wordless Wednesday -- Holiday Lights at the Bronx Zoo

We went to the Bronx Zoo’s Holiday Lights Show Saturday night.

The Lights Show was a popular annual event in the late 1990’s.  The zoo stopped presenting this show about 15 years ago, but brought it back this year.  And I am very happy they did.

The zoo is open 365 days a year.  In December the zoo closes around 4:30, when it starts to get dark.  The holiday show is a separate admission, and starts at 5:00.  But if you get to the zoo anytime after 3, you can have a quick look at the animals before the evening’s festivities begin,

There’s a man made waterfall in the Bronx River, at the entrance to the zoo.

We saw bison

We saw a bear.

And we saw birds.  Lots of birds.  Some were outdoors, on the pond.  Others were in the World of Birds exhibit.

This guy stood up and trumpeted as soon as I put my camera away.

I love exotic birds.

We didn’t get to see any other animals.  But when it got dark ....

There was a demonstration of ice sculpting.

We watched this

Become this:

The sculpture took about 40 minutes.   I've got 40 minutes of video to prove it, too. If anyone is interested.

And then we went on safari ....

There are a lot of activities geared to children — a carousel, an ice slide, a holiday train, costumed characters.  We were just there to look at the lights.

Yes, the rattlesnake's tail moves.

I love how these lights reflect in the water.

The Christmas tree is amazing.  The lights change color periodically.  And sometimes you’ll see the silhouette of animals on the tree (and hear appropriate sounds).

It was a lot of walking — the zoo is huge — but it was a lot of fun.  We’re already planning to go back next year.