By Rachel Nelson
Special to The Laker/Lutz News
TAMPA — Six of Santa’s reindeer have begun their journey to Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo for Wild Wonderland, the zoo’s 10th annual nighttime festival of lights and seasonal celebrations, presented by Publix Super Market Charities. The Zoo has launched a Wild Wonderland Web site (www.lowryparkzoo.com/wildwonderland) where families can track the reindeer and read postcards from their travels, play reindeer games, have some holiday fun and preview the event, which opens Dec. 4 and 5.
During Wild Wonderland, the zoo is illuminated with holiday lights, sights and sounds on select nights in December.
Millions of twinkling lights and glimmering holiday displays light up the night. Thousands of LEDs (energy efficient lights) bring new technology to animated displays. A new Visions of Sugarplums display features a forest with giant trees, holiday fairies, magical scenes and sounds of music boxes.
Meet Santa and his real reindeer who have made the journey from the North Pole. See a dazzling Frozen Forest with crystal animals, trees and dancing fountains set to the sounds of festive music. Hear the jingle bells ring on a special holiday horse-drawn carriage ride.
Have a wild time with free unlimited zoo rides like the Skyfari sky ride featuring tree-top views of twinkling lights or take a spin on the Jungle Carousel radiant with lights. Children can frolic in Frosty’s Foam Factory where Frosty and his pals will create a bubble (foam) snow. Holiday themed games will be added to the new Key West Arcade.
Not only a feast for the eyes, Wild Wonderland offers a wide assortment of holiday delights located around the zoo. A new Sweet Shoppe is opening just in time for the holidays, offering tasty treats including a variety of gourmet cupcakes, specialty cookies, hand-dipped ice cream, candy apples, nostalgic candies and seasonal surprises.
Holiday magic runs wild at Wild Wonderland Dec. 4 and 5, 10 to 13, 17 to 23 and 26 to 30 from 6 to 9 p.m. General admission is $13 for adults (ages 12 and older), $11 for children (ages 3 to 11) and free for children age 2 and younger. Annual Zoo Pass holders receive discounted admission. Admission includes free unlimited rides, with the exception of the Jingle Bells horse drawn carriage ride, which is $4 per person. Tickets are on sale now at www.lowryparkzoo.com.
The event is a fund-raiser for the zoo, a nonprofit organization, and proceeds will benefit animal care and education programs.
Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo gratefully acknowledges the sponsors and partners who make this event possible: Publix Super Markets Charities; Grow Financial Federal Credit Union; AT&T Real Yellow Pages; Filippo Berio Olive Oil; Ierna’s Heating and Cooling; and Mix1.
Rachel Nelson is the director of Public Relations for Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo.
