About 40 animal and holiday-themed figures will light up the winter night in Turtle Back Zoo and the surrounding Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex. Over 100,000 lights will illuminate figures of bears, tigers and elephants, along with holiday lights designed to look like wooden soldiers, stars and winter scenes. Several animal exhibits will be open, including the Essex Farm, Tam-ring Gibbons Reserve, Tropical Currents Aquarium and the Reptile Building. Myrtle the Turtle, the mascot of Turtle Back Zoo, and several of his winter friends will be on hand to greet visitors at the Zoo.

"I can't believe the way the Zoo looks today," Freeholder Patricia Sebold said. "It looks this way because we have a County Executive who cares about making things better. This is a terrific place for families to visit," she added.

 

Admission is free. The Zoo is collecting non-perishable food items to benefit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots program.

The Essex County Holiday Lights Spectacular is sponsored by Coca Cola, Covanta Energy, Prudential Financial, PSE&G, the Zoological Society of New Jersey and the Essex County Parks Foundation. Hot chocolate and other refreshments will be available to purchase. For more information, please call Essex County Turtle Back Zoo at 973-731-5800.

Turtle Back Zoo Director Dr. Jeremy Goodman reminded the public that the Zoo is an affordable place for families and corporations to have their holiday parties. "Winter is one of my favorite seasons at the zoo because some of the animals are more active in the colder weather," he said.