The David Traylor Zoo is now lighting the night throughout the holiday season.
Happy Holidaze was held Tuesday evening at the zoo where a lucky community member has the privilege of flipping the switch which illuminates the zoo with over 116,000 Christmas light bulbs. This year that privilege went to Rick and Staci Hamman who received some assistance from their grandchildren, seven-year-old Taylah and four-year-old Holden.
Staci Hamman says the whole family was excited for the opportunity as the zoo is a very special place to them.
Each year the number of lights throughout the zoo increase substantially as this year the lights covered more than 23,000 feet. This is almost 2,000 more than in 2017, which saw 21,000 feet of the zoo covered with 51,000 bulbs.
Zoo Director Lisa Keith says the number of bulbs is not the only thing that has changed this year.
Keith added the tradition would not be possible without the hard work of the zoo’s horticulture crew.
Before the lights came on children and families had the opportunity to play a variety of reindeer games, take family photos with an assortment of backdrops, and even interact with some visitors from the North Pole. The Emporia High School Chorale was also in attendance once again to fill the night air with Christmas carols leading up to the flip of the switch.
The lights will be on every night at the zoo until midnight from now until Jan. 1.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon and Scott Hayes/ KVOE News
{gallery}Happy Holidaze{/gallery}
