More than a million holiday lights will sparkle bright at Philadelphia Zoo for LumiNature 2023 presented by PNC

Celebrate the wonders of wildlife and the beauty of our planet at this one-of-a-kind light show experience that can only be seen at Philadelphia Zoo!

Philadelphia Zoo’s spectacular winter light show experience, LumiNature presented by PNC, returns this holiday season for dazzling displays, shimmering sights, lively light performers, and magical memories. With more than a million twinkling lights across 16 artistically illuminated zones, LumiNature will take guests on a breathtaking journey celebrating the wonder of wildlife and the beauty of our planet.

Highlights this year include two brand-new illuminated zones, Shimmer River and LumiNature Lane, along with the return of fan favorites like Penguin Prismatic featuring a 40 ft. tall penguin glimmering with 40,000 lights; our iconic 25 ft. tall tree made entirely of 1,500 lit flamingo lawn ornaments; and so much more. At Shimmer River, take a journey through the jungle and enter a 100 ft. long tunnel filled with 4,000 lights, creating dynamic scenes from growing vines to blooming flowers, multicolored kaleidoscopes, and more. At LumiNature Lane, local artists are lending their talents and painting 3 ft. tall paper lanterns that will beautifully shine under a canopy of lights to tell the wondrous story of LumiNature.

The adventure begins Friday, November 17 and runs select nights through Saturday, January 6. LumiNature presented by PNC is a nighttime experience with timed entrance tickets available every half hour from 5:00pm to 8:00pm and closes at 9:00pm or 10:00pm depending on the visit date. Tickets for adults ages 12+ are $25 to $28, children ages 2-11 are $20 to $23, and children under 2 years old are free. Purchase Anytime Tickets ($32 for adults and $27 for children) and visit LumiNature any operating night without advance reservations. Zoo members receive a discount on all tickets. For tickets and membership information, visit www.philadelphiazoo.org/luminature. Philadelphia Zoo is located at 3400 W. Girard Ave. Parking is available in nearby Zoo parking lots for an additional cost.

“The holiday season is such an important time to reconnect with what’s important to us, and LumiNature presented by PNC is designed to do just that,” says Philadelphia Zoo Chief Experience and Marketing Officer Amy Shearer. “This truly magical experience will delight and inspire guests of all ages, with brand new custom-designed displays and the return of family favorites with added sparkle.”

“The Philadelphia Zoo, America’s first zoo, is a shining star in our city that attracts visitors of all ages throughout the year,” said Joseph G. Meterchick, PNC Bank Regional President for Philadelphia, Delaware and Southern New Jersey. “Now, LumiNature shines a light on the wonders of the natural world around us and serves as a terrific way to welcome the wonders of the holiday season. We look forward to experiencing LumiNature with families and neighbors across our region.”

LumiNature presented by PNC is a full-scale nighttime holiday light show extravaganza that takes over the entire footprint of Philadelphia Zoo after hours. Dazzling sights, sounds and surprises throughout the Zoo will create magical illusions of hundreds of butterflies gathering on an enormous tree, giant cat eyes blinking in the night and hundreds of penguins hosting an outdoor party of their very own. LumiNature is designed to inspire a sense of wonder and connection as all these elements come together in this experience available nowhere else in America.

New for this year, Santa will be stopping by on December 1, 8 & 15 from 5:00-8:00pm to take selfies with guests inside the Zoo’s Treehouse! This add-on is free to Zoo members. Guests can purchase a $10 ticket per group to enter the Zoo’s exclusive members-only space to get their photos with Santa.

For added excitement, go on a Nature Blazers Scavenger Hunt powered by TRAKID through our 16 zones of sparkle. Wearing a smart compass, complete challenges and answer trivia questions at each stop through an interactive mobile app. This engaging add on is recommended for ages 4 & up, costs $10 per wristband and is available for purchase at the kiosk inside the main gate.

16 Illuminated Zones

Offering new and additional areas of sparkle alongside fan favorites, LumiNature presented by PNC returns with larger displays, more immersive experiences, and more wattage. A break-down of the experiences and zones is as follows:

