San Diego Safari Park’s Wild Holidays Returns with Festive Lights, Music

Wild Holidays, a night series featuring 10 festive events, is bringing light and music to San Diego Zoo Safari Park starting Friday.

Each year during the holiday season, the park is transformed by bright lights and holiday music while guests experience the wildlife up close.

The park, a nonprofit organization partnered with the San Diego Zoo, is located in Escondido. Both the park and the zoo are experts in wildlife care and have sent more than 44 endangered species to native habitats.

“This is a long-time tradition for the safari park. It’s an opportunity for families – for friends – to come together,” said Marco Wendt, spokesperson and wildlife ambassador at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, adding that they can be “up close and personal with wildlife, like tigers and condors” against the backdrop of a “celebratory holiday theme.”

From 4-8 p.m. Friday through Sunday, then Dec. 7-8, Dec. 14-15, Dec. 21-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 5, guests can enjoy several festive events to get into the holiday spirit:

• Merry Music– tune in on Safari Park Radio 197.2 or listen to live performances from the Holiday Troubadour, the Turtle Doves and Sweater Weather.
• Wild Holidays Celebration Tree – Safari Park-themed tree with wildlife decorations.
• Light Up the Holidays – Village lights up with a choreographed display to a holiday soundtrack.
• Photos with Santa – Available on select Wild Holidays dates.
• Bridge of Lights – Walk across the Safari Walk Bridge as it transforms into a musical tunnel of light.
• “‘Twas the Night Before Wild Holidays” – Join Safari Parker for interactive surprises as he reads the original holiday story.
• Nairobi Lantern Walk – Walk down Nairobi Walk to experience lanterns as they change to music.
• Enchanted Lagoon – Experience Mombasa Lagoon’s floating holiday lights and the lighted waterfall.
• The Spirit of the Season – Locations around Tiger Trail will have decorations and lighted trees.
• Forest of Color – Arbor Walk and Baja Garden will be illuminated in holiday lights.

There also will be festive food and drinks. Specialty items include Festive Fresh Fudge, Cinnamon Apple Mules, Irish Cream Nitro Brew and Peppermint Bark.

Wild Holidays is included with admissions or memberships.