Zoo lights up for holiday nights

Rodolfo Roman
Special to The Miami Herald

Zoo Miami will light up for the holiday season.

Animal lovers can enjoy the zoo’s second annual Zoo Lights event, featuring animal-shaped lights, carolers, and holiday entertainment. The event opens Friday and runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly through Dec. 30, except Dec. 24 and 25, at the zoo, 12400 SW 152nd St.

Admission is $8.95 plus tax per adult and $6.95 plus tax per child.

The holiday celebration is a chance to see the park at night, said Cindy Castelblanco, a zoo spokeswoman.

“The Zoo is rarely open at night, so this is your opportunity to experience it when most of the animals are asleep,” she said. “The zoo is very dark at night, so during these 12 nights, the pathways will be lit by beautiful, bright animal-shaped lights.”

Visitors will get a full experience by wearing a pair of 3-dimensional glasses, which is included with admission.

“When you view any bright distant light, you witness the magical patterns the glasses create,” she said.

Visitors also can enjoy hot chocolate, egg nog, cookies and holiday music.

Several animals like Flamingos, tigers and children’s zoo animals will be available. Also, there will be camel, trackless train, and Wildlife Carrousel rides for a fee. There will be an opportunity to take pictures with Santa Claus and Nickelodeon’s Diego, from Dora the Explorer, for purchase.

On select nights, there will be Yuletide Carolers, Karaoke Caroling and performances by local school choirs and dance groups at Dr. Wilde’s World Plaza.

For ticket information visit www.zoomiami.org.