Must-Do With the Kids: LA Zoo Lights + *Giveaway*

L.A. Zoo Lights run through January 3, 2016

UPDATE: Congrats to Kayley, who won the 4 tickets to LA Zoo Lights! Please email me at losangelesstory@gmail.com, and I will send them your way!

Stop what you're doing right now, and plan a family trip to see the LA Zoo Lights!

The holiday attraction, which runs now through January 3, 2016, is fabulous fun for the whole family.

CC and I went on opening night, and there was literally a line around the side of the zoo. It is a super-popular event, so be sure and grab tickets soon—or enter my giveaway below!

Walking into the Los Angeles Zoo at night is absolutely magical. CC and I had never seen the zoo this late, and it felt that much more special to see one of our favorite LA attractions after dark.

The thousands upon thousands of LED lights were gorgeous, and I heard someone say they were even more spectacular than last year. (This was our first year to attend.)

LA Zoo Lights is open every night, except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Sundays and Dec. 21 and 23.

CC and I at the LA Zoo Lights

From glittering light tunnels to clever light displays in the animal habitats to 3-D projections of animals, the presentation is vast and thrilling. Expect to see animated monkeys, a 130-foot coiled and glowing snake and a hillside of snowboarding lighted lizards. (Keep in mind, though, that many of the real animals are sleeping, so you will definitely run into a "Quiet Zone" or two.)

Flamingo lights at the LA Zoo

We even stopped by Reindeer Village, which was all decked out in colorful lights and featured a few reindeer to boot!

Reindeer Village

Don't forget to stop by Reindeer Romp and meet Velvet and his reindeer friends.

Reindeer at the Los Angeles Zoo

Special nights during LA Zoo Lights include Holiday Happy Hour on December 10 (tickets: $75). Grown-up guests can enjoy holiday cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, wine and beer along with VIP tickets.

Then there's Family New Year's Eve (tickets: $65 for adults and $40 for kids), which offers admission to LA Zoo Lights on December 31, a dinner buffet, carousel ride, crafts, a DJ dance party, cash bar and a champagne toast at 9 p.m. as the ball drops in Times Square.

Whatever you plan to do this holiday season, don't miss the LA Zoo Lights!

Los Angeles Zoo

LA Zoo Lights (runs through January 3, except December 24-25)

6 p.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Sundays and Dec. 21 and 23.
5333 Zoo Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Tickets: $13/$16 (adults weekdays/weekends); $11/$14 (children weekdays/weekends); children under 2 are free

*** GIVEAWAY ***

I'm giving away 4 tickets to the LA Zoo Lights, courtesy of the Los Angeles Zoo!

To enter, leave a comment below, telling me your favorite part of the LA Zoo.

For more chances to win, share this giveaway on Twitter and/or Facebook. I'm at @la_story on Twitter and here on Facebook.

Just be sure to leave extra comments telling me you did so. 

Good luck, and I will announce the winner on Monday, December 14!