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READERS' CHOICE AWARDS
Christmas Lights

These 10 zoos have holiday light displays that really shine

10Best Editors
Each winter, zoos across the U.S. get into the holiday spirit with festive seasonal displays. Once the sun sets and the animals go to bed, these 10 zoos – voted the best for their holiday light displays in the 10Best.com Readers ' Choice Awards – are illuminated with winter magic. Scroll to see which zoos are the best for celebrating the season.
Each winter, zoos across the U.S. get into the holiday spirit with festive seasonal displays. Once the sun sets and the animals go to bed, these 10 zoos – voted the best for their holiday light displays in the 10Best.com Readers' Choice Awards – are illuminated with winter magic. Scroll to see which zoos are the best for celebrating the season.
Jamie Pham / Los Angeles Zoo
No. 10: L.A. Zoo Lights in Los Angeles, California. Holiday-lovers of all ages are in for a treat this year at L.A. Zoo Lights with the debut of the World ’ s Largest Illuminated Pop-Up Storybook. Located in world-famous Griffith Park , L.A. Zoo guests can take a self-guided tour of animal-themed light and sound displays, visit Santa Claus (on select days), shop the local holiday marketplace and warm up over a cup of hot cocoa and festive churros.
No. 10: L.A. Zoo Lights in Los Angeles, California. Holiday-lovers of all ages are in for a treat this year at L.A. Zoo Lights with the debut of the World’s Largest Illuminated Pop-Up Storybook. Located in world-famous Griffith Park, L.A. Zoo guests can take a self-guided tour of animal-themed light and sound displays, visit Santa Claus (on select days), shop the local holiday marketplace and warm up over a cup of hot cocoa and festive churros.
Jamie Pham / Los Angeles Zoo
No. 9: Holiday Lights at California Living Museum in Bakersfield, California. Holiday Lights at the California Living Museum (CALM Zoo) is entering its 17th year in 2019 with more than three million lights and 250 animated displays across 10 themed lands. More than 400 trees and bushes are lit, and visitors can pass beneath four tunnels of holiday lights. Freshly made apple dumplings and kettle corn are on the menu.
No. 9: Holiday Lights at California Living Museum in Bakersfield, California. Holiday Lights at the California Living Museum (CALM Zoo) is entering its 17th year in 2019 with more than three million lights and 250 animated displays across 10 themed lands. More than 400 trees and bushes are lit, and visitors can pass beneath four tunnels of holiday lights. Freshly made apple dumplings and kettle corn are on the menu.
California Living Museum
No. 8: Philadelphia Zoo LumiNature in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. LumiNature presented by JP Morgan Chase & Company is new to the Philadelphia Zoo this year. This holiday event features 12 experiences themed around animals in the zoo, like a 21-foot-tall snake, hundreds of illuminated penguins and a 25-foot tree made of flamingo lawn ornaments. Plenty of lights, music and special effects round out the offering.
No. 8: Philadelphia Zoo LumiNature in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  LumiNature presented by JP Morgan Chase & Company is new to the Philadelphia Zoo this year. This holiday event features 12 experiences themed around animals in the zoo, like a 21-foot-tall snake, hundreds of illuminated penguins and a 25-foot tree made of flamingo lawn ornaments. Plenty of lights, music and special effects round out the offering.
Philadelphia Zoo
No. 7: Lights Before Christmas at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in Columbia, South Carolina. Nearly one million dazzling lights illuminate Riverbanks Zoo during Lights Before Christmas, one of Columbia ' s longest running holiday events. Festivities include a Holly Jolly Christmas Parade, nightly visits with Santa, an animated story tree, a Jingle Bell Bonfire and plenty of holiday treats, like s ' mores and hot cocoa.
No. 7: Lights Before Christmas at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in Columbia, South Carolina. Nearly one million dazzling lights illuminate Riverbanks Zoo during Lights Before Christmas, one of Columbia's longest running holiday events. Festivities include a Holly Jolly Christmas Parade, nightly visits with Santa, an animated story tree, a Jingle Bell Bonfire and plenty of holiday treats, like s'mores and hot cocoa.
