OAKLAND ZOO BRINGS BACK ZOOLIGHTS!

December 5, 2008 – January 4, 2009

OAKLAND, CA – Family, friends, and ZooLights are a great way to turn on your holiday spirit! This year’s holiday light festival features larger-than-life light displays to mirror the Oakland Zoo’s full-time animal residents. Holiday music will fill the air as guests mingle among hundreds of thousands of energy-efficient LED lights. ZooLights 2008 will feature more than 100 lighted animal structures.

See breathtaking views of the Bay Area while riding the Snowball Express, a miniature C.P. Huntington steam engine train. The Zoo’s famous train ride is popular among the young and the young at heart! Children will especially enjoy a fantasyland of giant toy soldiers, with over-sized candy canes, lollipops, and gingerbread cookies in the Oakland Zoo’s Rides Area.

It’s an animal escapade for the whole family. ZooLights is open to the public December 5, 2008 – January 4, 2009 ZooLights will be closed December 24 & 25, so staff members may spend the holidays with their family members.

ZooLights Hours: Friday - Sunday: 5:30pm – 9:30pm; Monday – Thursday: 5:30pm – 9:00pm.

*Please note that Oakland Zoo animal residents will be in their night houses.

Admission Prices: Adult Members: $6.50; Senior/Child Members: $4.50; Adult, Non-Member: $7.50; Child, Non-Member: $5.50; Parking is FREE.

PAWS & CLAUS:  SEE SANTA AT OAKLAND ZOO!

December 6 & 7, 13 &14, 20 & 21

OAKLAND, CA – The Oakland Zoo will host a very special guest this holiday season when Santa Claus visits the Zoo for Paws and Claus. From 9:00am to 3:00pm on December 6&7, 13&14, 20&21, children and families will have the chance to meet St. Nick, share their wish lists, and have photos taken with Santa! A variety of family-friendly holiday entertainment is planned and a delicious hot breakfast will also be for sale in the Island Café. Paws and Claus is free with regular Zoo admission. A donation of $5 per photo is requested to benefit Oakland Zoo’s animal residents. For more information, please call 510-632-9525.

RAIDERS AND RAIDERETTES SIGN AUTOGRAPHS AT OAKLAND ZOO!

6:00pm – 8:00pm, December 12, 2008

OAKLAND, CA – Oakland Zoo teams up with the Oakland Raiders to spread holiday cheer! An Oakland Raiders player and Raiderettes will hold a special autograph session at Oakland Zoo’s Holiday Light Festival, ZooLights! So, bring your football fans, family, and friends to the Oakland Zoo for an evening filled with holiday spirit.

The award-winning Oakland Zoo is home to over 650 native and exotic animals. Nestled in the Oakland Hills, in 525 acre Knowland Park, the Zoo is located at 9777 Golf Links Road, off Highway 580. The East Bay Zoological Society (Oakland Zoo) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization supported in part by members, contributions, the City of Oakland and the East Bay Regional Parks.

# # # # # Contact: Nancy Filippi, Director of Marketing (510) 632-9525, ext 132; This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it