Cascade Mountain's Family Guide

• Posted: Oct 24th, 2017

WHAT:             
Friends and families are invited to commemorate the holiday season at Woodland Park Zoo’s sixth annual WildLights presented by Sound Credit Union. The electrifying, after-hours event runs from Friday, November 24, 2017 through Monday, January 1, 2018, 5:30-8:30 p.m. nightly. Guests will be transported to a festive winter wonderland complete with lights, treats, animals and more. Tickets are available for purchase at zoo.org/wildlights.
 
Over 600,000 energy-efficient LED lights illuminate the paths of Woodland Park Zoo through dazzling displays of wild animals and exotic destinations. WildLights guests can enjoy brilliant indoor and outdoor displays, a Winter Warm Up area, a ride on the zoo’s decorated Historic Carousel (additional fee) and a visit from Santa and a couple of his reindeer! Zoomazium, the zoo’s indoor nature play space, will be transformed into Snowmazium which will be open every night for storytelling and the ever-popular [faux] snowball fights.
 
Keep an eye out for the man in red! Santa will stop by WildLights every Friday through Sunday prior to Christmas as well as every night from December 18 through 23. Guests can head over to Santa’s Camp to meet jolly old Saint Nick and take a commemorative Santa photo (additional fee).
 
The Winter Warm Up area will be located at the south side of the Rain Forest Food Pavilion and open every night to guests of all ages. The Winter Warm Up area will offer for purchase delicious winter treats including flat bread pizza, make-your-own s’mores kits, and hot cider and cocoa. Guests 21 and older can enjoy a selection of hand crafted local beer and wine and specialty hot drinks while cozying up under the covered [outdoor] space or near one of the many fire pits located near the Rain Forest Food Pavilion and Pacific Blue Chowder House. ID is required to order alcoholic beverages. The Pacific Blue Chowder House, located on the east side of the zoo, will feature a selection of house-made chowders, burgers and hot drinks.
 
While most of the zoo’s animals will be nestled in for the night, several creatures will still be stirring at the Adaptations Building, which houses sloths, Indian flying foxes, Komodo dragons and meerkats. In addition, the zoo’s animals and keepers from the cast of “Earn Your Wings” will make scheduled appearances at WildLife Theater Fridays through Sundays.
 
WHEN:            
WildLights: November 24, 2017–January 1, 2018, 5:30–8:30 p.m. nightly
WildLights will be closed December 24 and 25
 
WHERE:          
Enter through Woodland Park Zoo’s West Entrance on Phinney Ave. N. between N. 55^th & N. 56^th Streets.
 
TICKETS:        
Tickets go on sale Thursday, November 9, at 10:00 a.m., and can be purchased online by visiting zoo.org/wildlights or at zoo gates during regular zoo hours. Night-of-event tickets will be sold at the zoo’s West Entrance, if not sold out. WildLights will be a rain or shine event‒-there will be no ticket refunds.
 
Ticket prices November 24–December 14: Adults (13+): $9.95; Children (3–12): $7.95; Toddlers (2 and under): free. Ticket prices December 15–January 1: Adults (13+): $11.95; Children (3­–12): $9.95; Toddlers (2 and under): free. Zoo member special offer: $2 off adult tickets purchased November 24 through December 14.
 
Free parking is available in the Penguin, Otter and Bear parking lots. The Hippo and Flamingo lots will open as needed.