LEDs give luminous lift to zoo's Wildlights

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's annual Wildlights display gets bigger every year, but it isn't every year that it gets brighter.

This year's display, however, will be much brighter -- more than a million lights brighter, in fact.

Wildlights opens Friday, Nov. 21, and its final day on display will be Jan. 3. It runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays during that time period.

The exhibition will not be open on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, nor on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Dec. 24 and 25. Regular zoo admission rates apply.
Once the lights switch on for the evening, visitors will notice the difference right away, said Barb Revard, director of program planning for the zoo.

Of the 3 million or so lights the zoo uses for Wildlights, almost half have been replaced by eco-friendly LED lights, Revard said.

Although numerous properties make the lights more efficient, the first thing Wildlights attendees are likely to notice is they are much brighter than their incandescent predecessors.

"It's (also) a broader range of colors," said Revard. "The colors we have this year are just stunning."

In addition, the lights will save the zoo about 85 percent on its electric consumption for Wildlights; will last much longer, with the average light lasting for about 50,000 hours as opposed to the previous lights' average of 2,000 hours; and they are practically indestructible to boot, Revard said.

The LED lights are focused on the zoo's eastern side, with the western side holding the older lights. But those older lights won't be on display for much longer -- they're scheduled to be replaced with LED lights as well by the time 2009's Wildlights rolls around.

"Ultimately, we probably won't have 3 million lights (anymore) because the LEDs are so much brighter, which is really noticeable," Revard said.

It is with the support of American Electric Power that the zoo has been able to replace so much of its lighting so swiftly, Revard said.

An AEP representative attended last year's Wildlights and pointed out the difference LED lights might make, and just a year later, the two organizations have worked together to effect rapid change.

The change also comes at a good time for the sake of the zoo's planning.

"The zoo has been working over the last year creating a sustainability plan and really looking at all of the ways we can make less of an impact on the world," Revard said.

The old lights won't simply be stuffed into a box in a crawlspace, never to return, as might an old set of household Christmas lights; instead, they will be donated to other groups in need of lighting for their own holiday displays.

As always, the lights, prominently displayed though they may be, are not the only highlight at Wildlights.

One new attraction is an animated light show based around the zoo's central pond. The nine-minute event begins at 6 p.m. each day and replays every half-hour.

"The whole pond comes to life with lights and movement and popular holiday songs," said zoo Marketing Director Jeff Glorioso.

The ever-popular model train is back as well, this time inside the zoo's old gift shop.

Rather than simply situate the lengthy track, known for its interactive features, in a central display, the zoo crew has set it up all throughout the building.

"This year, when you walk into the building, trains will be all around you," Glorioso said.

Other returning attractions include the Mrs. Claus' Kitchen cookie-decorating workshop, the Disney-presented ice rink -- this year themed to The Incredibles and named after Frozone, a character from the popular movie -- and performances by local school choirs.

"It is a Central Ohio family tradition," Glorioso said. "It's just a good and economical family fun time ... you don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy it with your family."

For more information, visit the zoo's Web site, columbuszoo.org, or call 614-645-3550.

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