L.A. Zoo Lights

With Los Angeles being home to eccentric and over-the-top holiday festivities, it can be difficult to find the right event to begin your holiday season. The Los Angeles Zoo is becoming a staple in the cr�me de la cr�me of holiday events with its annual L.A. Zoo Lights. The zoo transforms into a glowing winter wonderland running from November 17, 2017, to January 7, 2018. This spectacle opens nightly from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and it is not one to miss.

Although L.A. Zoo Lights is an annual event, the celebration is changed and upgraded each year. This holiday season at the zoo is full of impressive light displays, dazzling water shows, live music, and out-of-the-box projections that make for the best photo opportunities.

L.A. Zoo Lights does an extraordinary job of mixing the animal kingdom with a very Los Angeles version of the holidays. When entering the park, you are greeted by glowing flamingos, light-up meercats, and even live reindeer. The memorizing lights are paired with music flowing throughout every inch of the park playing creative tracks to pair with the projections along with classic holiday favorites.

Even though most of the animals are asleep, L.A. Zoo lights offer entrance into their reptile lair as well as various animal talks and interactions throughout the night. In addition to the animals, there are appearances and photos with Santa on select nights.

The zoo is filled with festive-themed treats for the family, such as hot cocoa, churros, and much more. For the adults, there are multiple full bar stations serving cocktails all night. Along with the holiday snacks, there are multiple booths selling glowing and light-up accessories to make guests part of the radiant event.

On select nights, L.A. Zoo Lights is hosting special events such as happy hours on December 7 and 14. Happy hour nights are for adults only and provide a different experience catering to its older guests. In addition, the zoo will be hosting a Family New Year's Eve event on December 31 that includes a DJ dance party, buffet dinner, and a broadcasting of the Times Square ball drop to give families the chance to ring in the new year with animal friends.

To ditch some of the lines, be sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time when planning your L.A. Zoo Lights trip to avoid waiting for entrance. The parking is free, but certain nights tend to sell out quickly.

L.A. Zoo Lights runs through January 7, 2018, at the Los Angeles Zoo, 5333 Zoo Dr, Griffith Park, in Los Angeles. For information and tickets, visit http://www.lazoolights.org