COLUMBUS ZOO LIGHTS FULL
COLUMBUS ZOO LIGHTS FREE

The full semi-trucks had left and volunteers were placing the food donations on pallets. When we walked back out to the car, we could see that the parking lots now looked full with lines of cars still coming in. We all agreed that, although the lights were beautiful, it was time to leave. We went to the Aquarium but couldn’t get through it because of the number of people, and there were huge lines outside the manatee exhibit. There were families with strollers and wagons everywhere and kids playing on every surface. By 7:30 we were so packed in that it felt like we could hardly move. But, as the evening went on, the Zoo got more and more crowded. As we went into the Zoo, we could pick up a list of nocturnal animals we might see. The Zoo was dark except for the Christmas lights, but there were so many lights that it wasn’t hard to see. In the Asia exhibit, a volunteer pointed out the red pandas asleep in the treetops. We also saw a sleeping rhinoceros and several sleeping bears. We did see some reindeer and a cougar who were awake. We walked around all the open parts of the Zoo hoping to see some animals, but most of them were (wisely) asleep. Every 15 minutes the program would begin again and people would crowd around the shore of the lake to watch. There were a few animal light displays, but the real showcase was the lake in the center of the Zoo that had a light program coordinated with music. Every tree was draped with lights, every trunk covered in lights. Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo is a gorgeous display of lights. Compared to the last time we were at the Zoo, the parking lot felt full, but we didn’t know how full it was going to get! Then we parked and headed up to the entrance. We gave them our donation and received our four tickets for admission. We arrived around 6 pm and drove straight up to one of the semis where volunteers were collecting and packing the food.

It is called “Stuff the Truck” and we were four among thousands of people that helped to stuff two semi trucks and then fill dozens of pallets with food for the food bank.

COLUMBUS ZOO LIGHTS FREE

On the first night, November 18, you can get in free if you bring five non-perishable food items for the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. Jackie has wanted to go for a while, so we took advantage of the “free” admission on opening night. Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo is included in most lists of best displays of Christmas lights in Ohio.

Columbus zoo lights