OUR BIGGEST EVENT YET!
We’re ending our centenary year in style with our biggest ever festive event! Join us after dark for an immersive light experience featuring a variety of beautiful light installations, a host of engaging characters and a silent disco.
AN IMMERSIVE LIGHT EXPERIENCE
The journey will begin with a giant illuminated storybook inviting you to step into a magical world… from there you will be taken on an adventure and will be amazed by a variety of bright, colourful light installations. The experience includes fibre optics and kaleidoscope projectors. There will be lit up trees and tunnels, a magical wishing well, playful lit up creatures and much more.
ENGAGING CHARACTERS
Located amongst the light installations at GloWild are a number of fun, engaging characters for you to meet along the way.
DAMSEL FLY
Our mesmerising damsel fly with light up wings will engage with visitors. Make sure you stop for a photo before you move on to discover what is next!
GLOWOLF
The GloWolf will invite visitors into his magical world of wishes and illumination. He is a wolf that sends wishes up to the winds to fly around the world on shooting stars and bring joy and magic. Join the GloWolf and see how you can communicate with the stars!
HERBERT WHITLEY
Join our very own ’Herbert Whitley’ at Herbert’s Hut! Celebrating 100 years since Paignton Zoo opened its doors to visitors, Herbert will be engaging with visitors and sharing his love of all things blue!
SUPERSTARFISH DJ
Our pair of SuperStarfish DJ’s will be leading the fun at our underwater disco. Combining gentle, atmospheric music to create an ethereal, watery, magical underwater feel with upbeat fun music for dancing and games, this exciting underwater themed disco is sure to get visitors up on their feet and dancing!
A BLUE HUE
During our centenary, we’ve been looking back at our founder Herbert Whitley. The colour blue is a common theme and this fondly links back to our founder Herbert Whitley. Whitley had a fascination with the colour blue, and over the years he selectively bred a whole host of blue flowers and animals. It’s been 100 years since Whitley first opened our zoo gates and this light experience is set to honour his legacy and celebrate our biggest ever milestone.
GloWild follows a specific one way route around a designated area of Paignton Zoo. Visitors will not have access to any other parts of the zoo on GloWild evenings.
FOOD VILLAGE
Paignton Zoo’s very own catering service will be spreading festive cheer with a host of delightful festive treats including mulled cider, festive baps and Bratwurst.
We are also teaming up with local street food vendors to infuse a touch of culinary magic into the festivities.
For a mouthwatering glimpse of what you can expect, click the link below!
Please note that not all of the external caterers will be trading every GloWild night.
LIVE MUSIC
We are pleased to announce that we will be hosting live music performances in our Island Restaurant on most evenings. Music will take place between approximately 6.30pm and 7.30pm.
The entertainment will feature a range of local artists, some returning after the success of our Big Birthday ZOOnanza weekend, and others making their Paignton Zoo debut!
See our musical line-up below!
November 17th: Tempus, from the Cameron Mills Group
November 18th: Lee Shetliffe
November 24th: Lee Shetliffe
November 25th: Chordettes
November 26th: 3 Days of Wonder, from the Cameron Mills Group
November 30th: Graham Card
December 1st: Adam Hinks, from the Cameron Mills Group
December 2nd: The Rock Project Choir, from the Cameron Mills Group
December 3rd: Big Noise Chorus
December 7th: Lee Shetliffe
December 8th: Graham Card
December 9th: Combustion, from the Cameron Mills Group
December 10th: Devonport Highschool for Boys, from the Cameron Mills Group
December 14th: Choir 86
December 15th: Unity in Sound Community Choir
December 16th: The Red Door, from the Cameron Mills Group
December 17th: Tempus, from the Cameron Mills Group
December 18th: 3 Days of Wonder, from the Cameron Mills Group
December 19th: Torbay Folk Choir
December 20th: Birdhouse Singers
December 21st: Tess & The D’Urbervilles, from the Cameron Mills Group
December 22nd: Early Birds and Community Choir, from the Cameron Mills Group
December 23rd: Lee Shetliffe
December 27th: Rock Project, from the Cameron Mills Group
December 28th: The Rock Project Choir, from the Cameron Mills Group
December 29th: Adam Hinks, from the Cameron Mills Group
December 30th: The Red Door, from the Cameron Mills Group
December 31st: TBC
January 1st: TBC
January 2nd: Blokes Who Sing with City of Sons, from the Cameron Mills Group
PRE-BOOK NOW
The event will take place on selected dates from 17 November through to 2 January:
17th – 18th November
19th November
24th – 26th November
30th November – 3rd December
7th – 10th December
14th – 23rd December
27th December – 2nd January
Entry begins from 5pm.