• New this year, take a journey through the jungle along the Shimmer River. As you travel, be on the lookout for a bright orange orangutan swinging from vibrant vines, a yellow jaguar ready to pounce, and a pink elephant going for a swim. You can’t miss the enormous, sparkling waterfall and vine wall featuring 20,000 lights! Then, enter a 100 ft. long tunnel filled with 4,000 lights, creating dynamic scenes from growing vines, to blooming flowers, multicolored kaleidoscopes and more. And, don’t forget to take a photo with a gigantic 15 ft. tall blue gorilla wearing a glowing lei!
• New this year, local artists are lending their talents to LumiNature Lane by painting 3 ft. tall paper lanterns that will beautifully shine under a canopy of lights to tell the magical story of LumiNature.
• The magical Penguin Prismatic show, featuring a 40 ft. tall penguin glowing with 40,000 lights which unveil surprising designs in a stunning fashion. The classic show includes the animals featured around LumiNature, like snakes, flamingos and big cats, but also a scene dedicated to the city of Philadelphia, featuring the Liberty Bell, Love Park, the Rocky Statue and more. A second, brand-new animated show highlights how much fun it is to be a penguin. Watch them as they romp through a winter wonderland, dancing, ice skating and so much more. More than 100 penguins on Bird Lake will illuminate different colors in tandem with the performance. The red carpet, shining disco balls and chandeliers take you to this can’t miss light display.
• Flamingo Fancy, featuring 150,000 sparkling pink and aquamarine lights, is back along the main path, guiding guests to Winter of Love, featuring the Zoo’s iconic 25 ft. tall pink flamingo tree made entirely of 1500 lit lawn flamingos. Guests will feel the groovy vibes with a funky light display, cozy bean bag chairs and a brand new 70s Volkswagen photo op! The pink flamingo tree made its debut at our inaugural LumiNature in 2019 and quickly became internet famous.
• At Tis the SEAson, dive under the sea and float among more than a dozen giant jellyfish in hues of orange, pink and blue, reaching up to 5 ft. wide and 12 ft. long. New this year, a friendly sea turtle, with a flipper span of 16 ft., is the star of a new 20 ft. tall custom holiday tree that brings the beauty of the coral reef to light.
• Seasonbration comes to life via an oversized, Earth- shaped 3D screen showing programmed lights, music, sound effects and color, all under a canopy of glowing lights, celebrating the four seasons on our planet. More than 600 vines of twinkling lights add whimsy and wonder to the show.
• Step into the heart of Africa as you wander Twilight Savanna and witness animals roaming, running, and soaring through an imaginative video projection on striking rock walls. The projection captures the beauty of sunrises and sunsets on the African plains.
• Flutter Flair features a stunning 22 ft. tall butterfly tree covered in 4,000 butterflies that welcomes visitors to the magical land of the butterfly. Featuring five oversized whimsical monarch pavilions and beautifully-winged artistic performers, Flutter Flair offers guests the opportunity to snap a beautiful photo and offers wishes for a tremendous holiday season.
• At Camp Starfire, make your own s’mores over an open fire underneath brilliantly lit orbs and sparkling trees, and snack on other sweet treats and hot cocoa.
• In Our Neck of the Woods, help celebrate our neighborhood and cast a vote for your favorite tree decorated by our community partners.
• Glow with the Flow awaits guests with a bright, beautiful setting of a massive array of 200 lit orbs overhead and giant illuminated flowers growing from the ground.
• Snake Awake invites visitors to slither through brilliant purples, blues and greens as a giant snake moves alongside them. The 20 ft. tall snake features more than 5,000 twinkling lights. A brand-new photo op in this location makes for an eye-catching holiday card.
• Big Cat Stalk will have visitors meandering through a path of tall illuminated grass with the stalking eyes of frisky felines appearing and disappearing. Step inside Big Cat Trading Post to grab a LumiNature souvenir.
• Guests will marvel at the showstopper, Animale Fantasia, where enchanting animal animations awaken the child in all of us through cinematic storytelling and projection artistry. Cave-like screens situated on a field of lights choreographed to captivating music bring animal dreams to life! Lantern animal butterflies, frogs, giraffes and lions add to the whimsy of the show.

LumiNature By the Numbers

LumiNature presented by PNC by the numbers will feature:

• Over a million lights and 10+ miles of power cord
• New 20 ft. tall coral reef and under the sea-inspired holiday tree featuring a giant sea turtle
• New enormous, sparkling waterfall and vine wall featuring 20,000 lights
• 150,000 sparkling pink and aquamarine lights
• 200,000 lights shining above the Septa PZ Express Train
• 40 ft. tall penguin glowing with 40,000 lights
• Over 1500 illuminated flamingos and 200 illuminated penguins
• Pretty in pink 25 ft. tall flamingo holiday tree
• 100 ft. long jungle tunnel shining with 4,000 lights
• 22 ft. tall butterfly tree covered in 4,000 butterflies
• 20 ft. tall snake shimmering with 5,000 lights
• 15 ft. tall blue gorilla wearing a glowing lei
• 20 giant, floating jellyfish

LumiNature presented by PNC will be open select nights Friday, November 17 through Saturday, January 7. LumiNature is a nighttime experience, with timed entrance tickets available every half hour from 5:00pm to 8:00pm with the experience closing at 9:00pm or 10:00pm depending on visit date.

Tickets are on sale now. Guests should pre-purchase timed-tickets and make their reservations at PhiladelphiaZoo.org. Prices vary by visit date. Tickets for adults ages 12+ are $25 to $28, children ages 2-11 are $20 to $23, and children under 2 years old are free. Philadelphia Zoo Members For tickets and membership information, visit www.philadelphiazoo.org/luminature.