We had bought tickets back in September to Southwick's Zoo World of Lights Festival of Illumination. With a few hiccups along the way we finally got to go this past weekend and while it probably only took us 30 minutes or so to walk around the zoo we had a really great time!
I snapped a few photos along the way so I could share them with you. We arrived around 6:15 and had tickets for 6:30. The skies were just starting to get dark. In conjunction with the large Japanese style lantern animals the zoo also had all sorts of lights strung up through the trees and along the walkways.
I didn't take photos of everything and a few of them were blurry once I was able to really look through the shots on my camera but I think you get a good idea of everything.
I was surprised at how crowded the zoo felt and can only assume it was because this festival was limited to a small section of the zoo and not spread throughout the whole thing. Often though if we just hung back for a second or two we were able to avoid crowds.
I had the hardest time photographing the giant dragon though; his body made several coils that arched over the pathway and it was so neat!
I took a close up of just the head so you could get a sense of all the colors.
Before we knew it we were back to the beginning and it was time to head home.
This looks amazing! We may have to check it out if we can squeeze it in between Nutcracker rehearsals!
ReplyDeleteIt was so neat!
DeleteJoanne, you did a fabulous job capturing the night lights. It's so easy to over expose photographs shot in the dark. I enjoyed browsing through your pictures. Now, I want to go to the zoo and I want to see Christmas lights. I'm pretty sure the later will happen before the first with the way the days are disappearing so quickly. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I had a few that were over exposed and one that was blurry but overall I thought the photos came out great.
DeleteI love things like that and would love to see it!
ReplyDeleteMe too! I had to drag the whole family along and have already been asked if this can count in place of Christmas lights.
DeleteThis is so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThey really did such a fabulous job.
Deletethese things look so magical!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely magical!
DeleteWhat fun! I can't wait for the Bronx Zoo one this year!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if our zoo will make it an annual thing...
DeleteYou got some great pictures! Love the flamingos and penguins!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteOh my goodness! That looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt really was so neat.
DeleteOhh, how pretty. It looks like a lovely evening out.
ReplyDeleteYou know when the teens are taking photos that it was a pretty fun night.
DeleteLooks like great fun! We have something similar here - but at Christmas. Its freezing and the animals don't even want to be out (I guess it is all about the lights but seeing a few animals if you are at the zoo would be nice...) I would much more enjoy it this time of year!! Great pictures!
ReplyDeleteWe were able to see a few of the animals and we could hear others like the lions.
DeleteThis is so magical!
ReplyDeleteIt was really neat.
DeleteWhat a fun event. We've only done this at Christmas which makes for a cold day. I love the idea of having it now.
ReplyDeleteXOOX
Jodie
www.jtouchofstyle.com
I don't think any of our zoos have lights at Christmas... though I vaguely remember one zoo having drive through lights last year for the pandemic but heard the lines were SUUPER long.
DeleteThose lights are spectacular! I would absolutely love a place like this!
ReplyDeleteIt is so neat.
DeleteOh this looks incredible! Our kiddos would love this. I wish we had something similar here!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like they are catching on in popularity around other zoos so maybe one day soon?
DeleteWe had an exhibit like this here two years ago. I really hope they come back. We loved it. You got some great shots.
ReplyDeleteIt was so neat!
DeleteOh wow. That looks so very beautiful l.
ReplyDeleteIt really was.
DeleteI love Southwick!!! We haven't been to the light festival but we did get out there this summer for the first time in ages.
ReplyDeleteWe were just saying as we walked around that it has been years since we had been at the zoo!
DeleteGreat photos Joanne! This looks like an awesome place to visit.
ReplyDeleteMy two boys would love it there! :)
Thank you!
DeleteOh my goodness! How gorgeous! I love it!
ReplyDeleteIt was really pretty!
DeleteOh my gosh. I would LOVE to see something like this. You got some amazing pictures! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt really was so neat. My husband and boys had no idea what to expect and were just blown away.
DeleteWhat great fun. Everything is so magical and pretty. Love the dragon's head and the darling penguins on the blocks of ice.
ReplyDeleteIt really did feel magical!
Delete