Christmas in the Wild at ZooTampa
With all the chaos and craziness of the holidays, sometimes you just need to relax and go wild. ZooTampa will celebrate the holidays with Christmas in the Wild on select nights through December with holiday decorations throughout the park, special events and shows, winter-themed food and cocktails, and, of course, the animals.
This year’s Christmas in the Wild will be held on the following dates in December: 7-8, 14-16, 20-23, 26-30. The event runs from 4 p.m. to close of park, which varies by date. Check the ZooTampa calendar for exact times.
Upon entering the park, you’ll be overwhelmed by the 50-foot tree in the center of the promenade trimmed with over 12,000 lights, 2,000 ornaments and topped with a nearly 8-foot star.
Once the sun goes down, guests will be treated to choreographed light shows every 30 minutes featuring both classic and contemporary Christmas songs.
In between the dancing light shows, there are Dickens-era carolers and other costumed characters that entertain and pose for holiday selfies. This is also a good place to start enjoying some adult beverages with the concession cart that features local seasonal craft beers located nearby.
Along with the main tree area, other holiday-themed areas scattered around the park include Holiday Hoedown, Polar Paradise and Candy Cane Lane. Each one offers some form of live entertainment like dance areas or performances. Each one also offers their own holiday-themed cocktail.
Some of our favorites included the winter sangria and a cocktail that featured cider, butterscotch, and schnapps! Cheers!
If you haven’t got your holiday picture with Santa Claus yet, you can do it during the event. They even have an option where you can skip the waiting in line and reserve a time leaving you free to roam around the park until its time to meet St. Nick.
Of course, what would a trip to the zoo be without a chance to get up close with a bunch of wild and exotic animals? Christmas in the Wild gives you plenty of opportunities to see plenty of wild creatures. Be sure to check out the seasonally apt presentation with the penguins.
After 4 p.m. tickets are $24.95. Event admission is included with single day tickets or annual membership. “Pay for a Day Get the Rest of 2018” ticket holders can also enjoy the event for free between Dec. 7 and 23.
For more information and the latest calendar of events, check out the official ZooTampa website here. For more posts from SunnySweetDays.com about all the things you can do at ZooTampa, click here.
Christmas in Tampa Bay
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