The popular Wild Nights and Holiday Lights event returns this month—for the fourth year (!)—to the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary. From 5-8 p.m. on December 7-8 and 13-23 (weather permitting; heavy rains will cancel), more than 24,000 feet of bright and colorful light strands and thousands of holiday ornaments and displays will create a spectacular holiday wonderland along the Zoo’s grounds, landscaping and animal exhibits. Santa Claus will pay a visit to the event each night, with his ears primed for whispered wishes. The Zoo’s holiday mascot, Santa Paws, will rove the grounds to greet visitors and pose for photo ops, while carolers and musicians fill the air with holiday spirit.

The event will also provide a unique opportunity to see how some of the Zoo’s animal residents behave at night, as zookeepers conduct special feedings and provide extra enrichment activities for the cougars, bears, tigers, wolves, Macaque monkeys and more. Volunteer docents will be stationed at the different exhibits to share facts and anecdotes about the animals and answer questions. The Folsom Valley Railway miniature live steam train will also operate during the event, providing special nighttime train rides for kids and adults. A variety of snacks and drinks—including pizza, hot chocolate, popcorn and more—will be available for purchase.

Wild Nights and Holiday Lights has become a treasured annual holiday tradition for many families: It’s the perfect way for all ages to celebrate the season! Many hours of hard work and helping hands by local families, businesses, community groups and city staff go into installing the lights, decorations and displays that make this event so special. Bambi’s Christmas Tree Land in Folsom generously provided more than 100 trees to make up the enchanted forest and decorate the entire Zoo grounds.
Admission is $5 per person and free for those under 2; train tickets are $4 per person. All proceeds will benefit the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary animals.

For more information, call 916-355-7285 or visit folsomzoofriends.org.