Oakland Zoo Lights

I don't usually post regular entries on Saturdays.  But recently a mama friend declared, "I hate it when you post about fun things to do after it is too late for us to do them too!"  Since the Zoo Lights holiday celebration goes through January first, I thought I'd post about it now. 

 

 

Most of the animal exhibits were closed off, so the main event was the lights.  There was a synchronized light show every fifteen minutes in the meadow section above the children's area.  But there were lots of lights to be seen just by strolling too.

 

Eli adores the zoo train, and riding it through the night with the carriages wrapped in twinkling lights was even better.  He actually squealed when we went through the usually-dark tunnel and discovered it was lined inside with lights.  We got an overview of the decorations across the zoo but also a great view of Oakland's city lights from atop our high hill.  

 

By night, the carousel looks like a light-up toy top.  Eli is in the photo below, a joyful blur.

 

I got a big kick out of moving the ISO up on my camera and clicking away without a flash.  The photos have a lot of "noise," blurring and a grainy texture, yet I like it.  The ordinary takes on a bit of mystery.  Like a zoo fence covered in lights receding into the distance...

 

Lights blurred into bokeh, looking like candy sprinkles...

 

 

But my favorite part was the trees.  Captured at night through a digital camera, they look like sea creatures deep on the ocean floor...

 

Or fairy bowers crackling with magic...  

 

 

 

Or a place where an angel might put up a rope swing and rest a while. 

 

One Mama's Two Cents:
    We really enjoyed Zoo Lights, but I think Eli would have liked it even more if he was older.  It was sometimes difficult to see the paths, so we had to keep a close eye on him and often Brian found it better to simply put Eli up on his shoulders.  Lots of folks had strollers, but I imagine that would be even more difficult.  Also, the light show touched on a lot of pop culture references, which went over Eli's head.
    I heard some complaints in the crowd that the animals were largely off limits.  The only enclosure that is lit up is the tortoises, although it is also possible to see the walleroos and emus if you ride the train.  The areas with the giraffes, lions, and elephants are completely blocked off.  If kids knew that in advance, however, it would probably be fine.
    Despite these points, Zoo Lights is a very nice program.  Parking is free and members receive a discount on the entry fee.  (Zoo Lights is not included with a membership.)  Especially if you are a zoo regular, it is great fun to be able to explore a familiar place now dark and transformed for the holidays. 

Comments

[Norma]

Beautiful!!!