Elves may get all the credit for being Santa’s helpers, but his reindeer are just as important to making Christmas happen. Now, you can meet some real-life reindeer in a magical holiday setting right here in Massachusetts. Here’s what you need to know about the enchanting ZooLights Festival at Stone Zoo.
ZooLights is an annual holiday event held at Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Mass. It’s a sparkling celebration of all things Christmas and offers guests the chance to meet plenty of fascinating zoo animals, including majestic reindeer.
Stroll along the tree-lined paths of the zoo that are decorated with thousands of twinkling lights. Have your photo taken with Santa, take a moonlit spin on one of the zoo’s fun rides, and enjoy gorgeous renditions of holiday classics by a cappella groups. As extra incentive to bring your festive best, the winner of the zoo’s Ugly Sweater contest on Dec. 13 will receive a behind-the-scenes sloth tour!
There are also nightly photo opportunities to get up close and personal with Santa’s reindeer. These creatures are much larger than you might have imagined and truly make the event feel one-of-a-kind. If you can’t get enough of the gentle giants, sign up for Holiday Hot Chocolate with the reindeer on a few select dates. You’ll be able to have your photo taken with the animals and nibble on festive treats while learning about reindeer.
You can also expect to meet black bears, bald eagles, Canada lynx, and arctic foxes. All the animal habitats are brightly light and decorated to the nines. Don’t forget to stop by Santa’s Castle before you leave!
Tickets for the ZooLights event can be purchased online ahead of time and cost between $8 and $12 per adult, depending on the date of the visit. Admission for children costs between $7 and $10. Stop by before Dec. 31 to experience this magical reindeer village.
Stone Zoo is located at 149 Pond St., Stoneham, Mass. Click here to visit their website and buy tickets. For more holiday fun, check out these awesome heated, glowing igloos.
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