Penguins After Dark

It's uncertain who was behind the big PR push to heighten the profile of the penguin, but those little tuxedo-clad birds have never been more popular. What's not to like? The funny walk, the strong family unit, and if recent films are to be believed, an innate talent for song and dance makes them good company in any season. Little wonder, then, that they're the unofficial ambassadors for the Saint Louis Zoo's Wild Lights holiday celebration. During the Yuletide season the zoo is decked with thousands of lights, which you can enjoy from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday (November 23 through December 23), and nightly Wednesday, December 26, through Sunday, December 30. There are light sculpture versions of the flightless fowl as well as the real deal in the popular Penguin & Puffin Coast exhibit, plus holiday craft events for the kids, performances by local choirs on select evenings and a Gingerbread Village. Admission to Wild Lights is $4 to $5, with the Conservation Carousel and Happy Feet: Mumble's Wild Ride 4-D motion simulator costing an additional $3 per person. Call 314-646-4771 for tickets, or visit www.stlzoo.org.
Fridays-Sundays; Dec. 26-30. Starts: Nov. 23. Continues through Dec. 23, 2012