AKRON, Ohio — The Akron Zoo's Wild Lights, an annual Christmas staple, will return for the 2024 holiday season, the zoo announced Thursday.
The holiday lighting event will begin on Nov. 29 and continue on select nights through Dec. 30. In a press release the zoo boasted a "refreshed look" for the light displays this year.
The event will be open to visitors from 5-9 p.m. Here are all the dates Wild Lights will be running:
- Nov. 29-30, Dec. 1
- Dec. 6-8
- Dec. 13-23
- Dec. 26-27
- Dec. 29-30
The zoo will be decorated in more than 1,000,000 lights, officials said. Guests can also take pictures with Santa Claus on all dates through Dec. 23, and can visit the Grinch every night of the event, the zoo said.
For those who want to enjoy the holiday fun without large crowds, loud music or flashing lights, the zoo is running a special "Zoothing Wild Lights" event on Thursday, Dec. 12 from 5-9 p.m. To minimize crowd sizes, a limited number of tickets will be available separately from general admission Wild Lights tickets.
The zoo is also offering Wild Lights Safari Tours, a 45-minute private golf cart tour of the festivities, on all Wild Lights nights. For $250 for zoo members and $275 for non-members, up to five people can participate in the tour and receive admission to Wild Lights, a light-up necklace and a s'mores kit.
On all evenings up to Dec. 23, a special Santa Express golf cart tour complete with private time with Santa Claus himself, is also available for $300 (members) or $325 (non-members).
Tickets for Wild Lights general admission cost for members is $12-20 for adults and $8-16 for children. For non-members, prices range from $16-24 for adults and $12-20 for kids. Infants under 2 years old and parking are free.
