Whether you're ready or not, it's time to start thinking about Christmas. Before you've even had time to start picking out gifts, LA Zoo Lights has announced its return.
The ticketed holiday lighting display will once again blanket the Los Angeles Zoo from November 27 through January 3. Admission has gone up just a few bucks for the second annual fest; it'll cost $13 on weekdays and $16 on weekends, though you'll be able to snag $10 early bird tickets for the week after opening and select "$9 after 9 pm" passes. Timed tickets are on sale now.
Think of LA Zoo Lights as the spiritual successor to the old DWP Holiday Lights. Whereas that display brought motorists careening at a snail's pace through Griffith Park's windy roads, the zoo's fest finds visitors trekking through the front half of the festively illuminated grounds on foot.
This year's installment blankets even more lights across a larger area of the zoo, including in and around the LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles). It'll be impossible to miss the cold-blooded sanctuary thanks to a 130-foot illuminated snake on its rooftop.
The zoo is also launching two new tie-in events: the 21-plus Holiday Happy Hour and the all-ages Family New Year's Eve. The former, on December 10, offers front-of-the-line entry to LA Zoo Lights and a private lounge with hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and hot and cold cocktails, all for $75 per person. The family event offers a similarly VIP experience ($65 for adults and $40 for children), tailored for all ages to ring in the new year.
Last year's event became an instant holiday staple. We found it charming, from the animated elephant statues to the twinkly light tunnels, and surprisingly tasteful. Hopefully the added space as well as the timed tickets and tiered pricing will ease some of last year's thick crowds.