The Bronx Zoo has officially kicked off the festive season with the return of its annual Holiday Lights celebration. From now until Jan. 10, families and friends of the zoo can meander through an outdoor, illuminated menagerie of land and sea animals from far-away corners of the world.

 

For many, the experience provides a much-needed boost of holiday cheer, and a brief but welcome respite from the stress of the Covid-19 pandemic. Michelle Witkowski, 31, a mother of two, recently travelled from Brooklyn to see the light show. “We’ve had tickets for a month. My kids have been so excited,” she said. “And it’s nice to be outside where you’re not at risk to catch anything, and to enjoy stuff that you usually get to enjoy in normal years.”

 

New Yorkers were forced to leave normal behind when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a citywide shutdown in March to curb the spread of Covid-19. The Bronx Zoo, a non-essential business, was temporarily closed to the public on Mar. 16. During that time, it made headline news when it recorded the first case of COVID-19 in a wild animal.

 

On Apr. 5, a four-year-old Malayan Tiger named Nadia tested positive for the virus, and some people were a little miffed that the tiger was able to get tested at a time when tests for humans were in short supply. However, a zoo representative later reported that the COVID-19 test for animals is a different one. In total, eight big cats at the zoo were infected; all were treated, and eventually recovered.

 

Over four months later, with COVID-sensitive, safety measures in place, including a mask mandate for all visitors, the zoo reopened on July 24, offering free or discounted tickets to front line workers as a gesture of gratitude.

 

However, over the last several weeks, New York City has, once again, experienced an alarming uptick in coronavirus cases, reaching a 5.5 percent test positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average by Dec. 12. The increase already prompted Mayor Bill de Blasio to switch New York City’s entire public school system, the largest in the United States, back to the virtual world on Nov. 19.

“The schools were just closed again today, so, we figured, let’s get out,” Witkowski said on Nov. 19. “With everything that’s happening, who knows if the zoo will be open next week.” According to Bronx Zoo social media platforms, no official announcements have been made regarding a second closure.

 

Alice Brandow, 63, a grandmother from Long Island, also had COVID on her mind as her two grandsons twirled around on the zoo’s Bug Carousel but overall, she was blown away by the holiday lights experience.

“It’s all so realistic: the fish, monkeys, tigers, lions, everything,” Brandow said. “It’s like, wow! You turn a corner, and you look up, and the animals are so huge. You almost think – they’re beautiful!”

 

The Holiday Lights exhibit has five lantern displays featuring gorillas and lemurs from Africa, elephants and rhinos from Asia, jaguars and vibrant pink flamingos from Latin America, sea lions and caribou from North America, and a dazzling underwater display where sea turtles, dolphins, and sharks appear to bob and float in mid-air.

 

Additionally, against the backdrop of festive holiday music, the zoo is crawling with costumed animals, stilt walkers, a wildlife theater, and unique sculptures. Steamy cups of hot cocoa are also available, along with a station dedicated to assembling and roasting s’mores over a fire pit.

 

Despite the cold, Lessya Bindrum, 38, a mother of three from Queens, was glad she brought her family out for a fun, festive night at the zoo. “It’s something we can do outside that’s Christmassy,” Bindrum said. “This makes things feel normal again.”

 

Her daughter Skyla, 7, excitedly agreed, “My favorite animals are the cats and the seals, and I love how everything glows, and I love the fancy people,” she said, referring to the costumed stilt walkers.

 

Skylar’s cousin, Andrei Anastasian, 10, was equally impressed. “I like how everything is in 3D, and it’s not just a picture hung up on a wall like a poster,” he said. His sister Alyssa, 8, highly recommended the underwater world.

“My favorite animal is the dolphin, so that’s probably my favorite exhibit.” She added, “I love seeing all the lights and the animals. It’s a weird experience.”

 

As she gathered up her family for the drive back to Queens, Bindrum added with a smile, “This has been wonderful. “It’s been worth its weight in gold.”

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, tickets for the Holiday Lights display are available online only. Visitors, including Bronx Zoo members, must purchase a date-specific ticket before arrival; on-site ticket purchases are not available.

 

Visitors are required to wear masks and practice social distancing on zoo grounds, when possible. Easily accessible, hand sanitizing stations are available for use throughout the exhibit. Check the zoo’s website for the exhibit schedule.