WEST ORANGE, NJ — Spend part of their holiday season at the annual Essex County Holiday Lights Spectacular at the Turtle Back Zoo. Free admission is being offered at the Holiday Lights Spectacular, which will be held as follows: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28, and Dec. 3, 4 and 5, and then daily from Friday, Dec. 10, through Friday, Dec. 31. The spectacular will be closed Dec. 24 and 25. The spectacular will run from 5 to 9 p.m. each night at the zoo, 560 Northfield Ave. in West Orange.
“We invite the public to make this Essex County holiday tradition your family tradition. Turtle Back Zoo will be turned into a winter wonderland, with extraordinary seasonal lighting exhibits and costumed characters. Stroll the landscaped paths of our zoo and admire the illuminated images of everything from toy soldiers to penguins,” Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. said. “We are offering free admission to make this exciting attraction available to everyone. We also are encouraging our visitors to bring nonperishable food items, new unwrapped toys, and new and gently used winter coats to help our families in need.”
Approximately 50 animal and holiday-themed figures will light up the winter night in Turtle Back Zoo and the surrounding South Mountain Recreation Complex. More than one million lights will illuminate figures of bears, tigers and elephants, along with holiday lights designed to look like wooden soldiers, stars and winter scenes. Several animal exhibits will be open as well.
Myrtle the Turtle, the mascot of Turtle Back Zoo, and several of his winter friends will be on hand to greet visitors at the zoo. In addition, there will be special appearances by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, ice sculpture demonstrations, and carol sings.
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