It’s just about to be that time of year again when the Philadelphia Zoo gets brighter than ever with LumiNature.
This dazzling showcase features over a million holiday lights throughout the venue, with different themed activations, food and drink options, plus new additions taking over the line-up for 2023.
“The holiday season is such an important time to reconnect with what’s important to us, and LumiNature Presented by PNC is designed to do just that,” says Philadelphia Zoo Chief Experience and Marketing Officer Amy Shearer in a statement. “This truly magical experience will delight and inspire guests of all ages, with brand new custom-designed displays and the return of family favorites with added sparkle.”
Starting out with what’s new this year at the Zoo’s annual activation, Shimmer River for one will feature 20,000 lights that will shimmer to create a 100-f00t long tunnel filled with blooming flowers, multicolored kaleidoscopes and more. Another new feature this year comes in the form of local artists lending their talents to LumiNature Lane by painting 3-foot tall paper lanterns to tell the story of this activation.
Plus, Kris Kringle himself will be making appearances on Dec. 1, 8 and 15, from 5 to 8 p.m. to take selfies with guests inside the Zoo’s Treehouse. All guests have to do is purchase a $10 ticket ahead of time (unless you’re a member, then it’s free) for their own picture with Santa.
Back for another year is a line-up of some fan favorites. The Penguin Prismatic features a 40-foot-tall penguin glowing with 40,000 lights surrounded by a colony of colorful penguins reflecting on the Zoo’s Bird Lake. Visitors will also be able to check out video projections that mimic the Savannah desert. And the finale “showstopper,” titled the Animale Fantasia, will feature cave-like screens situated on a field of lights choreographed to music.
Tis the SEAson features an underwater-themed cascade of lights through a 100-foot-long tunnel that leads to a 20-foot tree decorated as a coral reef. The Whistle-Stop Wonder, on the other hand, utilizes the Wilderness Express Train around the Impala Fountain with a backdrop of 100,000 lights sparkling through the trees. And while there, adults can enjoy piping hot cocoa, seasonal treats, and watch unique light artists perform visually stunning routines.
There’s also the Snake Awake that, as a release states, invites visitors to slither through brilliant purples, blues and greens as a giant snake slithers along beside them. Then, the Big Cat Stalk will have visitors meandering through a path of tall illuminated ‘grass,’ with the stalking eyes of frisky felines appearing and disappearing.
LumiNature first debuted in November 2019, and represented the first evening and holiday program in Philadelphia Zoo’s long history, a release states. The inaugural event drew tens of thousands of visitors, and while plans were in the works for a return in 2020, the Zoo took a one-year break during the pandemic. It returned in 2021.
“The Philadelphia Zoo, America’s first zoo, is a shining star in our city that attracts visitors of all ages throughout the year,” said Joseph G. Meterchick, PNC Bank Regional President for Philadelphia, Delaware and Southern New Jersey in a statement. “Now, LumiNature shines a light on the wonders of the natural world around us and serves as a terrific way to welcome the wonders of the holiday season. We look forward to experiencing LumiNature with families and neighbors across our region.”
LumiNature will be open select nights from Nov. 17 through Jan. 6. LumiNature is a nighttime experience, with timed entrance tickets available every half hour from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. Prices vary by date. For tickets and information, visit philadelphiazoo.org/luminature
