Popular Holiday Lights Display Returning To Turtle Back Zoo In NJ

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A popular, free winter event will be returning to the Turtle Back Zoo in Essex County this year: the annual holiday lights spectacular.

Nearly 50 animal and holiday-themed figures – composed of more than a million lights – will brighten up the winter night at the zoo and the surrounding South Mountain Recreation Complex for 2024. Expect to see well-lit bears, tigers and elephants, along with holiday lights designed to look like wooden soldiers, stars and winter scenes.

Several animal exhibits will also be open, including the Sea Lion Sound, Essex Farm, Tam-ring Gibbons Reserve, Amazing Asia and the Reptile Building. Hot chocolate and other refreshments will be available for purchase.

“We invite the public to make this Essex County holiday tradition your family tradition,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. encouraged.

This year’s schedule follows below:

• Dates – Friday, Saturday, Sunday, November 22, 23, 24 / Friday, November 29 to Wednesday, December 4 / Daily from Friday, December 6 to 31 (The Holiday Lights Spectacular will be closed on December 24 and 25).
• Times – 5 to 9 p.m. each night
• Place – South Mountain Recreation Complex/Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange

Admission to the holiday lights spectacular is free. However, the zoo will be collecting non-perishable food items, new and unwrapped toys, and new or gently used winter coats. The items will be donated to several organizations that provide assistance to in-need residents.

Last year, about 28.4 tons of non-perishable food, toys and winter coats were collected from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.

The Essex County Holiday Lights Spectacular is sponsored by PSE&G, Reworld (formerly Covanta Energy), the Zoological Society of New Jersey and the Essex County Parks Foundation.

For more information, call Essex County Turtle Back Zoo at 973-731-5800 or visit www.essexcountynj.org.

STORY TIME AT THE ZOO

This year’s festivities will include “Story Time at Turtle Back Zoo.” The family-friendly event is intended for children ages 8 years and younger. Admission is $10 per participant; admission to the zoo is not included.

Dates and times include:

• Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 (2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.)
• Thursday, December 19 and Friday, December 20 (6 p.m.)
• Saturday, December 21 (2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.)

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.