Free Admission to Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

Anyone who hasn't had a chance to see the Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium due to the cost can help the Mid-Ohio Food Bank and get in for free!

A report in This Week Community Newspapers - Dublin Edition indicates that a donation of five cans of food for every person over two years old will be returned with free admission on Wednesday December 22 and Thursday December 23. Additionally, parking will be free for donors.

The regular price for the Wildlights display is $12.99 for adults and $7.99 for children and seniors plus $5.00 for parking. This can leave one of Central Ohio's largest Christmas light displays out of reach financially for many families.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, located at 4850 Powell Road, will be open 10:00 am until 9:00 pm on each day of the special promotion. There is a special need for canned goods such as fruits and vegetables, soups, chili and canned meats. Any commercially packaged, non-perishable food item is welcome. Other food items to donate can include rice, dry beans, pasta, oatmeal and mixes.

The Mid-Ohio Food Bank serves more than 500 food pantries, soup kitchens, senior citizen centers, daycares and homeless shelters throughout Central and Eastern Ohio. They distribute food collected through direct donations, USDA commodities and bulk purchasing arrangements via monetary donations. Operation Feed is their largest annual fundraising event.

In its 22nd year, Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium features almost every structure in the zoo covered with LED lights. All of the zoo displays are open through the day and many special events coincide with Wildlights, many at no additional charge.

Local musicians are on hand every night beginning at 7:00 pm near the entrance of the Holiday Encounters Village and the Reindeer Corral. The Magical Timbernacle Forest Chorus will pay tribute this year to Disney Princesses and Santa will demonstrate his scuba diving abilities at Discover Reef every night at 7:00 PM.

Some Wildlights activities are available for a small fee. The Polar Bear Express train ride is just $1.00 per person and kids can join Mrs. Claus in her kitchen to decorate a cookie for a fee. Photos are available at the Reindeer Corral and with Santa at his house.

Gather enough non-perishable food items and take your family to visit Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for free in 2010!