Paignton Zoo announce plans for biggest ever festive event

Paignton Zoo plan to finish their centenary year in style with the biggest festive event the zoo has ever hosted.

The event, called GloWild, is an immersive light experience that will begin after dark and feature huge light installations.

Event and Corporate Relationship Manager Katie White said: “This event will give a unique opportunity for our visitors to experience the zoo by night and our magical light installations and silent disco will create the biggest and most special festive event we have ever organised.”

The light installations are set to include lasers, fibre optics, kaleidoscope projectors, entertainers, and a silent disco. There will be giant lit up trees and tunnels, a magical wishing well, playful interactive lit up creatures to delight their visitors and much much more.

Many of the key installations will work in the daylight and of course the night through the use of programmed lights that move and change colour when visitors interact with them.

As visitors arrive, they will be greeted by a giant illuminated storybook, inviting them to step into the story and explore the zoo.  There will be a striking light up mystical mandrill that will twinkle and glow in the moonlight. Jumping illuminated frogs will have visitors jumping for joy as frogs jump in this optical illusion. There will also be giant lit up stick insects placed high up in trees to give families plenty to spot as they adventure along the light experience.  

Visitors may notice that the colour blue is a common theme and this fondly links back to their founder Herbert Whitley. Whitley had many obsessions, but his most well-known one was 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 the zoo gates and this light experience is set to honour his legacy and celebrate the zoo’s biggest ever milestone.

The event will take place on selected dates from 17 November through to 2 January and entry time begins from 5pm. Festive refreshments will be available to purchase throughout the evening.

Tickets are available to purchase online and more information can be found on their event listing.