Booking is essential, so be sure to grab your tickets before they sell out!
PRICES
| Adult | £20.50 |
| Child (3–15) | £14.50 |
| Family Saver (2 adults & 2 children) | £65.00 |
| Family Saver (2 adults & 3 children) | £76.50 |
| Senior/Student | £18.50 |
| Adult Member | £16.50 |
| Child Member | £11.50 |
| Family Member (2 adults & 2 children) | £56.00 |
| Family Member (2 adults & 3 children) | £67.50 |
| Senior/Student Member | £14.50 |
| Group Bookings (15 or more people) | £16.50pp |
UNDER 3’s AND STUDENTS:
Children under 3 must book onto a time slot and students must bring a valid student card with expiry date on the day of visit.
CARERS:
If you are a guest with a disability and can provide a form of ID from a blue badge, PIP, DLA letter or Access Card on the day of your visit, then you will be permitted one carer entry free of charge with your full price ticket.
GROUP BOOKINGS:
To discuss your requirements, click here.
GloWild is a one way route around a designated area of the zoo which has been chosen to ensure minimal impact on our animals and birds. GloWild tickets do not include access to the whole of Paignton Zoo.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see any of our animals during the GloWild event. If you would like to see our amazing animals, you can book a ticket to visit during our normal daytime opening hours. GloWild is a specific one way route around a designated part of Paignton Zoo, if you visit for our GloWild event you will not have full access to all of Paignton Zoo.
Entry time starts at 5pm, with last entry between 7pm and 7.30pm. Last entry to the light trail will be at 8.30pm and the event will close at 9pm. We suggest you go around the trail more than once to ensure you don’t miss anything. Please only arrive for the timeslot that you have booked.
Please note that the event will run independently of our usual daytime operating hours – if you would like to visit in the daytime, you will need to make a separate booking. The zoo will close between daytime opening and GloWild. Visitors with both daytime and GloWild tickets will not be able to remain in the zoo and will have to leave and re-enter at the pre-booked GloWild timeslot.
To enjoy all of the light installations, interact with the entertainers, enjoy the silent disco and have some refreshments we would allow between one and half and two hours. You can go around the light route more than once, with last entry to the trail at 8.30pm. The light event will follow a specific, one-way route and you will not be able to access the rest of Paignton Zoo. Please note that the zoo will close at 9pm.
Electric scooters, wheelchairs, single and double strollers will all be available to hire for the evening:
Manual Wheelchairs – FREE
Mobility Scooters – £20
Single Strollers – £8
Double Strollers – £12
A returnable deposit of £20 applies to all hires, payable on arrival and refunded when returned.
Please note, all accessibility hires must be pre-booked in advance of your visit by calling Reception on 01803 697500.
Father Christmas, his elves and the reindeer will not be making an appearance at GloWild… it’s a very busy time of year for them!
There will be other characters at GloWild, including a GloWolf, Damsel fly with light up wings, Herbert Whitley and Superstarfish DJ’s to engage with visitors.
We encourage you to take as many photos as possible! Don’t forget share your photos on social media using the hashtag #PZGloWild
Our keepers have been working to desensitise all the animals likely to be affected through a series of training activities in the lead up to the event. We will also be providing them with light and sound proof blinds. GloWild is a specific one way route that has been chosen to ensure minimal impact on our animals and birds. You will not be able to access any other parts of the zoo on GloWild event evenings.
Please refrain from bringing lights, including phone torches, to the event. Our lights at GloWild are specially designed to prioritise animal safety, comfort and welfare.
GloWild is waterproof, and the show will still go on if it rains. Just remember to pack your umbrellas and wear suitable footwear! In the event of extreme weather we may have to close the zoo to ensure the safety of our animals, staff and visitors. If this happens we will do our best to offer an alternative date for your visit.
The restaurant, kiosks and gift shop will remain open throughout the evening. There will be plenty of festive refreshments available to purchase throughout the evening including luxury hot drinks and tempting treats.
Paignton Zoo has teamed up with Bakehouse Factory, a Bristol-based multi award winning theatrical production company specialising in immersive and interactive events. You can learn more about them over on their website: bakehousefactory.co.uk
