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LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo
Each year, LumiNature decks the grounds and trims the trees of the Philadelphia Zoo with over 1 million magical lights and dozens of wildlife-inspired holiday displays.
Explore 16 distinct zones of illuminated art, transporting you under the sea, over the savannah and through the Arctic with light and sound.
Along the way, snap pics at fun photo ops and get groovy with light performers paying homage to the animals that call these habitats home.
The LumiNature experience also features playful activities for kids of all ages, pay-as-you-go snacks and warm drinks, and a lion’s share of seasonal cheer.
LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo runs through January 4, 2025.
The Philadelphia Zoo in West Philadelphia inspires wonder and an appreciation for nature year-round.
And each winter since 2019, LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo has celebrated wildlife with a festive flair, transforming its 42 acres into a nighttime holiday experience.
— Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Zoo
Most of the animals head indoors before LumiNature opens its gates each night, so you won’t see many of the zoo’s year-round residents in person during your visit.
But the light show stars handcrafted light sculptures resembling animals, insects and sea life from around the world.
By Sabrina Carter, Web
We are big on the holidays in my household. Actually, the holiday season is basically my Super Bowl (and my family’s, by extension). The lights, the music, the traditions — we look forward to it all, all year long.
That’s not to say we aren’t open to new traditions — LumiNature has been on our seasonal bucket list, especially my father’s, for the last few years.
— Photo by Visit Philadelphia
So after work on a random Thursday in November, the four of us — my mother, father, 26-year-old brother and myself — met up at the Philadelphia Zoo for the light show’s opening.
Was it as magical and holiday tradition-worthy as it seemed?
Drumroll, please…
Duh, absolutely!
It felt more like a festival than a light show with interactive performers, music (and other wildlife-like sounds) and treats.
The bright and whimsical lights naturally put the “festive” in festival, but, unlike a lot of seasonal attractions, the experience focused less on any one holiday and more on celebrating our vibrant and diverse planet.
Here are a few of our favorite high-lights from the annual light show (in no particular order).
At 25 feet tall, this picture-perfect pink tree towers above all. Comprised of 1,500 plastic lawn flamingo figurines and shaped like an evergreen, this tree makes the perfect backdrop for a holiday family portrait, greeting card or IG post.
It’s an ideal welcome to LumiNature’s fourth zone, Flamingo Fancy, which features a twinkling canopy of 150,000 pink and aquamarine bulbs.
New for 2024, this 100-foot-long, color-changing light tunnel makes its debut in the Shimmer Snake zone to rave reviews (especially from my brother).
This zone features 20,000 twinkling lights — 4,000 of which are found in this kaleidoscopic tunnel alone — as well as a massive, 13-foot-tall, blue gorilla made of reclaimed car hoods and wearing a glow-in-the-dark lei. We named him Bob.
My mother has a certain fondness for trains, so she was delighted to see the Septa PZ Express train in the Seasonbration zone.
We didn’t actually ride the Septa PZ Express because it is most ideal for the littlest LumiNature guests, but we watched the train wind its way around the giant color-changing sphere representing our planet and the 400 glowing orbs around it as music and sound effects played.
Lose yourself in a high-energy light show on a gigantic penguin filled with 40,000 (!) coordinated lights that sparkle and dance to holiday classics and Philadelphia anthems (think: the Rocky theme song and Philadelphia Freedom).
Located on Bird Lake, our 40-foot-tall feathered friend (Do penguins have feathers?) lights up with wintry animal- and Philly-inspired scenes of snakes, the Liberty Bell and more while surrounded by 100 glowing birdie backup dancers.
I adore elephants. One of my personal favorite zones, the Twilight Savannah, features audio-visual projections of elephants, giraffes, lions and other animals native to the African grasslands.
Projected onto a huge rock and accompanied by elephants trumpeting, lions roaring and music reminiscent of The Lion King, the show mesmerized me.
LumiNature’s large-scale light displays are divided into 16 distinct zones, each inspired by a different theme.
For example, the first zone, Flutter Flair, welcomes you to the immersive experience with dozens of color-changing butterflies, while ‘Tis the SEAson features sea turtles and jellyfish as your guides through the oceanic display.
The 2024 light show features many returning favorites, like Penguin Prismatica’s 100-plus partying penguins and the attention-grabbing flamingo tree (more on those below), but keep an eye out for new additions like LumiNature 360, a multicolor celebration of wildlife around the globe, and the Polar Play zone, a winter wonderland complete with a frosted-over lake (no skates required, though!), friendly white fox and fun activities.
Throughout all 16 zones, you run into wildlife-inspired performers like a stilt-walking parrot or breakdancing chameleon to dance with, plus interactive games and elements for all ages.
While exploring the grounds, keep an eye out for the many niches to pop a squat (sometimes near a cozy heater or fire pit) and grab a snack, warm drink, beer, or glass of mulled wine from a refreshments booth or food truck.
LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo opens on select nights from 5 to 9 p.m., with timed entrance tickets available every 15 minutes from 5 to 7:15 pm.
Tickets can be purchased online at the Philadelphia Zoo’s official website. Prices range from $18 to $29, while kids two years old and under enter free of charge.
The zoo has several parking lots, as well as a four-story parking garage.
Public transit is also a great option. SEPTA buses and trolleys, including the No. 38 bus and No. 15 trolley, stop within blocks of the zoo. For stops and schedules, visit Septa’s official website.
For more information about LumiNature at the Philadelphia Zoo, click the button below.
The only way to fully experience Philly? Stay over.
Book the Visit Philly Overnight Package and get free hotel parking and choose-your-own-adventure perks.
Or maybe you’d prefer to buy two Philly hotel nights and get a third night for free? Then book the new Visit Philly 3-Day Stay package.
Which will you choose?
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