Riverbanks Zoo And Garden
No. 6: Christmas at the Zoo at the Indianapolis Zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Indianapolis Zoo is celebrating its 52nd year of Christmas at the Zoo in 2019. The event features Santa ’ s Village, where guests can meet the merry man himself, decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus and see the reindeer in their barn. Several animal residents will stay up for the illuminated celebration, including seals, sea lions, brown bears, red pandas and tigers.
No. 6: Christmas at the Zoo at the Indianapolis Zoo in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Indianapolis Zoo is celebrating its 52nd year of Christmas at the Zoo in 2019. The event features Santa’s Village, where guests can meet the merry man himself, decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus and see the reindeer in their barn. Several animal residents will stay up for the illuminated celebration, including seals, sea lions, brown bears, red pandas and tigers.
Indianapolis Zoo
No. 5: WildLights at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, California. The Living Desert is celebrating its 27th year of WildLights with more than a million lights decorating its pathways and life-size animal lanterns. Visitors can walk through a tunnel of lights, visit with St. Nick, get up close to Santa ' s reindeer, ride a carousel and participate in holiday arts and crafts.
No. 5: WildLights at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, California. The Living Desert is celebrating its 27th year of WildLights with more than a million lights decorating its pathways and life-size animal lanterns. Visitors can walk through a tunnel of lights, visit with St. Nick, get up close to Santa's reindeer, ride a carousel and participate in holiday arts and crafts.
Living Desert Zoo And Gardens
No. 4: U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo in St. Louis, Missouri. While gazing at over a million holiday lights, guests of the Saint Louis Zoo during its annual Wild Lights event can also enjoy campfire s ' mores around warming fire pits, holiday carolers and strolling live performances, meet-and-greets with costumed characters and festive holiday crafts. Some animal exhibits, including Penguin & Puffin Coast and the Insectarium remain open during the fun.
No. 4: U.S. Bank Wild Lights at the Saint Louis Zoo in St. Louis, Missouri. While gazing at over a million holiday lights, guests of the Saint Louis Zoo during its annual Wild Lights event can also enjoy campfire s'mores around warming fire pits, holiday carolers and strolling live performances, meet-and-greets with costumed characters and festive holiday crafts. Some animal exhibits, including Penguin & Puffin Coast and the Insectarium remain open during the fun.
Saint Louis Zoo
No. 3: Electric Safari at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Some 50 acres at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are illuminated with 85 light sculptures during the park ' s annual Electric Safari. Select animal exhibits remain open during the festivities, and warming fires spread throughout the grounds offer a place to thaw those cold fingers.
No. 3: Electric Safari at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Some 50 acres at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are illuminated with 85 light sculptures during the park's annual Electric Safari. Select animal exhibits remain open during the festivities, and warming fires spread throughout the grounds offer a place to thaw those cold fingers.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
No. 2: Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo in Toledo, Ohio. The 2019 installment of Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo features more than a million holiday lights and some 200 illuminated animal images, as well as an ice slide, photo ops with Santa and an 85-foot Norway spruce tree decorated with 35,000 LED bulbs. Mom and Dad can even grab a spiked beverage from the Beer Garden.
No. 2: Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo in Toledo, Ohio. The 2019 installment of Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo features more than a million holiday lights and some 200 illuminated animal images, as well as an ice slide, photo ops with Santa and an 85-foot Norway spruce tree decorated with 35,000 LED bulbs. Mom and Dad can even grab a spiked beverage from the Beer Garden.
Toledo Zoo
No. 1: PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo in Cincinnati, Ohio. During the annual PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo , some 3 million LED lights illuminate the night. Visitors can meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, watch a lights show on Swan Lake, drool over a gingerbread village, munch on s ' mores or ride the Toyland Express train.
No. 1: PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo in Cincinnati, Ohio. During the annual PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo, some 3 million LED lights illuminate the night. Visitors can meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, watch a lights show on Swan Lake, drool over a gingerbread village, munch on s'mores or ride the Toyland Express train.
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
To browse more Readers ' Choice contests, cast a vote or view other results, visit 10Best.com – your source for what ' s tops in travel, food and culture.
To browse more Readers' Choice contests, cast a vote or view other results, visit 10Best.com – your source for what's tops in travel, food and culture.
IStock / Svetikd
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