by Noella Noelophile®
(Photo courtesy of Jamie Pham, and used with permission.)
“Nutmeg” awaits you, this weekend in Los Angeles.
By popular vote, that’s the name of the new little reindeer spending her Christmas season at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
Nutmeg is one of four reindeer in residence, from now through January 6th, for the Zoo’s annual “Reindeer Romp”. On November 6th, website visitors voted on the best, Christmasy-sounding name for a female baby reindeer. And “Nutmeg” was the winning choice!
“Reindeer Romp” starts at 10 this morning, with photo opportunities in the Zoo’s Reindeer Village. All day long, there will be “antler crafts” for the whole family (as in, you can make and wear your own reindeer antlers–how’s that for a family Christmas picture?). And you’ll get to learn what reindeer are really like, with reindeer keeper talks at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Also, if you can’t make it today but would like to come by on the weekend, you’ll get to see some of the regular Zoo residents get “Christmas presents”. The Sumatran tigers are first on Santa’s gift list, according to the Zoo’s website!
And at 6:00 tonight, the lights go on.
This evening, “L.A. Zoo Lights”, which USA Today has named one of the nation’s “10 Best Zoo Lights” shows, returns for its fifth year.
We had the pleasure of visiting this incredible evening show in 2017. “Breathtaking” barely does it justice.
This year, the Twinkle Tunnel has doubled in size, according to a recent press release.
In addition, the animated elephant herd and water show have been reimagined, with new visuals and music. And for the first time ever, “L.A. Zoo Lights” has been expanded to include the Elephant Circle area. The Zoo tells us that this area has been transformed into a “kaleidoscopic savannah”, with glowing, large-scale “animals” roaming the premises.
We’re looking forward to seeing the 2018 edition of “L.A. Zoo Lights”–and to making “Nutmeg’s” acquaintance.
The Greater Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens hosts its 2018 “Reindeer Romp” from now through Sunday, January 6th, from 10 am to 4 pm, daily. “L.A. Zoo Lights” happen from 6 to 10 pm, nightly, with the exception of November 24th, December 24th and December 25th, when the Zoo is closed. The Los Angeles Zoo is located at 5333 Zoo Drive, in the northwest corner of Griffith Park.