Holiday Light Festival Coming To Cleveland Zoo

CLEVELAND — This year, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will roll out a new holiday-themed festival for guests: the Wild Winter Lights. The zoo will put up one million lights throughout the park, in celebration of all holiday traditions.

Wild Winter Lights will feature more than a dozen interactive zones for guests to explore, including Snow Safari, Glacier Glade and Santa's North Pole Lodge. Each zone will boast its own holiday twist, like a 16-foot-tall teddy bear, giant sugar cookies or the A-Roar-A Borealis. There will also be games like snowball toss for guests to participate in.

“We are thrilled to be a part of establishing this one-of-a-kind holiday event for the community that will become a holiday tradition for families across Northeast Ohio,” Chuck Keiper, executive director, NOPEC, which is partnering with the zoo for Wild Winter Lights.

Wild Winter Lights will start November 22 and continue until January 5. The festival will start at 5:30 p.m. and run until 9:30 p.m. on weekends, the zoo said. The event will also be open on Thursdays, starting December 5.

Tickets for the event are limited and can be purchased online. Zoo members pay $15.50 for tickets, while non-members pay $18.50. A four-pack of tickets costs $50. Advance ticket sales end at 2 p.m. on the day of the event. A limited number of tickets will be available on the day of the event, though prices will increase. Children 2 and under are free.

“We continue to ask guests for feedback to enhance our events and create new and compelling experiences,” said Kelly Manderfield, the zoo's chief marketing officer. “Whether you’re looking for a romantic stroll, a night out with friends or an adventure for the whole family, Wild Winter Lights promises to be unforgettable for all this holiday season.”