For the fourth year in a row, the Cincinnati Zoo’s Festival of Lights has been voted the No. 1 zoo light display in the country by USA Today.
Readers voted for the Queen City to take home the gold as part of the paper's 10Best poll, where a slew of experts select their top picks in certain categories — in this case, "Best Zoo Lights" — which are then voted on by the public. Cincinnati ranked right in front of fellow Ohio zoo spectacle, the Lights Before Christmas at the Toledo Zoo.
“So much work goes into hanging 4 million lights throughout the zoo,” said Cincinnati Zoo director Thane Maynard in a release. “Our core lighting team starts hanging in August and then it’s all-hands-on-deck leading up to opening night! I did a tree or two myself! We add something different each year and keep the things that bring people back again and again, like the Wild Lights Show on Swan Lake and the dazzling Rainbow Tunnel.”
This year's display features 4 million LED lights spread throughout the park, as well as 27 glowing animal lanterns and the fan-favorite synchronized Wild Lights show at Swan Lake.
A new "Under the Sea" area at Cat Canyon offers some immersive fun and a new photo op. Other glowing selfie stops include Candy Cane Lane near Gorilla World and the Polar Chair at Wings of the World.
The Festival of Lights runs 4-9 p.m. daily Nov. 19-Jan. 9, 2022. The Cincinnati Zoo itself still opens at 10 a.m. daily during that time. The Festival of Lights is included with zoo admission. For more details and tickets, visit cincinnatizoo.org.USA Today readers also voted the Cincinnati Zoo as the No. 1 zoo in America earlier this year.
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