Philadelphia Zoo Launching Holiday Light Show In November

PHILADELPHIA — A new holiday light experience is coming to the Philadelphia Zoo this holiday season. The zoo will open LumiNature — a giant-sized fantastical holiday-season light experience with lights, music, and sounds — this November.

LumiNature, presented by JP Morgan Chase & Co., will open on Nov. 20 and remain open through Jan. 5.

The light experience will transform the entire zoo by taking guests on a magical journey of lights, music, sounds and surprises - all designed to inspire and delight each and every night.

Tickets for LumiNature are required and times. Prices are adults $24 and children $19.

Tickets and additional exhibits will be revealed in mid-October.

Later in November look for additional information about seasonal fare, strolling performers, hot chocolate and ever-warming adult beverages that promise to spark the holiday spirit.

LumiNature will feature 12 experiences that include hundreds of illuminated penguins, oversized bold-colored illuminated flowers, a 21-feet tall brilliant colored snake, giant cat eyes glowing in the dark of night, and a 25-foot tree made entirely of lit flamingo lawn ornaments.

More experiences will be announced as LumiNature’s opening date approaches.

The project is a $3.5M investment, and has been in the works for over two years. It was designed exclusively for Philadelphia Zoo.

Here are some exhibit highlights:

• Flamingo Fancy: Guests will be surprised as they walk along brilliantly lit 8-foot pink flamingos forms when they encounter the most whimsical tree within LumiNature: a 25-foot tree made entirely of lit flamingo lawn ornaments!
• Snake Awake: Slither through brilliant purples, blues and greens as a giant snake slithers along beside you…and…every once in a while, a big illuminated mouse will appear suggesting a whimsical dance of a chase taking place.
• Big Cat Stalk: What do the big cats dream of? Maybe us! As you meander through this path of tall illuminated ‘grass’, the stalking eyes of these frisky felines will appear and disappear making you wonder if you are what they are dreaming of.
• Penguin Peace on Earth: Who better to say goodnight and wish every creature on our planet good will but penguins! Hundreds of illuminated penguins will fill the Zoo’s lawn to bid guests farewell and wish them a very special holiday season in true Zoo fashion.
• Wonder of Slumber: Arrive at the Zoo and enter into a beautiful and dreamy setting of lit orbs and giant illuminated flowers.

LumiNature by the numbers will feature:

• More than 600,000 lights
• 6.5 miles of power cord
• 500 colorful illuminated flamingos and a 25 feet tall flamingo holiday tree
• 200 festively lit penguins
• 45 completely custom LED light structures
• 21 foot snake