Hattiesburg Zoo’s ‘Lights of the Wild’ ranked top-10 display nationally

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The Hattiesburg Zoo has been nationally recognized for its holiday-themed light display.

Coming in at No. 10 on the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Award charts for best zoo lights is the popular Hub City venue. The honor specifically highlighted the Hattiesburg Zoo’s annual “Lights of the Wild” event.

Lights of the Wild displays lit-up models of life-sized animals, plants, and holiday decor. Attendees also have the opportunity to ride the seasonally-themed Northern Lights Express Train, snap a photograph with Santa, and hear from Mrs. Claus as she reads children’s stories.

“We are just thrilled to be a top 10 winner for Best Zoo Lights,” Demetric Kelly, director of retail and guest services for the Hattiesburg Zoo and Serengeti Springs, said.  “This level of national recognition is very rewarding and I hope it will encourage visitors from across the Southeast to make plans to visit the Hattiesburg Zoo during the Christmas season. Every year we make Lights of the Wild bigger, brighter, and more dazzling than the year before.”

Lights of the Wild will kick off on Friday and run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A full schedule of events and ticket information can be found here.

The top 10 light presentations were found at the following zoos:

  1. PNC Festival of Lights at Cincinnati Zoo (Ohio)
  2. Electric Safari at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Colorado)
  3. Lights Before Christmas at Toledo Zoo (Ohio)
  4. Saint Louis Zoo Wild Lights presented by Commerce Bank (Missouri)
  5. WildLights at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (California)
  6. Oklahoma City Zoo Safari Lights Presented by OG&E (Oklahoma)
  7. Christmas at the Zoo at Indianapolis Zoo (Indiana)
  8. Wild Lights at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden (South Carolina)
  9. Wild Lights at Detroit Zoo (Michigan)
  10. Lights of the Wild at Hattiesburg Zoo