Dena Fischer
Pulse reporter

This holiday season, everyone will eventually need a break from the endless shopping trips, decorating and seasonal parties. The St. Louis Zoo offers a place to unwind and start a new holiday tradition at "U.S. Bank Wild Lights."

"It's an after-hours experience with holiday lights throughout the zoo," said Janet Powell, director of public relations.

"Wild Lights" is an exhibit comprised of nearly a half-million light bulbs that run through the St. Louis Zoo. Visitors can stroll through an enchanting winter wonderland along the lighted paths and visit the animals.

The zoo's newest and perhaps most appropriate exhibit is the Penguin and Puffin Coast. At the Coast, visitors can go nose-to-beak with the birds. The exhibit opened in May and, according to Powell, has been very popular.

"When you come to the Penguin and Puffin Coast, you are in their habitat," said Powell. "They may dive in the water and you'll get splashed a little bit. The birds are swimming right past at shoulder height. It's just very exciting."

In fact, the Coast provides a very vivid and realistic experience with the birds. Through an innovative open-air design and theatrical light display, the zoo is able to simulate the full spectrum of lights of the birds' natural habitat in the Arctic, which is important for their growth and breeding cycles.

Along with the fun at the Penguin and Puffin Coast, visitors can also experience a more holiday-orientated theme through the thousands of colorful lights, animated light displays and seasonal music that surround the pathways at the zoo.

Though the zoo has done this for several years, new light displays are often featured. These include "Flamingo Lagoon" and "Butterfly Garden." This year, "Wild Lights" also has a new trail through the zoo.

Together with these new displays are some returning favorites. These include displays such as "Penguins in Paradise," polar bears ambling across the front entrance, an elephant atop the Z-O-O pylon, colorful leaping fish along with shooting stars, a sparkling snowflake tree and numerous other trees and plantings ablaze with lights.

Perhaps one of the most popular exhibits in the show is the tree filled with singing bullfrogs that croak "Jingle Bells."

Powell said that "Wild Lights" is a very good family experience. The entire family or a group of friends can visit the bonfire near Carousel Café. Around the bonfire, an interpreter known as "Tundra Tom" tells stories, poems and legends of the animals and indigenous people of the Arctic.

Children can to stop by the kid's corner in Lakeside Café to make a penguin or puffin pinky puppet and can participate in the Puffin Parenting game. At the café, visitors can warm up with some hot chocolate or munch on a variety of dinner and snack items.

After a leisurely stroll through the zoo, visitors can end their trip with a ride on the festive Conservation Carousel. The carousel features 64 hand-carved wooden animals representing protected and endangered species that call the St. Louis Zoo "home." Normally colorful by itself, the carousel will be adorned with lights to fit in with the holiday festivities.

A trip to "Wild Lights" at the St. Louis Zoo could become a new holiday tradition for groups of friends and families alike.

Wild Lights is open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. November 28- 29, December 4-6, 11-13, 18-23 and 26-30. Admission is $4. For additional information call (314) 781-0900, or visit the website at www.stlzoo.org.