Letter from GLAZA President Connie Morgan

Time flies! Here we are, entering into fall, which is the most celebratory season — with wonderful events, festivals, and holidays. Your Los Angeles Zoo offers a bounty of activities new and familiar to support our mission of sustaining wildlife. Don’t wait to come to the Zoo!

Every day in October, enjoy Boo at the L.A. Zoo, our spooky-yet-sweet celebration of Halloween. New this year is our Nocturnal Adventure Maze, which illuminates guests with amazing facts about night-dwelling creatures. And we’re delighted to welcome the master puppeteers of Swazzle back to the Zoo this year, with a reimagined Monster Menagerie show highlighting animal “super powers” that’s offered on weekends.

Through February, internationally renowned National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore graces us with exceptional animal portraits from his Photo Ark project, capturing diverse images of animals in human care across the world. Joel knows that we stand to lose half our species on earth; his personal mission is to ensure that we “see” them so that we might save them. The Zoo’s exhibit spotlights animals being cared for and conserved in AZA-accredited zoos; I can tell you that more than any animal images I have ever seen, these stunning up-close photographs will speak directly to your heart. You truly do not want to miss this opportunity to witness them.

L.A. Zoo Lights opens on Friday, November 17. We are taking this evening celebration to the next level with numerous programmable lighting effects and new experiences, from a brand-new welcome in the front plaza to a tremendous finale in Zoopendous Center, replete with stained glass animals. Members receive a phenomenal discount; watch your email for an announcement in the coming days. L.A. Zoo Lights has become a must-do holiday tradition in Los Angeles, so you will want to be there, or be square!

Since L.A. Zoo Lights opens in the early evening hours, your visit will be enhanced by the opening of a new restaurant, Fork in the Road, at the bend in the pathway heading down to the LAIR or up to Rainforest of the Americas, or, as we say in L.A. Zoo Lights lingo, just next to the hanging disco balls! Fork in the Road will feature hand-built pizza and craft beer, the latter from our friends at Golden Road Brewing. It’s a great way to satisfy everyone’s needs for dinner as they enjoy this holiday fest.

We encourage you to take advantage of everything your Zoo has to offer. Each time you walk through the gates you will not only have a wonderful time, you will be ensuring the future of wildlife on our planet.