Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

December 10, 2012 - Jacksonville, Fl -

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens invites everyone to the premiere of ZOOLights, a lighting and holiday extravaganza that is sure to become an annual family favorite! As you walk through the Zoo, you’ll see thousands of brilliant LED lights, moving sculptures, forests of lighted trees, and a plethora of lit animal silhouettes, including some of your favorites like giraffes and a gorilla—all while listening to the sounds of the season.

There will be themed photo opportunities at Main Camp, and the train station will be all aglow for passengers to ride a full circle around the Zoo to see special lights, displays and Christmas trees. Next stop is the Range of the Jaguar, where you can enjoy dancers and carolers while singing along to your favorite holiday tunes. Go up and down and all around at the 4-D Theatre showing a special edition of “Polar Express”.  Then go to the Great Lawn to meet and greet the stars of the season, Santa Claus (who’ll be ready to hear all your wishes through December 24), Santa’s elves, Mrs. Claus, and the Zoo’s popular mascot, Jazoo. And don’t miss the snow falls each night at 8:00 p.m. Kids can also enjoy riding down the giant slide, playing in the bounce house and playing the reindeer games. Don’t forget to gather around the fire pit to warm-up, roast marshmallows and see some of your favorite holiday cartoons playing in the background.

“Our Zoo is very proud to bring this beautiful holiday festival to our families and friends on the First Coast and surrounding areas.  It will be fun for everyone,” says Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Executive Director, Tony Vecchio.  “Our staff has done a fabulous job of taking the familiar holiday rituals and adding a unique Zoo twist to create a great family tradition for our community.” 
Admission to ZOOLights is $7 for Zoo members and $9 for non-members.  Purchase tickets online save.  Additional small fees apply to Carousel, Train and 4-D Ride. Get more information about ZOOLights at jacksonvillezoo.org. 

For nearly a century, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experiences in a caring environment. Started in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens now has more than 1,800 rare and exotic animals. It has won national acclaim for its South American Range of the Jaguar exhibit and regional, state and local awards for its botanical gardens. The Jacksonville Zoo is a nonprofit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is open year-round, seven days a week, from 9:00 a.m.to 5:00 p.m., except Christmas day, and is located on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95.  For more information on the Zoo, log on to http://www.jacksonvillezoo.org.