’Tis The Lights Before Christmas

Toledo, Ohio—It’s time once again for The Lights Before Christmas, The Toledo Zoo’s holiday spectacular, and it all kicks off on Friday, November 20, with the ceremonial lighting of its 85-foot Norway spruce tree. Adorned with over 32,000 energy-saving LED lights, this spruce boasts more lights than the famous Christmas tree in New York City’s Rockefeller Center! Join The Toledo Zoo for a special kick-off tree lighting ceremony between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. as the Christmas season officially begins!

Throughout The Lights Before Christmas season, visitors will enjoy hot chocolate, model trains and other holiday treats, carolers and ice-carving demonstrations on selected evenings, and rides on the Safari Railway and African Animal Carousel, weather permitting. The Toledo Zoo is also your Santa Claus destination, as the jolly old elf hears children’s Christmas wishes in the Zoo’s Indoor Theatre through December 23!

This year’s opening ceremony will feature a whole new twist as presenting sponsor KeyBank will offer the “KeyBank Community Stimulus Package.” The first 1,200 visitors on the evening of November 20 will receive an envelope containing one, two, three or four $2 bills. A total of $5,000 will be distributed to Zoo visitors. Recipients are encouraged to spend their $2 bills that night or at local businesses and take a small step toward helping the local economy. Key is committed to—and invests in—the communities it serves. Key supports many organizations such as The Toledo Zoo that make this region a better place to live, work and play.

This year also marks the debut of the Zoo’s Giving Tree, located in the Great Hall of the Museum of Science. The Giving Tree is decorated with ornaments that help visitors provide enrichment items for some of their favorite Zoo animals. More information about the items, and information about how to contribute online, will be available at www.toledozoo.org.

The Lights Before Christmas is open from November 20 to December 31 (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day). Hours are Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (the park closes at 9 p.m.) and Friday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (the park closes at 10 p.m.). Admission prices are $10 for adults, $7 for children (2-11) and seniors (60+), and free for children under age 2. Toledo Zoo members receive one free visit to The Lights Before Christmas.

During the day, The Toledo Zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and is located on the Anthony Wayne Trail (US 25), four miles south of downtown Toledo. For more information, please visit www.toledozoo.org or call (419) 385-4040. Lucas County residents are admitted free of charge each Monday from 10 a.m. to noon. ID showing proof of residency is required.