Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo

This year, 2007, is the 22nd annual Lights Before Christmas display at the Toledo Zoo. The Toledo Zoo is located in Toledo, Ohio on the Anthony Wayne Trail (SR 25), four miles south of downtown Toledo. More than 2.6 million people have visited the Lights Before Christmas at The Toledo Zoo since it started in 1986. This has become a family tradition for many Toledo residents. Many residents take visiting family and guests to see the light show during the holiday season.

More than one million twinkling lights and over 200 illuminated animal figures will have you jumping for joy! Visitors will also enjoy Christmas carolers on selected evenings. If you go on a Thursday evening, make sure you catch the ice-carving demonstrations. Young and old can ride on the Safari Railway . This year you can find 40 breathtaking illuminated arches around the Safari Railway tracks. Also check out the new dazzling light displays in and around the new Africa exhibit. Don't forget to pick out your favorite animal to ride on the African Animal Carousel!

Check out the model train display while you enjoy some hot chocolate and other holiday treats. There is are an abundance of unique gifts and souvenirs in the North Star Trading Post gift shop. Make sure to top off the evening for the children with a visit to Santa Claus in the Toledo Zoo's historic indoor theater. Santa will be available through December 23rd.

The 85 foot Norway spruce, located by the Conservatory, is adorned with over 32,000 lights! There are more lights on that tree than on the famous Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center. Speaking of lights! A "Dancing Light Show" which will be repeated throughout the evening, is located near Cheetah Valley. A whole forest of trees has been decorated in green, red and white lights. All of these lights are synchronized to music. The lights dance and blink to the holiday tunes like "Jingle Bells" and "Walking in a Winter Wonderland. These lights are LED lights only. Not all the lights at the Toledo Zoo are LED lights. But as they need to buy additional lights for the displays they will be the energy saving LED lights only.

Hours for the Lights Before Christmas are:
Monday through Thursday from 5 pm until 8 pm (park closes at 9 pm)
Friday through Sunday from 5 pm until 9 pm (park closes at 10 pm)
(through Dec. 31st, except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)

Admission prices are:
$8.00 for adults
$6.00 for children (2-11) and seniors (60+)
children under age 2 are FREE

Toledo Zoo members receive ONE FREE VISIT to "Lights"

Lights Before Christmas is presented by KeyBank and FirstEnergy Foundation.

The parking lot on the Anthony Wayne Trail fills up quickly each night. The Toledo Zoo has additional parking available in the Value City parking lot at Detroit Ave. & SR 25. From that parking lot there is a free shuttle service to the Zoo.

For more information please visit their website at: www.toledozoo.org or call The Toledo Zoo at 419/385-4040.