PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo wins Best Zoo Lights

During the annual PNC Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo, some 3 million LED lights illuminate the night. Visitors can meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, watch a lights show on Swan Lake, drool over a gingerbread village, munch on s'mores or ride the Toyland Express train. 
Photo courtesy of Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

The 2018 installment of Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo will feature more than a million holiday lights and some 200 illuminated animal images, as well as bumper cars, an ice slide, photo ops with Santa and an 85-foot Norway spruce tree decorated with 35,000 LED bulbs. Mom and dad can even grab a spiked beverage from the Beer Garden.
Photo courtesy of Alex Goetz / Toledo Zoo

Throughout the holiday season, the Detroit Zoo gets bedecked with holiday cheer during Wild Lights. More than 5 million LED bulbs illuminate trees, buildings and some 265 animal sculptures. Guests can watch Polar Express 4-D Experience or go ice skating on the Winter Rink.
Photo courtesy of Joshua Hanford / Detroit Zoo

While enjoying over a million holiday lights, guests of the Saint Louis Zoo during its annual Wild Lights event enjoy campfire s'mores around warming fire pits, holiday carolers and strolling live performances, meet-and-greets with costumed characters and festive holiday crafts. Some animal exhibits, including Penguin & Puffin Coast and the Insectarium remain open during the fun.
Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Zoo

Some 50 acres at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are illuminated with 85 light sculptures during the park's annual Electric Safari. Select animal exhibits remain open during the festivities, and warming fires spread throughout the grounds offer a place to thaw those cold fingers.
Photo courtesy of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo / Facebook

One of the few drive-thru light displays at a zoo, Let There Be Lights at Branson’s Promised Land Zoo features a 2-mile drive thru lights display with holiday tunes from the North Pole on 106.9 K-KLAUS. At the end of the drive, Candy Lane Courtyard has more lights displays, a live nativity petting zoo, hot chocolate and the chance to visit Santa and his reindeer.
Photo courtesy of Branson's Promised Land Zoo / Facebook

Nearly 1 million dazzling lights illuminate Riverbanks Zoo during Lights Before Christmas, one of Columbia's longest running holiday events. Festivities include a Holly Jolly Christmas Parade, nightly visits with Santa, an animated story tree, a Jingle Bell Bonfire and plenty of holiday treats, like s'mores and hot cocoa.
Photo courtesy of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

Christmas comes to the Arizona desert in the form of ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo, when millions of lights adorn displays and a three-story lighted tree. Guests enjoy a lakeside light show, carousel and camel rides, photos with Santa Claus and even nightly snowfall. The 2018 event debuts live reindeer and a 4D theater.
Photo courtesy of Phoenix Zoo

Zoo goers at the Los Angeles Zoo are in for a holiday treat this year at L.A. Zoo Lights, where they can take a self-guided tour of animal-themed light displays, snap a photo with Santa Claus (on select days), observe real reindeer and warm up over a cup of cocoa or other holiday treats.
Photo courtesy of Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association

Guests craving a white Christmas will find snow at the Memphis Zoo’s annual SunTrust Zoo Lights celebration. While the zoo grounds are adorned with a colorful, twinkling display of nearly a million LED lights, guests can pay a visit to real reindeer, say hi to Santa in his workshop, ride camels, go ice skating and even see some animals on exhibit in the aquarium and herpetarium. Visitor favorites include the 200-foot-long tunnel of lights and the 90-foot illuminated ferris wheel.
Photo courtesy of Memphis Zoo