Special Event
ZooLights Fun Facts
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ZOOLIGHTS FUN FACTS
How many people go to ZooLights?
ZooLights is the Phoenix Zoo's single largest multi-day fundraiser for our non profit zoological park. More than 265, 000 visitors will attend this holiday favorite over the 46 nights.
How many lights are featured at ZooLights?
Based on the number of strands of lights we purchase and how many bulbs are on each strand, it would be fair to say that the Zoo uses 2.5 million individual lights for ZooLights. One tree alone on the Arizona Trail has 25, 000 blue energy-saving LED lights!
Where does the Zoo purchase the animal light displays?
All ZooLights light displays are custom designed and built here at the Zoo. We do not purchase generic displays that you may see at other lighting events. You will not see a display like ZooLights anywhere else in the country.
How long does it take to install ZooLights?
It takes a five-person crew 12 weeks to install. That's over 2, 400 man-hours! Installation begins in August and wraps up the first week of November.
What happens when ZooLights is over?
Zoo staff works on ZooLights year-round. Developing new ideas and designs begins in January. The day after the lights are turned off, the crew spends the next two months removing all the lights and light displays. Another three months are spent repairing light nets, displays and decor. During the summer months the crew will build new features for the next year and then installation begins all over again in late August.
What do you do with all the lights?
Recycle and reuse! To save from having to purchase new lights every year we remove all the lights, make any necessary repairs, then store them at the Zoo so they can be reused. Another reason we don't leave the lights up year round is the heat and sun has a tendency to deteriorate equipment and fade lights.
Will I see new features every year?
Yes. The biggest change this year will be Music & Motion, the dancing tree show. With all new sound and programming equipment you will have a surround sound experience while you enjoy the exciting lighting display! Plus, this year you'll see 15 new penguins in the penguin display, a new over-sized scorpion tucked among familiar lighted trees in the Arizona Trail. The Zoo Base Camp is another new element where kids can enjoy interactive storytelling. Many visitors appreciate the fact that they can enjoy their favorite displays year after year, however, we add a number of new displays each year so that you will have a different experience each ZooLights season. ZooLights is designed, built and installed by Zoo staff, making it a one-of-a-kind experience unlike any other holiday light event.
What else makes your light show different?
ZooLights is one of the only venues to use such a wide variety of lighting techniques that include rope lights, LED lights, light strands, black light, fiber optics, gobos, strobes, lights programmed to music, and net lighting in canopies of trees. The large mesh nets over our trees were created and used first by the Phoenix Zoo.
ZooLights also uses LED (light-emitting diode) lights that consume far less energy than standard light bulbs, leading to greatly reduced energy costs. They also require far less energy to manufacture than other light sources, reducing their environmental impact even further.
It's also the Zoo's largest special event fundraiser, which is vital to our success as a private non profit zoological park. We receive no city or state tax funding and rely on revenue from events, admission, donations, private events and memberships.
