ZooLights at Phoenix Zoo is brighter than ever

Colorful lights have become as much a part of the holidays as reindeer, manger scenes and Santa’s sleigh. The Phoenix Zoo takes holiday-light displays to another level with its annual ZooLights spectacular.

Open nightly from Nov. 23 to Jan. 10, ZooLights continues its tradition of growth by adding new sculptures and lights. In honor of the new tiger habitat, ZooLights will have a 3-D tiger sculpture.

Other new 3-D and 4-D sculptures include flowers, a hummingbird and stingrays.

“It adds depth and dimension, and they look fantastic,” said Linda Hardwick, director of communications for the zoo.

Hardwick said many visitors come to ZooLights every year with their family and friends.

“We definitely think it is one of those milestones that leads to the holiday season,” Hardwick said. “For many people, it has become a family tradition.”

Inside the Dickensian scene, visitors can grab a cup of cocoa and stroll past millions of lights strung on trees and sculptures and along the ground.

Every year, couples get engaged and married at ZooLights. Staff members can coordinate a personalized “Will You Marry Me?” sign to light up as a prospective bride or groom proposes.

Holiday scenes of gumdrops, gingerbread men and lollipops will put visitors in a holiday spirit.

On the Tropics Trail, illuminated balls create color-changing effects on palm trees. Lights will be projected on the trees and ground to create even more dazzling scenes.

Guests will see lights as they approach the zoo, as a canopy of lights covers the front bridge.

“It builds the excitement as you are walking into the experience,” Hardwick said.

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Sculptures such as a beehive surrounded by bees and a stream with alligators, hippos and antelope can be seen throughout the zoo.

The pride of lions on the roof of Savanna Grill has grown with the addition of a lioness, lion and lion-cub sculptures.

Popular sculptures from years past, including the swinging primate, komodo dragon and elephant and giraffe families, return this year.

Steve Beimer, a ZooLights team member since 2004, said the sculptures have become more detailed.

“Over the years, we’ve gotten better at making them. I think over time, they have gotten more realistic, but they did start off kind of cartoonish,” Beimer said.

A team of four to five staff members starts putting up lights in July, and it takes until April to take them all down. Some strings of lights are hung 60 to 80 feet high in trees.

Beimer said he still has childlike moments when he looks at the lights.

“Usually after we get a few trees done, I like to power everything up and sit back and remember why I love my job,” Beimer said. “Sometimes, it kind of looks like a wonderland.”

In the new 4-D theater, the zoo will show a condensed version of "The Polar Express" every 20 minutes.

At the Lakeside area, lights twinkle to music from "The Polar Express" and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

ZooLights also creates a holiday mood with demonstrations by an ice-sculpture artist, camel and carousel rides, interactive experiences with Jengo the Talking Giraffe  and Tortuga the Talking Tortoise and Santa visits.

Special events during ZooLight include a Noche de Reyes Magos/Night of the Three Kings celebration on Jan 3. with live mariachi music and visits with the Three Kings.

ZooLights is the largest annual fundraiser for the Phoenix Zoo. Proceeds help fund the care of more than 1,400 animals.

ZooLights

When: 5:30-10:30 p.m. nightly from Nov. 23 to Jan 10.

Where: Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway. 

Admission: $10-$18; $8-$16 for members; free for age 2 and younger. Additional fees for the carousel, Stingray Bay and camel rides.

Details: 602-286-3800. phoenixzoo.org.