Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, communications Photos by Pisto, Woodland Park Zoo Sparkling colors and magical scenes draw many families to explore Woodland Park Zoo's WildLights. This year, in addition to welcoming members and visitors—the zoo's Community Access Program invited some very special community members to share in the magic of the season. Our friends from White Center CDA, thank you for joining us! The weekend after Thanksgiving, the zoo invited more than 50 community partners to attend WildLights presented by Sound Credit Union. These local organizations serve low-income, at-risk or underserved children and families in our shared community and include organizations such as Mary's Place, Ryther, Big Brothers Big Sisters Puget Sound, Sibling House, White Center CDA, Youthcare, Treehouse and more. By partnering with these organizations over the Thanksgiving weekend, the zoo welcomed more than 3,000 attendees to our Community Access Program WildLights n...

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications Photo by Kirsten Pisto, Woodland Park Zoo Hey everyone, we’d like to introduce you to Ben Haager, our events installation coordinator. He’s the Clark Griswold of WildLights, except that Ben is actually really good at keeping the lights on! Here’s Ben with a very special Woodland Park Zoo WildLights takeover to show you what is takes to get our glow on… Hi everyone! It’s my first year coordinating WildLights presented by Sound Credit Union—and I am learning A LOT. Like how to hang and secure large light displays—I even had to get scissor lift certified—and become an expert in Santa decorations. There are lots of trips to Home Depot and local hardware stores as well as vintage thrift stores to find supplies for outfitting Santa’s camp which has a very PNW vibe. It smells pretty great in Santa’s camp thanks to loads of pine our horticulture crew has strewn up, they do such a great job with all the boughs. I really like the details w...

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications Winning photo by Instagram user momsasaurus Your votes are in—the winner of our #WPZWildLights photo contest is Instagram user momsasaurus! She’ll enjoy a behind-the-scenes Real Close tour, penguin feeding experience and ZooParent adoption. Congrats again to all of our finalists. Thanks for voting, everyone! Finalist: Rick Wade submitted via Facebook. Finalist: Karen Gallup submitted via email. Finalist: Kate Janson submitted via email. Finalist: Yoshiki Nakamura submitted via email.

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications Photo by Instagram user coachcarr For zoo members who are truly kids at heart, we have the best WildLights deal yet! From Dec. 31 – Jan. 4, adult zoo members will be admitted to WildLights presented by KeyBank at the kids’ price, just $6.50 per person. (Offer only available for at-gate purchase with member ID; not available online.) See why WildLights brings out the kid in all of us! Photo by Instagram user guerralandia This kid-at-heart discount is offered just in time to celebrate Zoo Year’s Eve  at WildLights. On Dec. 31, join Radio Disney Seattle at WildLights for entertainment, games, crafts, prizes, music, and a fun way to ring in the Zoo Year with the whole family. We’ll celebrate the new year at 7:00 p.m. so even the youngest among us has a chance to join in! PLUS: the first 200 kids through the door get a free party hat.

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications Whether it's your first time or a return to an annual tradition, a visit to WildLights presented by KeyBank this year will bring more lights, more animals and more fun to your holidays! You might say there are 575,000 sparkling reasons to come to WildLights, but what other activities can you look forward to during your visit? Here are the top 10 experiences you can't miss at WildLights this year! 1. See the all new and classic light displays Photo: Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. Approximately 575,000 energy-efficient LED lights recreate wild animals and wild places in two and three dimensions along the zoo’s pathways and North Meadow. An animated display of nature’s wonder is woven into the zoo’s famous greenery inspired by exotic destinations from across the globe. Last year’s favorite displays, Northern Lights, The Water Hole and Jungle Lights, are joined this year by all new displays: Monkey Business, Glow-rilla...

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham, Communications   Last year's photo contest grand prize winner. Photo: kbgirl30/Instagram. Shine a light on your favorite WildLights presented by KeyBank moments and be entered to win a grand prize featuring a behind-the-scenes Real Close tour and penguin feeding experience . Enter your WildLights photo now through January 5 for a chance to win. Finalist photo from last year's photo contest. Photo: thefoxtronaut/Instagram. How to enter: Snap your WildLights photo and you’ll be automatically entered to win when you share it with us by any one of four ways: Tag your photo with @woodlandparkzoo and #wpzwildlights on Instagram OR Tag your photo with @woodlandparkzoo and #wpzwildlights on Twitter OR Tag your photo with #wpzwildlights on Woodland Park Zoo's Facebook page OR Email your photo to webkeeper@zoo.org with subject line "WildLights" (files must be 5MB or under) You can find complet...

Posted by: Caileigh Robertson, Communications There were Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, and Donner and Blitzen. But do you recall the most famous visiting reindeer of all? Reindeer Lucky and Christi arrive at Woodland Park Zoo. Photo by Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park Zoo. Lucky and Christi, two female reindeer, are making a guest appearance at the zoo for all six weeks of WildLights presented by KeyBank , the zoo's all new winter lights festival, opening tonight, Nov. 23. And with nine other famous reindeer on your minds this holiday season, it’s only appropriate to honor each of them with nine fascinating facts about these sleigh-pulling beauties. 1. Reindeer are also known as caribou in North America. Though, many use “reindeer” to describe domesticated caribou. 2. Different species of caribou live throughout subarctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America. In the U.S., caribou inhabit the northern-most territories of the states and roam th...