The Reindeer Romp: Holiday Celebrations at the Los Angeles Zoo

One of the greatest places in
Los Angeles
to visit during the holiday season in the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. It's a tremendous place to visit any time, really, but the holidays are especially fun for the whole family. The Reindeer Romp is a series of great fun events at the zoo which take place during the holiday season.

November 23: Reindeer Romp Begins!

The holiday season begins at the zoo on November 23. It's on this day that the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens welcomes some special visitors - reindeer! The Reindeer Romp continues through the end of the year and features fun, joyful activities that everyone can enjoy. For children there are craft activities, and there are keeper talks for the whole family. You can learn things about reindeer that will astound you. For example, some reindeer can weigh over 600 pounds. Once you see these animals you'll be very impressed. Reindeer can run up to 50 miles an hour. Reindeer have nifty hooves on their feet that are almost like claws, and they use them to keep their footing on icy surfaces. Reindeer at the zoo should be seen!

November 25: Cool with the Cold program

On November 25, from 9:30 to noon there will be a special program called "Cool With The Cold." The program will focus on animals that live in climates where the temperature drops below zero and there is snow on the ground. It will show how the animals keep warm and find food, and will show you how you can keep warm and find food if you're in a place like that.

December 11 and 12: Reindeer Rendezvous

Kids of all ages who want to get a chance to really get to know the reindeer will have the chance on December 11 and 12. At 10 a.m. on each day, there will be Reindeer Rendezvous! You can learn what it feels like to have hooves and antlers, have an up-close and personal moment with the reindeer, and there will even be an opportunity to play those famed reindeer games that were once so exclusive.

December 15, 16, 17:
Holiday
Nights!

But all these other events are tame compared to the big blast, the great celebration, the crème de la crème of zoo events: Holiday Nights. From December 15 through 17, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens will be open late, and this year, for the first time in the long and fabled history of the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the forecast for Holiday Nights will include snow! That's right! Snow! You wouldn't want to miss out on all the fund that the Holiday Nights will include, such as caroling and holiday stories, a visit from Santa Claus himself, and even a chance to pick up some gifts for those hard-to-please folks that you have on your giving list.

December 18-22:
Los Angeles
Zoo Camp

After the Holiday Nights, amazingly, there is another great opportunity for youngsters to enjoy themselves at the zoo, and have fun during the winter break from school. The Los Angeles Zoo Camp Winter 2006 will be held from December 18 through 22, from 8 a.m. to noon. Children as young as 4 and as old as 9 can enjoy a week of morning fun at the zoo. Children are dropped off in a safe and fun setting where they will be able to make friends with both people and animals. A teacher and trained assistants will lead the children through games, crafts, activities, and tours of the zoo, all centered on the theme of the day. The price for a whole week of fun is $100 for members and $125 for non-members.

Join the Zoo! It's worth it.

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens costs $10 for adults to enter, and $5 for children from 2 to 17, but the membership packages are a great deal for any area resident. For just $65 a year, you can purchase a family membership that entitles you to unlimited admission for two adults and all your children 17 and under. There are other packages for individuals, couples, and there are higher levels of membership as well. A bonus perk of being a member is that you can go to the Merry Members Nights on December 2 and 3, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This is a holiday festival which always draws a large and friendly crowd out to see the animals and have fun.