Start of the Woodland Park Zoo Holiday Season!

 

This time of year is my favorite at the Woodland Park Zoo.  Halloween starts the holiday season with the Pumpkin Bash.  The zoo keepers train the animals to eat their favorite treats, out of pumpkins, at scheduled times for the crowds to watch.  I am almost guaranteed to see all the animals.

It doesn't matter if you see the animals eating out of the pumpkins.  The animals usually linger before and after eating their treats.  The event is always the weekend before Halloween and it runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., both days. 

When you enter the park, you get an itinerary so you can plan on which animals you want to see being given their pumpkins.  Since this event occurs during the rainy season; the park is busy, but not crowded.  It is easy for the small children to see the animals without competing with larger people to be next to the fences.  If the kids dress in costumes, at least one child, gets in free.

For the last two years, the event has been sponsored by Washington Dental.  Washington Dental hands-out kids size tooth brushes.  My toddler loves her new tooth brush.  Vendors such as Cliff bars and Whole Foods offer treats that are either a healthy alternative to candy, or only include natural ingredients.  My favorite is the Unreal bar.

This year, the zoo's baby population is booming.  In August 2013, a baby giraffe was born.  We enjoyed watching him with his mother. 







The lion cubs were lounging, and enjoying the day.  They turn one year old on 11/8/13.  If you get a chance to go to the Zoo, the cubs are going to be offered treats on their birthday, and you are invited to come and watch.

Even the human children are fun to watch!

I noticed that the zoo already has started setting-up lights and back-drops for WildLights.  This is one of several Holiday light shows in Seattle during the month of December.  The Woodland Park Zoo turns on the lights starting 11/29/13 and the event runs through 1/4/14.  The lights are on nightly from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Woodland Park Zoo website reports that "WildLights features wild animals and wild places recreated in thousands of sparkling LED lights inspired by exotic destinations from across the globe, including “Northern Lights,” “The Water Hole” and “Jungle Lights"."

Marie