Potter Park Zoo spreads cheer with Wonderland of Lights

Keeping up with the holiday spirit might be a tough gig this season, but a wintery walk through a labyrinth of brightly shining Christmas lights and decorations could help. Potter Park Zoo’s Wonderland of Lights, returning for its 26th year, runs through December and continues a longstanding tradition of inviting the city to explore the zoo after dark using the illumination from thousands of twinkling lights.

“Being in the zoo after dark is really unique. People are always fascinated by Christmas lights and this is a special venue for people to see a bunch of Christmas displays,” Potter Park Zoo special projects coordinator Carolyn Fabro said. 

The process of transforming the zoo into an interactive light show takes Potter Park staff several months, and preparation for the yearly winter event begins as early as August.

“As soon as we finish our fall events, we immediately start putting up Christmas lights. It’s many weeks of work to get them all up,” Fabro said.

The actual lights are obtained from a hodge-podge of suppliers, such as Amazon and Menards. Potter Park employees are then tasked with arranging them all across the zoo. Fabro said one of the most impressive displays from this year’s Wonderland of Lights is what she calls the “wall of lights” — a massive amount of multi-color vertical string lights that stretches across five trees. She also personally designed her own light fixture on the path near the penguin enclosure.

Because visitors are required to maintain one-way traffic, Fabro said displays must be eye-catching and encourage forward movement in order to prevent people from backtracking through the zoo. “That’s part of the added challenge that makes putting up lights fun,” she said.

While the majority of animals are tucked away inside to avoid the cold, the eagles are always present and the river otters, which do well in chilly temperatures, are occasionally playing outside.

COVID-19 precautions require guests to wear masks at all times and keep a social distance of 6 feet. Potter Park must also maintain a limited capacity, so Fabro recommends making online reservations in advance. Walkups are allowed, but you might have to deal with a long wait in line.

Wonderland of Lights

5 p.m. to 8 p.m. through Dec. 27

$9 adults, $5 kids 3-12, seniors (60+) and military

Free for kids under 3

Potter Park Zoo

1301 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing

(517) 483-4222, PotterParkZoo.org/Event/Lights2020