What’s good this weekend: L.A. Zoo Lights 2017

L.A. Zoo Lights 2017 sets aglow this weekend—and this year the 21-and-up crowd can celebrate the season with exclusive holiday happy hours with two evenings during L.A. Zoo Lights, including “Flapjacks and Flannel” on Thursday, December 7 and “Tamales and Tequila” on Thursday, December 14.

Get ready to make a date with your significant other, family, or friends because the L.A. Zoo Lights returns for its fourth spectacular year to shimmer for seven weeks of wonder, awe and “wow!” from Friday, November 17, 2017, through Sunday, January 7, 2018 (except November 23 and December 24/25) at the L.A. Zoo. And you can wander into zoo-wonderland with a self-guided 60- to 90-minute walking tour through a large area of the Zoo!

 

ENTERTAINMENT

The Zoo will be set aglow with LED lights by the thousands, a disco ball forest, glittering twinkle tunnel, stunning 3-D animated projections and much more. A burst of breathtaking new features raises the bar for awe-inspiring nighttime holiday delight, among them a dynamic, musical holiday tree experience, a reimagined water show, a glittering “North Pole” setting for Santa photos, glowing “Northern Lights” featuring animal constellations that come to life, and an all-new “Wild Wonderland” finale spotlighting endangered and vulnerable species. L.A. Zoo Lights was established by the private, non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA) as a festive annual tradition to celebrate the Zoo’s important role as an international leader in the preservation of endangered species, a conservation center for the care and study of wildlife and a special place for people of all ages in the world’s entertainment capital.

While most animal residents are asleep, visitors can enjoy the only opportunity in Los Angeles to see a herd of real reindeer in their “Reindeer Village” habitat. Other live animals on view are a multitude of amphibians, invertebrates and reptiles in the LAIR, which also boasts black-lit “insects” scurrying above the rock walls. An inventive collection of animals depicted in lights range from frogs, meerkats, flamingos and monkeys to a glowing savanna with a “stained glass” condor, giraffe, elephant, polar bear, and rhino. Photos with Santa on select dates are available for an additional fee in a glittering “North Pole” setting to capture holiday memories, and the Zoo’s hand-crafted Tom Mankiewicz Conservation Carousel is open during L.A. Zoo Lights, with $3 per person on-site tickets.

 

EATS

Make merry with hot chocolate, churros, Smore’s Sundaes, handcrafted gourmet pizza slices, craft beer by Golden Road and sweet and savory pretzels with warm dipping sauces

 

HOLIDAY HAPPY HOURS

“Flapjacks and Flannel,” sponsored by Bushmills’ Red Bush Irish Whiskey, features a menu of fried chicken biscuit sandwich with honey-apple butter; banana, butterscotch and pecan silver dollar pancakes; pork belly grits; mini leek, potato, and goat cheese quiche; and shaved fennel and citrus salad. The evening’s signature cocktail is Bushmills’ Red Bush Maple Mint Julep, with Bushmills’ Red Bush Irish Whiskey, maple syrup, and fresh mint. Media Sponsor KCRW will be on-site with lawn games and family fun.

At “Tamales and Tequila,” which is sponsored by VIVA XXXII Tequila, the menu includes chicken tamales with salsa verde; vegetarian tamale; Spanish rice and beans; pork pozole verde and assorted toppings; and anise and cinnamon churros & Mexican wedding cookies. “Tamales and Tequila’s” signature cocktail is VIVA XXXII Prickly Pear Margarita, with VIVA XXXII Tequila, lime, and Desert Pear Syrup.

Both evenings feature “skip-the-line” express entry to L.A. Zoo Lights at 6 pm, with a private lounge from 6:30 to 8:30 pm including gourmet hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and a signature cocktail, after which guests are welcome to experience L.A. Zoo Lights until closing at 10 pm. Tickets for HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR are $75 per person and $70 for GLAZA members.

 

FAMILY NEW YEAR’S EVE

On Sunday, December 31 at 6pm celebrate the coming of 2018 in style with “skip-the-line” express entry to L.A. Zoo Lights, dinner buffet, soft drinks, a glass of complimentary champagne for adults, sparkling apple cider for kids, dessert, a ride on the Conservation Carousel, games, DJ dance party, cash bar and live broadcast of New York’s Times Square ball drop at 9 pm, after which guests are welcome to experience L.A. Zoo Lights until closing. FAMILY NEW YEAR’S EVE tickets are $69 for adults and $45 for children. GLAZA members save $5. Tickets for all three “VIP Experiences” have limited availability, so early purchase is strongly suggested.
 

TICKETS & DETAILS

Admission to L.A. Zoo Lights is $10 with online purchase for all ages (2 and older) and times during “Preview Week” from November 17 to 22. Thereafter, admission prices vary and range from $14.95 to $19.95 for adults (13+) and $11.95 to $14.95 for children (2-12). Children under age 2 are free. Tickets for members of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association are $10 during the entire run, the deepest member discount ever offered. A special unlimited-access L.A. Zoo Lights Season Pass, with express entry privileges nightly, is $49.95 for adults and $44.95 for children ages 2 to 12. 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. Holiday Happy Hour and Family New Year’s Eve benefits require a separate ticket, even for Season Pass holders. All L.A. ZooLights events and evenings take place on a “rain-or-shine” basis, with no rain checks issued. Visit LAZoolights.org for details and to purchase tickets. To become a GLAZA member and receive discounted ticket pricing, go to www.lazoo.org/membership or call 323-644-4747.

The Los Angeles Zoo is located in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways, at 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA  90027, 323-644-4200. Free parking is available. For additional information about L.A. Zoo Lights, call 866-949-8007; call center hours are 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week. For tickets and more, visit LAZoolights.org.