Twinkly, glowing lights are one of the best parts of the holiday season. As it gets darker and colder, these sparkling gems remind everyone that there is warmth, hope, and color in the world. At the Bronx Zoo, both animals and light are celebrated with a spectacular family-friendly holiday event. Holiday Lights 2024 showcases an explosion of light with lantern trails, interactive exhibits, special performances, and more. Let’s discover what magic can be found at the Bronx Zoo after dark.
About the Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo opened on November 8, 1899. This year, the park is celebrating 125 years of operation. The Zoo is part of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), whose mission is to protect biodiversity and wildlife. At the same time, conserve habitats for a range of creatures around the globe. The WCS achieves this goal through many avenues. These include science research, conservation action, educational programs, and nurturing respect and love for nature in people of all ages. The Bronx Zoo itself is a source of inspiration and wonder. It houses 11,000 animals, representing more than 640 species. It sits on over 260 acres of breathtaking hardwood forest in the Bronx. Additionally, the Bronx Zoo is a great place to connect with wildlife and get inspired to do what we can for these amazing animals. One of the ways to support the Zoo’s mission is to attend special events, like Holiday Lights!
Holiday Lights 2024
As the sun goes down at the Bronx Zoo, you start to get a sense that magic is in the air. The animals grow quiet, and the sounds of the holiday take over; music, a child’s laughter, and gasps of wonder. The lights come on, and you can’t help but smile as you make your way to the lantern trails.
Lantern Trails
Start your journey around the world with 6 lantern trails. These trails feature illuminated lantern sculptures of animals and plants from a variety of habitats. These sculptures are dynamic and dramatically lit. You really get a feel for the bewitching power of these astonishing animals. Some are even animated, such as the flapping wings of a bird or butterfly. Each trail also is adorned with educational information, communicating how WCS works to protect wildlife at field sites out in the world.
Each lantern trail represents a different, unique habitat. Encounter soaring giraffes, fierce lions, and stately elephants in Africa. Stare down imposing rhinos and watch out for hanging fruit bats on the Asia trail. Feel what it is like to shrink down in size in the Forest of Color. The Forest of Color enlarges some of the smallest members of the animal kingdom, such as insects and snails, and imbues them with vibrant colors.
On the Latin America trail, brilliant scarlet macaws soar above while Orinoco crocodiles lurk at your feet. In North America, witness the drama of a pack of wolves chasing down a herd of deer. Lastly, explore the drama of the deep Ocean with the eerie angler fish, unique vampire squid, and the weird deep sea nudibranchs. This is just a sampling of the radiant wildlife you will encounter.
While the Holiday Lights are a delight for the eyes, they also offer great night photography opportunities.
Interact with Light
Touch, create, and even use your feet to play with light at the interactive zone. Here, you can walk on lighted stepping stones to change colors or play with the enchanted flowers to see how they change. In the Enchanted Sea exhibit, marvel at the lighted jellyfish floating above you. While you are there, experience LED swings, ocean-themed interactive light panels, and more interactive floor projections. TIP: This exhibit is also a great warming center if you get chilly.
More to Explore
While the lights are the star, there is so much to do at Holiday Lights 2024. The Bug Carousel is so much fun and appropriate for all ages. This big kid was delighted to take a ride on a giant beetle while laughing and singing holiday songs. Ice carving is also neat. Watch as expert artists create glittering animal sculptures from giant blocks of ice. The end results will amaze you. Family-friendly puppet shows and wildlife trivia are available at the Wildlife Theater in Dancing Crane Plaza. Illuminated performers wander the park. It was delightful to see a sparkling, lighted crane come walking out of the darkness! Finally, if you have little ones, the Holiday Train takes them for a ride around the fountain in Astor Court. TIP: Holiday Train costs a bit extra. It is $4/$3 for members.
Other Handy Things To Know Before Your Visit
Arrive Early
If possible, it is a treat to arrive early for your Holiday Lights experience. Getting there before dark allows you to explore some of the animal exhibits before they close at 4pm. This time of year, the park is not as crowded. Get up close and personal with some of your favorite creatures. If you are a WCS member, admission to the Bronx Zoo itself is free!
Benefits of Membership
If you love zoos and go often, consider becoming a WCS member. You will get free admission for you and a guest to 4 WCS parks with the Dual Zoos Plus membership. These locations include the Bronx Zoo, Queen’s Zoo, Central Park Zoo, and Prospect Park Zoo. Membership also gives free access to otherwise extra-cost experiences such as the Bug Carousel. Year-round membership gets you free or reduced pricing on the entire Bronx Zoo experience. For Holiday Lights, members get access to free special preview nights in November. If the preview is not possible for you, never fear! Regular Holiday Lights tickets are discounted at 40% off throughout the season. Even more exciting, you also get a discount on the Holiday Lights 2024 souvenir cup. The cup comes in two styles, one of which lights up! But wait! The very best part is the souvenir cup gives you access to FREE HOT CHOCOLATE all night!
Food, Drink, and Shopping
There are many food and drink options for your evening at Holiday Lights. The Dancing Crane Cafe is open until the event is over at 9pm. You can pick from many different food options here. There is a little something for everyone. The Holiday Bar features adult offerings with seasonal spiked holiday drinks. On the Patio near the Ocean trail, grab a marshmallow and skewer and build your own S’more. Snack stations throughout the exhibit offer hot pretzels, popcorn, and other delicious fare. If you would like a cute plush animal or fun t-shirt to remember your visit, check out the Bronx Zoo Store. Also open until 9pm, the store has a wide range of toys, apparel, jewelry, and other souvenirs. All the money you spend helps WCS take care of more animals in the parks and around the world. TIP: Nights in New York can be cold. The Cafe and Zoo Store can be great places to stop and warm up for a bit.
Turning the Holiday Lights Back On
For many years, the Bronx Zoo did not host the Holiday Lights exhibit. The energy needed to produce all the lights was just too much. This did not meet the conservation mission of the WCS. However, with the advent of LED technology, the lights came back on in 2019. Now, the power used is no more than would be used for an average air conditioner. This is great news for Zoo lovers! This is a wonderful event that gives a whole new way to experience the zoo and its animals. The lights are dazzling, the atmosphere is electric, and the energy joyful. Everyone is happy to be there, and merriment is the order of the evening. If you live in New York or are going to be visiting for the holidays, Holiday Lights 2024 should be on your must-do list.
