A moonlit stroll around the zoo beneath lighted monkeys hanging from trees isn’t a typical way to celebrate the holidays.
The Baton Rouge Zoo is hoping to change that.
ZooLights, an event held at the zoo that boasts between 50 and 60 lighted sculptures, will be open from 5 to 8 p.m.
Thursday through Sunday until Dec. 18, and nightly from Dec. 19 to 23 and Dec. 26 to 30.
Marketing and development director for the Baton Rouge Zoo Mary Woods said bigger displays like the giraffe and elephant displays can contain more than 1,000 lights, while smaller displays contain 300 to 500.
Woods said although the ZooLights event is held at zoos across the country, it’s only the second time Baton Rouge has hosted the event. It is a way to draw crowds to the zoo during the slower months of the year, according to Woods.
“December is typically a slow month because of the weather, and people aren’t really thinking about the zoo,” Woods said.
She hopes people will attend the event and return during the zoo’s normal business hours.
“People can come to see the lights and hopefully they’ll come back during the warmer weather or during the day to see the animals,” Woods said.
The event also offers special activities each Friday and Saturday, with different activities each weekend that include events like pictures with Safari Santa, an art show and a reindeer ring toss.
Woods said the event is a “new holiday tradition,” and the zoo hopes to continue ZooLights in the future, adding displays, lights and activities.
Biology sophomore Kelly Dille said she attended a similar event downtown with her parents as a child, but she wouldn’t go now.
“It’s kind of a little kid thing,” Dille said.
Business management junior Erica Lupinski said she attended a similar event last year in her hometown.
Lupinski said these Christmas light displays are fun for anyone and offer something out of the ordinary to do.
Baton Rouge resident Audra Johnston attended ZooLights last week because she had a coupon for it and said it was a good deal. Johnston said the lights were pretty and it offered a good family experience.
“We like to do things outside — anything for the kids besides watching TV,” Johnston said.
Tickets for the zoo are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for children ages two to 12 and free for children $2 and under.
 
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Contact Kevin Thibodeaux at [email protected]