above for times;
Phone: 323-644-4747
Website: www.LAZooLights.org
www.lazoo.org/